It’s been less than 48 hours and already Luke Harangody wants to rip off the new blue accessory on his right wrist and forearm.
Harangody, a sophomore forward for Notre Dame, torn a ligament in his right thumb during practice Monday, had a cast placed on it Tuesday and for the next three-to-six weeks will not be playing for the Irish.
“It’s real frustrating at times but it could have been a lot worse of an injury,” Harangody said. “It could have happened in the middle of the season. Still, it’s very, very frustrating to get hurt at any time.”
The Schererville native started 16 games last season, was Notre Dame’s fourth-leading scorer with 11.2 points a game and the team’s second leading rebounder with 6.2 a game. He was a Big East All-Rookie team member because he used a dominant right hand to beat opponents.
Now, he’s learning everything – from eating to writing to showering – with his left.
“I tried writing,” Harangody said. “It really hasn’t worked that well. Other than basketball, it’s been a huge inconvenience. I can’t eat. I can’t do anything.”
Harangody will spend most of the next three weeks on the exercise bike trying to keep himself in shape.
Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said Harangody won’t play in either exhibition game and plans on re-evaluating it in early November. If the thumb had needed surgery, it could have been a season-ending ordeal for the sophomore.
Instead, the Irish expect him back next month.
“You’re hopeful that after three weeks that you can play him November 12,” Brey said. “But you have to be smart about it, too. You have to make sure he’s very ready to go.”
Notre Dame has two exhibitions and then opens its season on
Nov. 12 against Long Island University.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette
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