The men's basketball team is 2-0 after comeback victories against Kenyon College last Saturday and Bridgewater State College last Sunday, but they accomplished that largely without the help of star forward Steve DeLuca '08. DeLuca, a first-team all-University Athletic Association selection last season who has led the Judges in scoring each of the past two years, was limited to just 27 minutes of action this weekend over two games due to injury. He is recovering from a right hamstring injury and a lower back injury, hampering his ability to move fluidly on the court.

"I didn't feel that explosive out there," DeLuca said. "I don't feel like I could go by people like I [know I] can."

After tightening up coming off the bench in 19 minutes against Kenyon College last Saturday, coach Brian Meehan chose to start DeLuca against Bridgewater State last Sunday in an attempt to keep him loose. Eventually, however, Meehan said he realized the pace of the game was too fast for DeLuca, and as a result, he had zero points in just eight minutes of action.

DeLuca originally injured his plantar fasciitis, the band of tissue that extends from the heel to the toe on the bottom of the foot, after the team returned from its summer trip to Italy.

Meehan said DeLuca had a difficult time adjusting to orthotics placed in his shoes, which caused his current ailments.

In the interim, Meehan will turn to forwards Terrell Hollins '10, Stephen Hill '08 and Rich Magee '10 to fill DeLuca's role.

"Every game we win without [DeLuca] is a good game for us," Meehan said. "We have enough guys [to go on without him], but he's an important part of what we do."

While his status for tonight's game at Suffolk University is uncertain, DeLuca hopes he can return to full health by Sunday's game at Tufts University.

"It's definitely [frustrating]," DeLuca said. "In a close game I always want to be out there. [But] I know I'm hurt, and rest is good. I'm trying to get back as quickly as possible.