Napier held out of practice

Louisville's Kevin Ware, left, and Connecticut's Shabazz Napier scramble for a loose ball during the second half their NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. Louisville won 73-58. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

Louisville’s Kevin Ware, left, and Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier scramble for a loose ball during the second half their NCAA college basketball game in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. Louisville won 73-58. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

John F. Silver

Point guard Shabazz Napier was held out of Sunday’s practice and won’t be back until mid-week as he recovers from a left shoulder contusion the school said on Tuesday.  Napier should be fine to play Sunday when the Huskies host Rutgers. 

Napier played with an injured shoulder in Saturday’s 69-61 loss to Pittsburgh but was noticeably limited as he scored eight points on 2 of 7 shooting, 2 of 6 from 3-point range.  he sat out Sunday’s practice and with classes starting and a week until the next game, the staff have given the players Monday and Tuesday off.  Napier is expected to be back at practice on Wednesday.

Napier played 34 minutes but said after that he couldn’t dribble with his left hand. Napier is an aggressive player whose game isn’t to settle for 3-point shots and six out of seven shots being 3-pointers is indicative of us discomfort.

Napier injured the shoulder over a week ago in a loss to Lousiville when the Cardinals’ Wayne Blackshear fell on top of him.

UConn trainer James Doran is working with Napier on the issue and there is no structural injury in the left shoulder, rather a bruise.

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