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UNC's Zeller likely done for season
Freshman center broke his wrist in win over Kentucky, will probably take medical redshirt
AP Photo
UNC's Tyler Zeller broke his wrist filling in for Tyler Hansbrough.
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Published: November 20, 2008
Freshman Tyler Zeller of North Carolina broke his left wrist in Tuesday night's win over Kentucky and likely is lost for the rest of the season.
Zeller underwent surgery yesterday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. A normal recovery time for such an injury is 12 to 16 weeks, according to doctors in the school's sports-medicine program, which makes his return this season unlikely.
Coach Roy Williams said his team will have to adjust to Zeller's absence and overcome its third major injury of the season, starting on Friday in a game at Cal-Santa Barbara, North Carolina's first road game of the season.
"I hate this for Tyler," Williams said in a prepared statement. "He's such a great kid and he's going to be a terrific player for us. It's another big blow for our team but it's more adversity that we have to overcome together."
The Tar Heels earlier lost Tyler Hansbrough, last season's national player of the year, and Marcus Ginyard. They won both of their games with Zeller in the lineup and topped the Wildcats 77-58.
Williams hinted after the Kentucky game that Hansbrough might be able to return in the near future. Hansbrough, a 6-9 senior center, is doing some drills in practice, but isn't participating in fully.
"The bottom line is I think -- make sure you emphasize the word ‘think' -- that he could have already played," Williams said. "But why rush something like that?
"We said from Day One in the whole deal we were going to be extremely conservative. That's what we've been already."
Hansbrough is recovering from a stress reaction in his right shin. Ginyard is coming back from surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.
Zeller, a 7-0 center, started both games at center in Hansbrough's place. He was injured with 1:26 left to play against Kentucky when he fell to the floor after being fouled by Ramon Harris while dunking.
Zeller landed on his wrist. He left the game immediately and was in obvious pain as he walked to the trainer's room.
Junior forward Deon Thompson said immediately after the game that he was concerned for Zeller because of the manner in which he fell on his wrist.
"He was in a lot of pain," Thompson said.
Don Bynum, the surgeon who operated on Zeller's wrist, said he expects a full recovery. Zeller had two points and two steals against Kentucky.
In North Carolina's season-opening win over Pennsylvania, he scored a team-high 18 points.
Zeller should be able to receive a medical redshirt season, which would preserve four seasons of eligibility.
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
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