TORONTO - Tyler Hansbrough hasnt played in over three weeks but his long-awaited return to the court could be around the corner. Chris Sale Red Sox Jersey . The Raptors forward has been sidelined for 11 games, longer than originally expected, after aggravating a lingering left ankle injury against his former team in the Jan. 1 win over Indiana. Although theres still no clear timetable - hell be a game-time decision in Philadelphia Friday, the case for most of this month - Hansbrough has ramped up his work and believes hes made significant progress. "Today was the most Ive done on it," Hansbrough told TSN.ca prior to Wednesdays contest. "Its definitely getting better, just a few steps but its improving. I feel like Im right around the corner from playing." Participating in practice to some degree for nearly two weeks, Hansbrough continues to work with Torontos renowned training staff to strengthen his ankle. Originally categorized as day-to-day with an ankle sprain, Hansbrough was removed from the injury report altogether and is now simply being listed as inactive while the team waits for him to say hes ready to go. The 28-year-old has been hesitant to rush his return, opting to play it safe and wait until hes close to 100 per cent, according to team sources. "Obviously I want to be out there but its just one of those things where its taken a while," Hansbrough said. "But its getting better." "There was really no set schedule," he continued. "Im improving, I know that, so when Im there, Im there and Ill be ready." The team estimated he would need four-to-five days of rest after he missed his first game with the ankle ailment, and third of the campaign, in Washington on Jan. 3. The injury has turned out to be more intricate than they anticipated. "Its more of a bruise," Dwane Casey said last week. "I dont want to rush him back and I dont think he wants to rush back either," said Casey ahead of the Bucks game on Jan. 13. "If he had to go, if it was a playoff game tonight, hed probably be able to go." That was 10 days ago and still, Hansbrough and the Raptors are taking things game-by-game. "I sat down with the trainers and we kind of came up with when we thought Id be ready," said the forward. "I feel like Ill be on the court very soon." In his fifth NBA season and first with the Raptors, Hansbrough is averaging 5.5 points - a career-low - and 5.0 rebounds in 28 contests. Signed to a two-year deal last summer, his contract is only partially guaranteed for next season. With the former Pacer sidelined, a couple of newly acquired bigs have stepped up and seized the opportunity in Caseys generally strict nine-man rotation. Often the first player off Torontos bench, Patrick Patterson is averaging 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds since coming to the Raptors in the Rudy Gay trade last month. Chuck Hayes, also acquired in that deal, has earned the trust of his coach with his veteran savvy on defence. Although he was playing well before getting hurt - even supplanting starter Amir Johnson earlier in the season - and Casey is a strong believer that you shouldnt lose your job to injury, the Raptors coach has a tough decision to make when Hansbrough is finally able to make his return. Certainly its not a bad problem for a coach to have, but what will Hansbroughs role be when hes back in uniform and how will Casey juggle his five bigs? "Well see," Casey said after practice Thursday. "Tylers a valuable part of what we were doing earlier, his intensity and what he brings to the table is important but those other guys have really set the tone for the second unit." "Im sure hes not going to be able to come in and go full-bore for big minutes but we want to get him back in the rotation at some point." Rick Porcello Red Sox Jersey .Y. -- As if the worst start in franchise history isnt bad enough, Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black braced his teams win-starved fans for potentially more tough times. Carlton Fisk Red Sox Jersey . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. http://www.redsoxapparelsshop.com/ . First, the Red Wings scored the tying goal after officials missed the puck hitting the protective netting, then the Kings wound up losing in a shootout. That could affect playoff positioning in the Eastern and Western Conferences, and thats a concern for everyone.Berkeley, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Nigel Hayes recorded a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds and No. 6 Wisconsin went into Haas Pavilion and shut down the California Golden Bears en route to a 68-56 victory. Cal came in averaging over 70 points per game but succumbed to Wisconsins vaunted defense, which limited the Bears to 38.9 percent shooting. Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky each donated 14 points and combined for 14 rebounds for the Badgers (11-1), winners of four in a row following their lone loss against No. 2 Duke. We took care of the ball, got high percentage shots when we needed them, free throw shots, said Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan, whose team went 17-of-18 from the stripe. I thought we played pretty well considering we were the team traveling. Tyrone Wallace led Cal (10-2) with 17 points while Jordan Mathews added 15 in the loss, the teams first in eight games. The only time the Bears led was when it was a 2-0 game. They were within 17-16 late in the first half bbefore Wisconsin went on a 15-4 tear over the final 6 1/2 minutes. Steven Wright Red Sox Jersey. Five players contributed points during the surge, and Duje Dukans three-point play yielded a 32-20 cushion heading into the locker room. Cal trimmed a 17-point deficit down the eight on Mathews 3-pointer at the midway point of the second half, but Kaminsky answered with a straightaway 3 to restore the double-digit advantage. Hayes converted a three-point play and threw down a dunk in two of the next three Wisconsin possessions, and the difference never dipped below a dozen the rest of the way. Obviously they saw an opportunity with Hayes and decided to ride him. He had success from start to finish, Cal head coach Cuonzo Martin said. We had to get better in this particular game on our post defense. Game Notes Cal had won its previous 17 non-conference home games ... Hayes has recorded three double-doubles this season ... Wisconsin shot 43.6 percent from the field. Cheap Denver Nuggets Jerseys Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Oklahoma City Thunder Jerseys Cheap Portland Trail Blazers Jerseys Cheap Utah Jazz Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Clippers Jerseys Cheap Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys Cheap Phoenix Suns Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Dallas Mavericks Jerseys Cheap Houston Rockets Jerseys Cheap Memphis Grizzlies Jerseys Cheap New Orleans Pelicans Jerseys Cheap San Antonio Spurs Jerseys Cheap Golden State Warriors Jerseys ' ' '