When DeMarre Carroll graduates next year, the table against the left wall of the training room in Mizzou Arena should be dedicated to him. After all the hours he’s spent lying on it receiving treatment, he’s earned it. Mornings, evenings, afternoons, all strapped to a machine sending electrical pulses designed to bring temporary relief to a badly injured ankle that just won’t heal.

It’s been nearly three months, and if anything, Carroll said, it’s getting worse.

“I’m just hurt. It’s the same thing as always. It’s just one of those injuries just nagging and because I continue playing on it, it just gets worse and worse and worse. I’m just going to keep giving everything I’ve got. I hope I can produce more.”

More than the five points and zero rebounds he managed in 14 minutes against Oklahoma State on Tuesday. Carroll knew a game like that was coming, he felt it in shootaround and told coach Mike Anderson not to hesitate to sit him.

“I was more sore than anything,” Carroll said. “I was limited and coach, I told him that if I’m not producing or doing what I’m capable of doing or I’m hurting the team, just take me out. And that’s what he did.”

Carroll’s absence paved the way for a breakout game by forward Leo Lyons, and also sparked his teammates to play hard for their junior leader, who has been playing hard for them despite barely being able to walk. For most of this season, Carroll has been hampered by a sprained ankle. That injury was worsened on Feb. 4 against Kansas, when he twisted it while chasing a loose ball near the sideline.

He hasn’t been the same since. But teammates feed off Carroll’s effort, and appreciate it even if it’s in small spurts.

“He’s our leader,” Lyons said. “A lot of people see him going out there and trying hard. He might go for a minute or 2 minutes, but just that minute or 2 minutes he might have like three rebounds and a few points. We always follow him because he’s going out there and working hard, so it puts it to everyone else to match his level.”

With three games left in the regular season, Carroll’s ankle is starting to feel the weight of five months of intense training and games, but letting his team down would be more excruciating than anything he’s feeling now. Carroll, like his teammates, is holding out hope for a postseason bid, and he knows that he has to contribute if that’s going to happen.
“It’s frustrating,” Carroll said. “It’s like it never gets better. It’s frustrating, but there’s not too much I can do about it. I just pray about it, and get treatment, and hopefully, these last four games I can help out more than I have these past five games.

“I think I owe it to my team, even if I’m hurt, to give everything I’ve got. As long as it’s not a career-ending injury, I’m going to keep playing.”