Goran Jagodnik out indefinitely

The opening-game home defeat suffered by Union Olimpija at the hands of FC Barcelona Regal on Thursday went beyond a mark in the loss column. In the last practice before that game, Olimpija also lost its team captain Goran Jagodnik for some time. Jagodnik, 37, took a blow to the stomach during that practice that required his immediate hospitalization. The next morning, while his teammates prepared for the Euroleague opener, Jagodnik underwent successful surgery on his abdominal cavity, but the recuperation will keep him out of action for months. Jagodnik was one of Olimpija's inspirational players last season as the team surprised everyone by making it to the Top 16 and drawing some of the biggest crowds in Europe. Jagodnik averaged 10.4 points off the bench last season and was ranked 12th among all Euroleague players in points per minute. Over his three Euroleague seasons total, including two at Asseco Prokom of Poland, Jagodnik has averaged 13.4 points, ranking him among the competition's top 50 players in scoring average since the start of the century.