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."