Remember when North Carolina's frontcourt was going to be the strength of its team? With sophomore Ed Davis out for six weeks — essentially, the rest of the season — with a broken bone on his left wrist, the Tar Heels are going to be scrambling for big bodies when they play N.C. State on Saturday.
Reserve 7-footer Tyler Zeller, who has already been sidelined five weeks with a broken bone in his right foot, isn't due to return until the end of next week at the earliest. Reserve freshman forward Travis Wear is still out with a severely sprained ankle and will not play against the Wolfpack.
That leaves normal starter Deon Thompson at one slot in the post, David Wear or John Henson (who has recently moved from small forward to power forward) starting in the other slot, and Will Graves (usually the starting small forward) to fill in.
The Tar Heels enter Saturday's game with the Wolfpack on a four-game losing streak and a 2-7 record in the ACC.
Davis will be the seventh UNC player this season to miss at least one game because of injury. In addition to Zeller and Travis Wear, senior Marcus Ginyard missed four games because of a sore foot, then sprained ankle, freshman Dexter Strickland missed a game because of a hamstring injury and Graves and reserve sophomore Justin Watts each missed a game because of sprained ankles.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at
Comments
Caroliana Sucks!
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 09:45 — PuddentainBut before you come back with State Sucks!, we already know.
poontain!!!
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 10:59 — bluecat69bluecat69stateSUCKS, stateSUCKS, stateSUCKS, state SUCKS, stateSUCKS,ok go DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!
The saving grace of Davis'
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 22:47 — buzzpatThe saving grace of Davis' injury and this horrible year...the young guys are learning to toughen up and Davis will be back next year. I can't see him going into the draft after this year and this injury. Next year will be markedly different for Carolina. The Dookies and the rest of the league better enjoy this while it lasts...because its not gonna last. ;)
50/50
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 11:12 — gvillegatrI'm not so sure he isn't just packing it in for the year so his stock can't drop any further off of perceived team play. he may very well be going to the association.
it is one thing to be good and play for a traditionally crappy school, but another to be good playing on a bad team that is traditionally the best year in and year out.
I hope I strike out on this one, but who knows in the year 2010. 25 years ago this never would have come into my mind. of course, I was naieve to the world at 8 yrs old, too.
PUZZPAT!!!
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 11:04 — bluecat69bluecat69OH YEA! U GOT SKY-HOOK HENSON COMING BACK , PROBABLY THE BIGGEST BUST OF THE YR. AND THE -- I CANT JUMP WEAR BROTHERS, AND THE WORST EVER 8 FOOTER ZELLAR, WE ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT THE TARRR- HOLES, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!
they have plenty
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 18:26 — bbiscoolthey have more then a enough, coach didnt have big men last year or year b4 n they had good season, so if ol roy will coach they SHOULD be fine, but i forgot UNC dont have coach K! hahahaha
Deleted by user...Reason: Too dumb
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 16:45 — Joseph_de_Maistre.