Black Bears’ Petkus perseveres through pain to contribute

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Most Division I college basketball players wouldn’t consider a season in which they averaged 4.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game anything to brag about.

Couple that with the fact you’re a veteran leader of a team that goes 12-16 overall in your final season of collegiate basketball and you can see how there would be reason for disappointment.

Make no mistake. Freddy Petkus was disappointed with his final season, but only because of his high personal standards. For just about anyone else who’s human, the University of Maine senior guard’s season would have been a rousing success based solely on the fact he played in all 28 games.

You see, the 25-year-old native of Plunge, Lithuania, has been playing ball since his junior season two years ago with occasionally severe back pain caused by deteriorating discs.

Despite the pain, which at times was debilitating, the 6-foot-6, 204-pound Petkus managed to play in all 30 of Maine’s games his junior year, averaging just more than 19 minutes, 4.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and one assist per game.

“I pretty much noticed early on my junior year and tried to play through it,” Petkus said. “My chiropractor said injuries like this are from playing football with a hard tackle or a car injury and I’ve had neither of them, so I guess I just banged it somewhere along the line and set it off.”

When Ted Woodward took over the head coaching position two years ago, he suggested Petkus take an NCAA-approved medical redshirt year in what would have been his senior season.

During his “off” year, Petkus worked to build his overall strength through water (pool) resistance workouts, targeted conditioning and specialized exercises. He also received medical and chiropractic treatment.

“I just worked out with my conditioning coach to get my legs stronger and take pressure off my back,” Petkus explained. “It’s made a big difference.”

He also continued practicing with the team.

“We planned to keep him limited in practice, but he liked it and wanted to practice more and more. He didn’t like taking days off,” said Woodward.

Even with the improvement in Petkus’ strength, conditioning, and comfort level, the pain was still there. It ranged in severity from ache to significant pain, but it was always there.

“I feel it every day. It limits my quickness and my jumping ability. It’s like a dull ache in the small of my back,” he explained. “I just had to learn how to live with it.

“It’s not going away. It’s still there. I just had to learn what my body can do now and I’m stuck with it, you know?”

Those familiar with Petkus’ condition marvel at how he’s managed to come back and play a whole season with it.

“He was in a lot of discomfort his junior year,” said Woodward. “We really didn’t know if he’d be able to finish the season, or even play ball again.

“There are lots of people who would have said ‘enough’ and given up, but he sacrificed a lot to get himself back out there.”

Woodward marvels at Petkus’ dedication and desire.

“I’ve been with him now five years and I have a lot of respect for the things he had to do just to play this year,” said Woodward. “That shows his character and makeup. He was an inspiration to us. Even opposing players were impressed.”

There were those who weren’t that impressed, but they soon changed their minds.

“There were people who couldn’t understand why we were even playing him,” Woodward said. “I heard that a lot, even from people I have a lot of basketball respect for.

“Freddy won’t jump out at anyone, but he makes his teammates better, does whatever you ask of him, and puts you in position to win games.”

Petkus not only came back, he made himself an asset – one that Maine utilized more and more as the season wore on.

“He’s completely changed his game, where once he used to post up and come off screens, he’s made himself into a cerebral, jump-shooting, good-passing big guard,” said Woodward. “And for all who think he was limited defensively, he’d hold his own against big guys to the point where he was probably our most reliable post defender other than [6-10 America East-leading shot blocker] Olli [Ahvenniemi].”

Petkus averaged 12 points over his last two games, and although he didn’t have a lot of assists, steals, rebounds or blocks, the ones he did have were usually key ones that came in the final 15 minutes.

“He was huge for us in several games this season. He hit some big shots when we needed him,” said Woodward. “Plus, he’s a coach on the floor. Our coaches actually call him coach Freddy because of his knowledge and approach.”

Petkus will have surgery eventually, but the timetable for the necessary treatment and surgery is uncertain at this point.

“So far they’re doing one, so it may be five or six years before I have them both taken care of,” he said.

So what does the future hold for Petkus, who will celebrate his first wedding anniversary with wife Andrea on Aug. 25? Well, the business major, who has a 10-month-old son Dominykas, wants to eventually get into the international business field, but first he wants to see if he can play professional basketball.

“I kind of want to get out of the states for awhile and see what’s out there. Hopefully I can get my back good enough to play overseas a couple years,” said Petkus. “I don’t know where, but I just don’t want to think back 10 years from now and wish I did it. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out. At least I gave it a chance.”

Chances are things Petkus certainly appreciates and makes good use of, so if he gets a chance to play professionally, don’t be surprised if he makes the most of it.