Not all preseason injuries are created equal. Sometimes a minor injury is just that — minor. It goes away quietly, and by the first tip-off most people have already forgotten about it.

There’s also the nagging type, a pain or weakness that never seems to go away, popping up at the worst possible time. And then there’s the season-ending variety, capable of derailing a team’s entire season.

Given the results of Corey Lowe’s MRI, there’s reason to believe he will be playing every game for the men’s basketball team this season. All indications point toward the Terriers’ star player being ready for the first practice, and certainly playing in the first game. Still, it’s hard not to wonder what would happen should he be limited – or worse, unable to play – come Nov. 14.

Yet, even after considering the possibility of a delayed return, I’m strangely unconcerned. This from a Terrier basketball nut, no less. Why the feeling of calm? Why the lack of anxiety?

Make no mistake: I’m not diminishing the importance of a healthy Corey Lowe. Consider Lowe’s three-game absence during conference play last season: BU had to rally from a double-digit deficit to squeak past cellar-dwelling Stony Brook, then it lost by 22 and 13 in home contests against UMBC and Vermont, respectively.

The Terriers scored fewer than 60 points in every game and were 2-5 in conference play at the end of the three-game stretch. It was their low point of the season. Compared with the 8-1 run that began with Lowe’s return against Maine, his impact is undeniable.

But would the Terriers have enjoyed an 8-1 run in conference play without Lowe’s injury? Obviously this is venturing into the hypothetical, but I doubt BU’s late-season success occurs with a healthy Lowe for the entire season.

In the 16 games before Lowe’s absence, the Terriers were 0-11 when No. 13 failed to score more than 20 points. Furthermore, Lowe was the leading scorer in every game the Terriers won prior to his absence.

After Lowe’s return, the Terriers won a total of nine games – more than half of those wins did not feature Lowe as the leading scorer, but all of the losses did. By struggling to generate offense without their star player, Lowe’s supporting cast learned how to complement his scoring when he returned.

A more balanced attack threw off opponents – the old defensive gameplan designed around stopping Lowe at all costs no longer yielded results.

Anyone who attended a basketball game toward the end of last season knows of John Holland’s explosive ability. Is it a coincidence that his four biggest games – a double-double against Stony Brook, 25 points against Binghamton, 23 points against Maine and the often-referenced 38-point, 11 rebound explosion against Hartford – all happened after the Corey Lowe injury? I don’t think so.

Holland is Lowe’s most natural complement on the roster. They don’t play the same position, but Holland’s game resembles Lowe’s, albeit with a bit less range on the jumper and some extra explosion around the rim.

With Lowe absent for a few games, Holland had the opportunity to be a focal point of the offense. With Lowe back on the floor, Holland maintained his aggressiveness, forcing teams to try splitting their resources to defend not one, but two offensively gifted players looking to make plays.

I’m obviously not thrilled about the news of Corey Lowe’s knee injury. Even the smallest knee issue needs to be treated seriously. But the timing of the injury lessens the blow. There is plenty of time for the knee to heal fully, and even if the Terrier star is limited in the early going, it provides an opportunity for his teammates to be more assertive with the ball.

Spreading the ball around can be harmful when other players aren’t able to carry the load. But the Terriers aren’t the young, inexperienced team of the past two years. This team has proven offensive options at multiple positions.

With the players BU has at its disposal, Lowe doesn’t need to be taking 34 percent of his team’s shots. No other America East player took more than 30 percent of his team’s shots while on the court last year.

Of course, ignoring the knee injury, there are millions of other things that could derail the Terriers’ season. Worrying about something yet to happen will just cause more harm than good. What’s fandom without optimism? Anticipating disaster brings relief when disaster is averted, but the anxiety frankly isn’t worth the time.

So until I hear otherwise, I’ll assume Corey Lowe’s knee is healing correctly. While I’m thinking positively, I won’t worry about the preseason coaches’ poll, either — last year’s finalists were picked fifth and sixth.

This year’s Terrier team has all the tools to make a run at an America East title. Mild knee injury or not, I expect nothing less.

Matt Whitrock, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. He can be reached at [email protected].