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Gonzaga Basketball

Przemek Karnowski’s doctor has Gonzaga and Northwestern ties

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few speaks to the media, Friday. March 17, 2017, about the Bulldogs’ upcoming game against Northwestern. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few speaks to the media, Friday. March 17, 2017, about the Bulldogs’ upcoming game against Northwestern. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

SALT LAKE CITY – The text showed up on Gonzaga senior center Przemek Karnowski’s phone Thursday.

“Hey, I don’t know who to root for?”

The author: Dr. John Shuster, the orthopaedic spine surgeon who performed Karnowski’s back surgery on Dec. 31, 2015. The rub: Shuster earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Northwestern in 1987.

Gonzaga and Northwestern meet Saturday in the NCAA round-of-32 at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

The doctor and patient stay in touch. Shuster attended Karnowski’s Senior Night game against BYU at the McCarthey Athletic Center last month.

“He basically gave me a new life,” Karnowski said. “He fixed everything that was wrong with me.”

And Karnowski’s text reply to Shuster? “I cannot tell you what to do. I can only suggest.”