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Just as one Tyler appears to be getting closer to returning for top-ranked North Carolina, another is likely out for the rest of the season.
Freshman Tyler Zeller – who has started the past two games for injured All American Tyler Hansbrough – broke his left wrist during the final minutes of North Carolina's 77-58 blowout of Kentucky. He had surgery Wednesday and did not travel with the Tar Heels when they left for Friday's game at UC Santa Barbara. The normal recovery for injuries like this is usually 12 to 16 weeks, the school announced.
“He broke the bones on each side of (the wrist),” Luke Zeller, Tyler's older brother and a Notre Dame forward, told reporters Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune. “They're putting in plates and screws. Thank goodness it's his left hand and not his right hand, but that's all you can be happy about right now.”
Tyler Zeller, who averaged 10 points and 1.5 rebounds his first two games, was hurt with 1 minute, 26 seconds left against the Wildcats. He was going for a breakaway dunk when he was fouled in transition by Kentucky forward Ramon Harris. He came down hard on his left hand, walked off the court alongside the trainer and was taken to the hospital for tests.
Zeller's injury leaves one starting forward position in limbo as the Tar Heels (2-0) prepare for Friday's game, then the three-games-in-three-days Maui Invitational next week.
Coach Roy Williams said Tuesday night he did not know when Hansbrough – who has been out for three weeks because of a “stress reaction” in his right shin – would play again.
But it sounded like the upcoming road trip could be a possibility.
“I think, and emphasize the word ‘think,' he probably could have already played,” Williams said. “But why rush something like that? We want to be extremely conservative, and that's what we've been already.”
If Hansbrough isn't ready to return Friday, the Tar Heels could start freshman Ed Davis, who has averaged 9.5 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in his first two games.
Another option would be sliding 6-feet-6 Danny Green from small forward to power forward, and starting senior guard Bobby Frasor.
The Tar Heels are also missing Marcus Ginyard, last year's starting small forward.
He's out until at least next month because of foot surgery.
“I hate this for Tyler,” Williams said of Zeller in a prepared statement. “He's such a great kid and he's going to be a terrific player for us.”
If he misses the season, Zeller would be eligible for an extra year of playing time as a medical redshirt because he would have played in fewer than 30 percent of the team's games due to the injury.
Zeller's injury is also a big disappointment for his brother, because they could have matched up in Maui next week.
“It just makes it tough,” Luke Zeller said. “Me and him are really, really close. We were talking about (Maui) for a while. Now they're saying he's in surgery today, won't go with the team to L.A., but hopefully he'll go to Maui.”
Wednesday night, Zeller's father, Steve, said Tyler would fly out to Maui to join the team.
