A real come-back

The issuing of practice gear is generally a routine procedure at college basketball programs across the country. Established veterans barely raise an eye during the process. Incoming freshmen are probably excited, but suppress the emotion if upperclassmen are around.

For Gonzaga’s Larry Gurganious, the mundane act was an absolute thrill.

“I’ve waited, what, an entire year,” said Gurganious, who was sidelined last season by a back injury that initially raised concerns whether the 6-foot-5 sophomore forward would play basketball again. “When we got the practice jerseys this year I was like, ‘Man, it’s been a while since I’ve been able to wear one.’

“Most people aren’t even thinking about that – a practice jersey. It’s big. It’ll be even bigger when the game jerseys come around.”

Tonight, Gurganious’ comeback takes another step as the Bulldogs stage their first practice of the highly anticipated 2007-08 season.

“It’s huge,” he said of the first workout. “Huge isn’t even the right word. I really can’t wait.”

That’s because roughly a year ago, Gurganious wasn’t in such good spirits after he rose up to dunk during individual drills with guards and forwards, but was bumped in midair by a teammate and landed awkwardly.

“I came down straight-legged,” Gurganious said. “They say that’s where I could have chipped one of my vertebrae. Initially my back started to spasm. I couldn’t stand up straight. I tried to keep going, but it wasn’t working.”

Initial medical evaluations weren’t favorable. Gurganious had a stress reaction in his lower back and doctors were concerned his career might be in jeopardy.

“We were told things like that don’t heal, that there’s a really good chance that particular part of the vertebrae is slow to heal,” GU head coach Mark Few said. “That’s why he was totally immobile. He couldn’t jump or make a shooting motion or do any exercise. They wanted it to calm down in there.”

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Not only did it end his 2006-07 season before it started, Gurganious was also dealing with other problems. He declined to elaborate, but said it involved “different dramas and personal stuff here and back home” in California.

“I was really like a walking zombie,” said Gurganious, who played in 31 games in 2005-06.

He was required to wear a rigid brace that “looked like a toilet seat” for four hours a day. For two long months, Gurganious worried about his future.

“A big help was when I went back to the doctors a couple months later and they said they saw a huge improvement,” he said. “I couldn’t feel (the brace) working, but I guess it did. It sent waves, like a magnet or whatever, but I couldn’t feel it.”

Gurganious was doing pool workouts about the time GU faced Indiana in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He soon started running, working on change of direction, but he still wasn’t allowed to jump.

He was told he’d be able to return to the court, but “they were predicting much later in the summer, pretty much right before we came back for school,” Gurganious said.

Gurganious wasn’t as patient. He tested himself, which he admits was a mistake, and found that he was nowhere near ready in early May.

“It was a bad, bad idea, but I still did it,” he said. “Eventually, they said it was actually good for me because it was testing where I was at the time and I wasn’t feeling any (pain) while I played, (no) spasms, so they turned me loose.”

Gradually, Gurganious’ endurance and strength improved. He was able to play pickup games with teammates and participate in the conditioning program. He will practice tonight without limitation and he feels he might be in better shape than before his back injury.

“There’s a little soreness once in a while, but nothing bad,” he said. “I feel I can definitely jump a lot higher and I’m a lot stronger than when I first got here.”

Teammates have noticed.

“He’s playing with a lot more energy,” said Jeremy Pargo, who rooms with Gurganious. “He’s excited and you can see it in his game. He’s going to do well.”

“He’s responded really well,” David Pendergraft said. “I think he’s the most improved player out here. He’s a freak athlete anyway, but he’s jumping so quick and so high. He’s winning sprint drills and our best athlete competition we have with testing. He’s coming out and flying around, getting rebounds.”

Not to mention his defense.

“He’s maybe the best on-ball defender we’ve ever had,” Few said. “He really gets it and can move his feet and do things with his hands. Erroll (Knight) was terrific, but Larry might be able to move better laterally than even Erroll because his knees kind of wore down.”

Gurganious knew his recovery was on schedule when he gained the confidence of his teammates.

“Before it was kind of hesitant, ‘I don’t know if he’s back, I don’t know if I should get him the ball,’ ” he said. “But now I’m back part of everything.”

He has the practice jersey to prove it.