It has been almost a month of college basketball action since the University of North Carolina lost star freshman Caleb Wilson to a fractured wrist. The injury happened on February 10 in a loss at the University of Miami.
The Tar Heels were hoping to get him back in time for the ACC Tournament that begins next week in Charlotte. If not, then the NCAA Tournament later this month would be a goal. After UNC beat Virginia Tech, 89-82, on Saturday night at home, head coach Hubert Davis gave an update on Wilson. It was a promising one.
Davis said that Woodson had his cast removed and was working out, but was not scrimmaging with his teammates yet. That feels like the last hurdle he needs to accomplish before he plays in a game.
“He doesn’t have his cast on anymore,” said Davis. “He can’t do anything five-on-five, but he can do individual workouts, he can dribble, shoot — he can do everything, just nothing on contact.”
On Thursday, two days before their second showdown with Duke to close out the regular-season, Davis told CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein that Wilson could play in Durham.
North Carolina Coach Hubert Davis Gives Big Caleb Wilson Injury Update
Getting Wilson back at any point for UNC would be huge. Rothestein reported that Davis told him that “there’s a chance” he could suit up against Duke, but “nothing was definitive.” If he does play, it would be hard to envision him starting, but anything is possible.
Since Wilson was ruled out after the loss to the Hurricanes with his injury, the Tar Heels have gone 5-1 without him. They have secured the fourth-seed in the ACC Tournament next week. Win or lose on Saturday night, they’ll be on a collision course with Duke for a date in the semifinals on March 12.
Without Wilson, UNC has beaten Pittsburgh, Louisville, Clemson, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech. Their lone loss was at North Carolina State. In Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology at ESPN, North Carolina is a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
North Carolina Does Not Need To Rush Caleb Wilson Back
As mentioned above, North Carolina is locked into the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament next week, win or lose at Duke. Considering how UNC rallied to stun the Blue Devils last month in Chapel Hill on a shot at the buzzer, Duke will be ready and out for revenge on Saturday night.
Wilson is averaging nearly a double-double a game with 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game. That’s a lot of production for Davis to lose with his injury. Getting him back adds another dimension to their team at both ends of the floor.
Although this game will have no bearing on the ACC Tournament seedings, it could have with the NCAA Tournament. A win for the Tar Heels could move them up a seed line. That would be bigger than some people might think. However, getting Wilson some key minutes will be key for Davis. Whenever he returns, he will make UNC a threat in the NCAA Tournament later this month than without him.
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