Tale of the Tape Appears Over

The deep gash on Earl Watson’s shooting hand, which required stitches, has apparently healed but he still has a problem.

Watson played with the pain and general difficulty of gripping the ball for three consecutive games because of the wound at the base of the middle and forefinger, which he had taped.

He went without tape last Sunday at Washington, but reopened the wound two days later in practice and had to go with tape again Thursday against Oregon.

Sunday against Oregon State, he played without tape.

The problem now is that he has to rub cream on the wound so the skin doesn’t crack again. Too much means it can make the ball difficult to control.

“I have to get in my mind-set where I’m not going to let it bother me,” Watson said. “That’s the main thing.”

Watson was 18 for 39 shooting in four games with tape, 16 for 31 in two games without.

“It’s been a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Watson said. “I expected the worst, really. I played through it. That’s the important thing.”

Up Next

Thursday at Stanford, 7:30 p.m. Cardnial holds 1 1/2 game lead over Bruins and Arizona in the Pacific 10 Conference, Saturday at California.