Purdue Reaches Out to Engineers About NCAA-Approved Brace for Isaac Haas

Mechanical engineers at Purdue University are reportedly working on creating a brace for Boilermakers center Isaac Haas' broken right elbow.

According to Nathan Baird of the Journal & Courier in Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue sports medicine reached out to the school's mechanical engineering department in hopes of developing an NCAA-approved device that could allow Haas to play through the injury.

He suffered the setback in Purdue's first-round NCAA men's tournament win over Cal State Fullerton, and head coach Matt Painter said he expected the big man to miss the remainder of the season.

Haas did not play in Purdue's second-round win against Butler.

Despite the possibility of a better brace for Haas, Painter tempered expectations Monday, per Baird:

"You fracture your elbow, it's really hard. It makes for good conversation because he wants to play. I think that's a good sign—that he wants to play.

"I don't think the key is him getting some other apparatus that gets approved by the NCAA. You've still got to be able to shoot a right-handed free throw. You've got to be able to rebound with two hands. You've got to be able to catch the ball."

Haas took part in warm-ups prior to the Butler game but was limited to using his left arm.

The 7'2" senior enjoyed a career-best year in 2017-18. The Alabama native averaged 14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

He ranks second on the team in scoring, rebounding and shot blocking.

Without Haas in the lineup against Butler, 7'3" freshman Matt Haarms got the start and put up seven points, six rebounds and two blocks.

No. 2 Purdue will face third-seeded Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 on Friday.