Beekman said he’s still coping with the hamstring injury he suffered during a Dec. 6 game against James Madison.
“There are good and bad days with it,” he said, “and some days are not as good as others, but I’m able to play through it and be functional with it, so it’s good.”
He said his days are usually longer in order to perform at his best.
“It’s showing up to practice like an hour early, which sometimes can be a lot,” Beekman said. “But, getting in the hot tank and warming it up and getting some standing-light therapy with it. [UVa head athletic trainer] Ethan [Saliba] has been working with me a lot and has been doing a great job. And he’s really dedicated a lot of time to help me and trying to get it right.”
Beekman has been committed to staying on the court, too, according to McKneely.
In addition to igniting UVa on Thursday, Beekman also helped the Cavaliers break Carolina’s press repeatedly when the Tar Heels got desperate in the final minutes.
“He lives in the rehab room with Ethan,” McKneely said. “After practice every day, he’s spending hours. Before practice, he’s spending hours and he’s been dedicated, which is why I think he’s been able to come back because that’s a serious injury. Hamstrings take a while to heal, so he’s doing everything he can to recover and I’m really proud of him because he really played great tonight – as he does every night.”
Beekman didn’t have any turnovers either against the Tar Heels, and over the last four games he’s tallied 30 assists and only one turnover.
“When it first happened, I was like, ‘This might be something where I might be out for a while,’” Beekman said, “so I really wasn’t sure how long it was going to be or how affected I’d be, but I feel like I’ve been able to get back to a level where I’m comfortable to play at and just be a great contributor to the team.”https://dailyprogress.com/sports/beekmans-burst-of-energy-willingness-to-play-through-pain-aids-virginia-in-quarterfinal-win/article_af87cfc8-bef5-11ed-8d08-43b653ea8662.html