Gottfried "Playing" Through Pain

Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried was back on the job Monday morning and on the floor coaching Monday afternoon despite being operated on late Sunday night.

Alabama Basketball Coach Mark Gottfried, 43, had surgery at Tuscaloosa’s DCH Regional Medical Center around 9:15 p.m. Sunday night to repair a small hernia. The surgery was performed by Dr. George Nunn. Gottfried chose not to spend the night at the hospital and returned home around 1 a.m. Monday. He was back in his office holding his regular staff meetings and reviewing film Monday morning.

“I’m good,” said Gottfried to a handful of media before practice on Monday. “It’s one of those things I’m always telling my players: you’ve got to play through. So today I’m playing through. Things come up. Everything’s fine and good. We’re ready to concentrate on Georgetown.”

Alabama, 4-2, plays the No. 4 ranked Hoyas, 5-0, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CST in Birmingham at the BJCC in the first game of a doubleheader for the Pizza Hut SEC-Big East Invitational. The game will be telecast by ESPN. Auburn vs. West Virginia follows that game.

Gottfried said he’d been bothered by some pain recently and it was exacerbated during Wednesday night’s game at Texas A&M. He said on Sunday doctors suggested he go ahead and have the surgery Sunday night.

He expected to make his scheduled appearance Monday night on his weekly radio show which airs live in Tuscaloosa from Wings Sports Grille