Now Tillie is out — Watkins is returning

The Utah basketball team can’t seem to catch a break this year. Just when the Utes appear to finally be healthy again, starting forward Kim Tillie has undergone knee surgery and could be out up to three weeks.
Apparently Tillie felt a “catch” in his left knee and felt it would be better to have surgery now. Tillie has had several injuries in his career at Utah, including a broken ankle his freshman year, a stress fracture his sophomore year and a plantar fascia injury last year that kept him out of a couple of games. In all, he has missed 28 games due to injuries coming into this season.
With Tillie out, the Utes could use JC transfer Matt Read or go “small” with Jay Watkins and Shawn Glover playing more minutes. Watkins, who hasn’t practiced with the team since last Thursday after going home to be with his step-father before he died, is expected to return Wednesday night. Coach Jim Boylen expects him to play Saturday afternoon against TCU.
Besides Tillie, Watkins has missed six games with a groin injury, Jason Washburn has missed two games with a concussion as well as six weeks with a knee injury and David Foster has missed a game and a half with a sprained ankle.