Written by MICHAEL KOH
Caleb Wilson’s injury casts the rest of UNC’s season in a whole new light.
What a bizarre ride it’s been for those tracking Wilson’s health the past few days. The freshman star played undoubtedly his worst game of the season Tuesday night at Miami, and now we know why. Wilson apparently fractured his left hand sometime during the first half. Initial on-site X-rays were negative, and Wilson came back to play in the second half with a heavy wrap on his left wrist and hand. He was clearly limited and frustrated by the injury.
After the game, Hubert Davis wouldn’t even acknowledge an injury had occurred, saying “There’s no situation,” when asked what happened with Wilson.
The Tar Heels discovered the injury after conducting later tests in Chapel Hill and put out a statement Thursday. There’s no timetable for Wilson’s return.
Caleb Wilson now joins an infamous list of high-profile Tar Heel injuries, including Kenny Smith in 1984 and Kendall Marshall in 2012. Ironically, both of those injuries were also to the wrist.
Those two Tar Heel teams had much loftier ceilings than this year’s, but it’s arguable that neither Smith nor Marshall meant as much to their teams as Wilson does. Kenny and Kendall had loaded rosters around them featuring future NBA mainstays. This year, the only other Tar Heel with any NBA buzz is Henri Veesaar, and his draft stock likely took a hit after a lackluster performance at Miami.
Many times this year, Wilson has come to the rescue for his sleepwalking teammates with a thunderous dunk or a scramble for a loose ball. It’s part of what made him so beloved by the Tar Heel fanbase, one which had been hungry for a bona fide star to latch onto.
Who does Carolina turn to for that fire as it heads into the season’s home stretch? One would think UNC would be able to beat woeful Pitt without Wilson, but a visit to NC State next Tuesday suddenly looks much more daunting. And that’s not even mentioning Carolina’s prospects in Cameron Indoor Stadium next month if Wilson is still out of commission.
The program certainly hopes to get Wilson back in time for postseason play in Charlotte and wherever the Tar Heels go after that in March. But the seed UNC will have beside its name on Selection Sunday will likely be a lot lower than it was going to be 48 hours ago.
Featured image via Todd Melet
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
Chansky’s Notebook: Let’s Go, Ladies!
The UNC field hockey and women’s soccer programs are set to be nationally competitive once again this fall.
Chansky’s Notebook: Matson Master Class
If Erin Matson goes two for two on national championships after winning ACC Coach of the Year, surely she deserves a raise.
Chansky’s Notebook: Long-Distancing
Yes, that was Erin Matson at Yankee Stadium. UNC’s Superwoman may not leap tall buildings in a single bound, but she definitely moves fast.
Chansky’s Notebook: The Matson Deal
Back in 2021, Marc Pons of Chapel Hill Tire said his daughter was a field hockey fan and asked if they could do something with Erin Matson.
Chansky’s Notebook: Fledgling Champion
Remaining calm as she paced in front of the UNC bench, Erin Matson seemed to comprehend the moment if not quite embracing it.
Chansky’s Notebook: The Legacy
Frankly, there are no words left to describe what Erin Matson has accomplished and continues to accomplish as a 23-year-old head coach.
Chansky’s Notebook: Still the ACC’s Best
Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook is presented by The Casual Pint. YOUR place for delicious pub food paired with local beer. Choose among 35 rotating taps and 200+ beers in the cooler. Virginia is the only school making a run at Carolina’s NCAA dominance. The Tar Heels have finished eighth in the latest Learfield Directors Cup […]
Chansky’s Notebook: Cloudy Future?
Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook is presented by The Casual Pint. YOUR place for delicious pub food paired with local beer. Choose among 35 rotating taps and 200+ beers in the cooler. The White House celebration was a reminder of what could happen. The Tar Heels’ field hockey and women’s tennis teams were two of the […]
Chansky’s Notebook: WHOOP! WHOOP!
By the way, Erin Matson will be back next season, too. With all the hoopla and anticipation of eligible basketball players returning to try for a repeat trip to the Final Four, someone else in the Carolina pantheon of stars is coming back as a super senior. Three-time national field hockey player of the year […]
Chansky’s Notebook: Breaking News
UNC star Caleb Wilson’s fractured left hand, suffered during Tuesday night’s loss at Miami, casts the rest of the season in a new light.
›