UNC Basketball Injury Updates heading into Monday’s Season Opener
On Friday, UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis provided some injury updates for some key players prior to Monday night’s season opener.
In just three days, the UNC basketball program will open its 2022-2023 season at home against UNCW.
As we inch closer to tip-off, there are some notable injury updates to take note of. In the team’s exhibition game on October 28, North Carolina was without four players:
RJ Davis
Puff Johnson
Justin McKoy
Jalen Washington
On Friday, head coach Hubert Davis provided updates on all four players, as there was some encouraging news to deliver.
Hubert says RJ is back and getting better, McKoy is healthy, but Puff will be a gametime decision Monday night.
— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) November 4, 2022
Junior guard RJ Davis has returned to practice after he suffered a sprained right hand. Hubert Davis noted that his standout guard is “doing great.” McKoy, who missed the exhibition game due to a non-Covid illness, is healthy and has returned back to practice.
As for Washington, he is still recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him his entire senior season. Even though he will not play in the opener, Davis stated that he is making great strides toward a return.
"“I don’t know an exact time table, but I know it’s getting close. A week-and-a-half, two weeks ago, he was cleared to do five-on-five, and I didn’t want to go from zero to 100. So, we’ve been easing him in terms of five-on-five live segments during practice. “And every day, and every week, the load has gotten larger. He’s playing great, he really is… I don’t have a specific time, but it’s coming soon where he’ll be cleared to be out there on the floor all the time.”"
The biggest question mark heading into opening night is Johnson, who is considered a game-time decision at this point in time. Expect the Tar Heels to be cautious with the rising junior, as he’s been impacted by the injury bug throughout his two years in Chapel Hill.
If all goes well, three of the four will be suited up on Monday night. However, at this point, it looks like it could be just two of the four, as the next few days will determine whether or not Johnson is good to go.
Next. Hubert Davis has lineup options!. dark
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