Indiana University Athletics
Bracey Wright Undergoes Back Surgery
5/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 6, 2003
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana guard Bracey Wright underwent back surgery on Tuesday, May 6. The main purpose of the procedure was to relieve nerve pressure in Wright's lower back that forced the Hoosiers' leading scorer (16.2 ppg.) to miss four games from Jan. 15-25 and play through considerable pain the last two months of the season.During the procedure, doctors shaved part of the protruding disc that was exerting pressure on a nerve in Wright's lower back. Doctors expect Wright to make a full recovery in six weeks.
"We decided to do the surgery now so that it would not interfere with Bracey's academic schedule, and so he could be back at full strength by July 1," IU coach Mike Davis said. "This is an injury that Bracey dealt with off and on since his junior year of high school and he deserves credit for trying to play through it for as long as he did. It tells you how unselfish of a player he is, trying to help his team as much as he could. Bracey has a real positive attitude and is ready to work hard to be back at 100 percent by July 1."
Wright closed his freshman season with a team-high 16.2 points per game average, the best by a Big Ten freshman and tied for fourth in the league overall. Despite missing four games, Wright still set the school freshman record with 66 three-pointers. The 6-3 guard closed his inaugural campaign with 25 double figure scoring games, the third-best freshman double figure scoring game total in school history. Wright opened his career with 14 straight double figure scoring efforts, the best debut in Hoosier history and the second-longest streak by a freshman.Wright's 486 points on the season are the most since Calbert Cheaney had 495 in 1989-90.
Wright was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman team, the College Insider.com All-Freshman team, All-Big Ten Third Team and Basketball Times All-Freshman Second-Team.
Players Mentioned
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