Dec. 30, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Kevin Coble, who has missed the first nine games of the Northwestern men's basketball team's 2007-08 season, has returned to practice with the Wildcats and is expected to be in uniform in the Big Ten season opener at home against Penn State Wednesday.
The team's leading scorer and rebounder as a freshman last season, Coble has spent the opening part of this season at home in his native Arizona while helping his mother through her treatments for cancer.
After practicing with the team three times prior to the holiday break, the sophomore forward rejoined the program full-time on Saturday.
"It's great to be back," Coble said. "Throughout the whole process, we always looked at it as when I did get back here for this final time, that my mom was going to be doing well and there was light at the end of the tunnel with only one more treatment. To be back here is like a weight lifted off my shoulders knowing that I'll be back playing basketball and more importantly that my mom is doing well.
"I'd like to thank all the coaches, my teammates, advisors and all the professors who helped me through the past quarter. It was really tough to get it done, but their help was unbelievable. I couldn't have done it without them. I'd also like to thank all of my friends back in Arizona and everyone else who has had us in their thoughts and prayers."
The Wildcats, who are 5-4 overall this season and have won four straight games, will face Penn State at 8 p.m. Wednesday in a contest that will be televised by ESPN2.