UNC's Wilson May Return
North Carolina's Caleb Wilson has had his cast removed and is doing individual workouts but hasn't participated in 5-on-5 live practice yet, according to coach Hubert Davis. There's a chance Wilson could return Saturday against Duke, though Davis emphasized his priority is Wilson being "100% healthy and confident."
In a stunning reversal, Caleb Wilson's season has ended after he broke his right thumb during a non-contact drill in practice on Thursday. The freshman star, who was recovering from a different injury, will require surgery and will not play again for the Tar Heels this year. The new injury occurred while Wilson was dunking, just as he was nearing a return from a fractured bone in his left hand sustained on February 10 against Miami. He had already missed the last six games while rehabilitating the initial injury and was participating in individual workouts. Wilson has been the Tar Heels' most dominant player, leading the team in scoring with 19.8 points per game and rebounding with 9.4 per game. A projected top-five pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, he is also the team leader in steals and blocks. The news is a major blow to North Carolina on the eve of their regular-season finale against rival Duke and just before the ACC and NCAA tournaments. The Tar Heels had managed a 5-1 record in the six games Wilson missed with his previous hand injury. In the first matchup against the Blue Devils, Wilson was a key factor, scoring 23 points to help secure a victory. His abrupt season-ending injury fundamentally changes the outlook for North Carolina's postseason aspirations.
