Louisville basketball's Noah Waterman underwent thumb surgery last month, Pat Kelsey says

Louisville basketball’s Noah Waterman underwent thumb surgery last month, Pat Kelsey says

Posted by author January 10, 2025 Basketball

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It’s no secret that Louisville basketball’s Noah Waterman has been powering through an injury to his right thumb. Just look at how taped up it’s been the past few games.

But on Thursday night, during his radio show on the Cardinal Sports Network, coach Pat Kelsey revealed that the sixth-year forward underwent surgery on it in late December and hasn’t let it keep him off the court.

“I don’t even know if I should say this, but I’m going to say it anyway,” Kelsey told play-by-play announcer Paul Rogers. “That cat had surgery.”

“I’ve seen the thumb,” Rogers replied. “It’s not a pretty sight.”

“He had four pins put in his thumb, and the cat’s playing,” Kelsey said. “The last three games: making big shots, crashing the glass. You talk about toughness personified. … Sign me up for those type of guys.”

Going by Kelsey’s timeline, Waterman underwent surgery after the highlight of his season to date: a go-ahead layup over two Eastern Kentucky defenders with 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation to help U of L escape with a 78-76 win over the Colonels — avoiding a loss that would have hurt its NCAA Tournament résumé.

When a reporter brought up the tape on his thumb after the victory, Kelsey said: “He’s fine. At this time of the year, every team in the country is a little bit nicked up.”

His teammates, however, indicated the injury was worse than the coach was letting on. And the fact that he’s playing through it goes a long way, considering the Cards will be without Kasean Pryor (knee) and Koren Johnson (shoulder) for the remainder of the season.

“His thumb is probably really, really messed up; and he chooses to get it taped and come out there and practice and play with us — and actually play hard,” Terrence Edwards Jr. said. “That means a lot to us.

“He gets a lot of criticism, but he’s one of the toughest guys I’ve probably ever played with.”

Waterman, a Savannah, New York, native, has started the three games since his surgery, averaging 4.7 points on 37.5% shooting and 3.7 rebounds across 21 minutes per contest.

Louisville next plays at noon Saturday on the road against Pittsburgh.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.