Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody will participate in the shootaround before tonight’s game at Louisville (7:30, ESPN2) but whether he plays will be a game-time decision.
“I was in street clothes sitting on the bench for the St. John’s game on Sunday and my status for today’s game at Louisville probably will be a game-time decision,” Harangody said in diary written for NWI.com.
The nation’s second-leading scorer at 24.1 points per game, Harangody suffered a deep bone bruise to his right knee during the second half of a Feb. 11 loss at Seton Hall. He then sat out Sunday’s 69-68 home loss to St. John’s.
“I was proud of my teammates; we fought hard in the one-point loss, but I can tell you this, watching from the bench was excruciating,” Harangody wrote.
Notre Dame is 17-9, 6-7 in the Big East and squarely on the NCAA tournament bubble. If Harangody sits out tonight’s game, he would have a week off before the Irish host Pittsburgh Feb. 24. The Irish close the season with games at Georgetown (Feb. 27), home against UConn (March 3) and at Marquette (March 6).
Louisville coach Rick Pitino said his team is ready either way.
“My belief is he won’t play,” Pitino told the Louisville Courier Journal.
Louisville wing Reginald Delk is expected back after missing the Cardinals’ win over Syracuse on Sunday with back spasms. He averages 6.6 points and 3.3 rebounds.
“I could have played Delk the other night and I didn’t; I wanted him for this game,” Pitino said. “I find when guys aren’t 100 percent, they re-injure themselves.”
(Photo courtesy Notre Dame Athletics
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