IU's Coverdale will start

ATLANTA (AP) -- Indiana point guard Tom Coverdale started Saturday night in the Final Four against Oklahoma, although his sprained left ankle is not 100 percent.

The Hoosiers' second-leading scorer was listed as questionable all week, but he worked out with the team Saturday morning. Team spokesman Jeff Fanter said Coverdale's ankle had healed enough to allow him to play.

"Our trainers gave him the OK," Fanter said.

Coverdale sprained the ankle while driving against Kent State last Saturday. He did not return to the game, finishing with 14 points and seven assists in the Hoosiers' 81-69 victory. He was honored as the South Regional's most outstanding player.

Coverdale spent Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on crutches. He also underwent what he called "aggressive" rehabilitation -- wearing an "ice boot" and receiving electric stimulation on the ankle -- for much of the week.

Coverdale was healthy enough to participate in some shooting drills Friday morning. But he limped to the bench and sat next to coach Mike Davis during the Hoosiers' one-hour public workout later in the afternoon.

"I'm just excited to be able to go out and play," Coverdale said as the team arrived at the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

Coverdale averages 12.2 points, and his 172 assists are almost twice as many as the Hoosiers' next best player.

Freshman Donald Perry is expected to get more playing time than usual because of Coverdale's injury.

 

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