Just an hour and thirty minutes before Sunday’s game against the Wofford Terriers, the Tar Heels released some major injury news about three players.
The headliner of the group is point guard Cole Anthony, who will be out indefinitely with a right knee injury. The team did not specify when or how the injury took place, but treatment for the injury will be determined sometime later in the week. Anthony is the Tar Heels leading scorer this season, averaging 19.1 points per game and is also leading the team with 3.4 assists per game. Anthony has struggled from the field as the season has progressed, but has failed to score in double digits just once this season. Even though he has struggled at times, this was the heart and soul of this 2019-20 team and with him off the floor, a Tar Heel team that is struggling to score this season is now without their best scoring option.
Forward Leaky Black, another starter is day-to-day with a sprained right foot that has given him some issues so far this season. Black had started every game this season prior to missing today’s game. Black is averaging 4.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season.
The Tar Heels also announced that Sterling Manley underwent surgery on his left knee to repair some cartilage damage. Manley missed 16 games a year ago after experiencing some discomfort in his left knee. Roy Williams said in the offseason that Manley wasn’t progressing the way they were thinking he would lead to this surgery.
With Anthony and Black out, the rotation at point guard will have a much different look. K.J. Smith, a former walk-on after his transfer from Pacific University, started today’s game against Wofford and, despite both playing in just one game this season, Anthony Harris and Jeremiah Francis will be expected to play bigger roles.
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