Indiana’s Bracey Wright knows about the importance of the offseason all too well.
After a freshman year where he claimed Third-Team All-Big Ten and All-Freshman honors, Wright faced a daunting setback in the offseason before his sophomore campaign.
He underwent surgery on his back May 12, 2003, and then faced an extended rehabilitation period. The operation was needed to help him overcome a recurring back injury that cost him four games during the second half of his freshman year.
In order to be healthy for the following season, Wright was forced to miss much of Indiana’s offseason workouts. He wasn’t even cleared by team physicians to participate in any physical activity until September 2003.
“I had to limit myself to some of the activities that I did, as far as (not) re-injuring myself or something like that,” Wright said.
This lack of preparation and conditioning resulted in what many saw as a sophomore slump for Wright.
His overall numbers were still impressive and led to a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection, but Wright’s productivity faded at the end of the season.
“I think the lack of me being able to play over the (previous) summer got to me before the end of the year,” Wright said. “I think I wore down faster than a lot of other players did because I didn’t have those three months to play and condition and prepare.”
And as Wright’s effectiveness dwindled in February, so did Indiana’s postseason hopes.
After averaging 21 points per game in nonconference play at the beginning of the season, Wright’s scoring average dropped to 16 points per game in Big Ten action.
The Hoosier’s went 1-6 during the month of February 2004, and much of blame for those struggles was placed squarely on Wright’s fatigued shoulders.
“When you’re looking from the outside, all you know is that’s Bracey Wright and you expect him to play better than how he played as a freshman,” Indiana coach Mike Davis said. “But I don’t know any player, who you tell not to do anything May, June, July and August, and then tell him to start jogging for the first time in September, that’s going to walk in and be great.
“It was unfair to him last year that he was judged the way he was judged.”
But in this past offseason, Wright was injury-free and could compete full-go.
The added preparation has shown through this season, with Wright leading the Big Ten in scoring at 18.7 points per game.
Wright also used the offseason to bulk up his 6-foot-3 frame.
“I was able to prepare more and play more,” Wright said. “I was able to let loose and just play and keep pace with everybody else.”
In an overtime win against Michigan State on Sunday, Wright took over late in the game. The junior finished with a season-high 32 points. His 3-pointer with 41 seconds left in overtime sealed the victory for the Hoosiers to keep their NCAA tourney hopes alive.
“I think Bracey’s able to make the athletic plays that he did earlier in his career,” Indiana guard Marshall Strickland said. “He’s starting to look like he’s 100 percent again.”
Reach Zach Silka at [email protected].
