Nov. 19, 2008

CHAPEL HILL - University of North Carolina freshman forward Tyler Zeller suffered a fractured left wrist in the win over Kentucky on Tuesday and underwent surgery today at UNC Hospitals. Doctors with UNC sports medicine say normal recovery time for this kind of injury is 12-16 weeks, which likely makes it a season-ending injury.

Dr. Don Bynum performed the surgical procedure that ended late Wednesday afternoon. The surgery was termed a success and Zeller is expected to make a full recovery.

The Washington, Ind., native started the first two games in place of injured National Player of the Year Tyler Hansbrough. Zeller had a team-high 18 points in the season-opening win over Penn, and had two points and two steals in the 77-58 win over Kentucky.

He was injured with 1:26 to play in the game when he was fouled while going in for a breakaway dunk and landed on his left wrist. He broke both the left radius and ulna.

"I hate this for Tyler," says head coach Roy Williams. "He's such a great kid and he's going to be a terrific player for us. It's another big blow for our team, but it's more adversity that we have to overcome together."