UNC's Wilson May Return vs Duke
North Carolina star Caleb Wilson has had his cast removed and is doing individual workouts, with coach Hubert Davis saying "there's a chance he could return Saturday against Duke if practice goes well." Despite a 24-6 record, UNC has played roughly half the season without its top three players, with Davis crediting strong bench contributions from freshmen like Derek Dixon.
In a stunning and unfortunate development, Caleb Wilson's potential return has been ruled out. The freshman star suffered a broken right thumb during a non-contact drill in practice on Thursday and has undergone season-ending surgery. The injury reportedly occurred while he was dunking. This new injury is to his right hand, while the original injury that sidelined him was a fracture in his left hand. That initial injury occurred on February 10 in a game against Miami. Despite the initial X-rays being negative, further imaging revealed the fracture, and he has missed the last six games. The news is a major blow to the Tar Heels on the eve of their regular-season finale against rival Duke. Wilson, a projected top-five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, will now miss the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. During his abbreviated season, Wilson was North Carolina's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He set a program record for a freshman by scoring 20 or more points in 17 games. In the six games Wilson missed due to the initial left-hand injury, North Carolina managed a 5-1 record. His absence now leaves a significant void as the Tar Heels head into postseason play without their most impactful player.
