UNC freshman Zeller has wrist surgery, likely done for season

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Top-ranked North Carolina's unmatched depth just got a little more shallow.

The school said freshman 7-footer Tyler Zeller will likely miss the rest of the season with a broken left wrist he suffered late in Tuesday night's win against Kentucky. Zeller had surgery Wednesday to repair fractures in two places, a recovery that normally would take 12 to 16 weeks.

Zeller, who started the first two games in place of injured star Tyler Hansbrough, was injured after taking a hard foul by Ramon Harris in transition after a turnover. He fell to the ground under the basket and got up holding his wrist before heading to the locker room with 1:26 left and eventually being taken to a hospital for X-rays.

Zeller had a team-high 18 points in the opening win against Pennsylvania, and two points and two steals in the win over the Wildcats. Coach Roy Williams called it "another big blow for our team."

"I hate this for Tyler," Williams said in a statement. "He's such a great kid and he's going to be a terrific player for us."

It is the latest injury to befall the Tar Heels (2-0). Hansbrough has missed almost three weeks of practice and the first two regular-season games with a stress reaction in his right shin. In addition, top defender Marcus Ginyard is out until December after having foot surgery.

Hansbrough appears close to returning from his injury, though Williams said the team will be conservative with his recovery. North Carolina left Wednesday for a game at UC-Santa Barbara on Friday before heading to the Maui Invitational.