Former star’s experience with Caleb Wilson’s injury is a huge red flag for UNC

On Thursday, further imaging revealed a fracture in Caleb Wilson’s left hand, an injury he suffered in the first half of Tuesday night’s loss to Miami. Wilson returned in the second half after an initial X-ray appeared clear. 

A likely top-five pick, Wilson has stated his intention to return to the floor for the Tar Heels, rather than sitting out the rest of the season to prepare for the NBA Draft. However, former Purdue star Robbie Hummel’s experience with a similar injury could put a damper on the optimism that Wilson’s defiant social media post generated for UNC fans. 

On The Field of 68, Hummel detailed the “boxer’s fracture” he suffered in his hand during his playing days, and said “surgery or no surgery, there’s really no better option,” continuing, “it’s such a pain in the ass to come back from because it could take a little bit longer than you think, and you might not feel back to normal,” adding the caveat that “it’s better it being your off-hand.” 

Robbie Hummel says Wilson’s recovery ‘could take a little bit longer than you think’

The key distinction between Hummel’s injury and Wilson’s is the hand in which he suffered it. Hummel, a right-handed shooter, had the fracture in his right hand and explained how it took a while for his range of motion to return. That’s less of a concern for Wilson, also a right-handed shooter, who has the injury in his left hand. 

Still, Wilson operated so much out of the post offensively, and that requires the ability to turn off both shoulders and finish at the rim with both hands to prevent defenders from cheating to either side. He could play more of a face-up game, which he’s had plenty of success with, but that too is complicated by a predictable dominant-hand approach. 

Then there’s the defensive end of the floor. Wilson is only blocking 1.4 shots a game, so he’s not one of the premier rim protectors in the country. However, he, along with seven-foot center Henri Veesaar, is a formidable rim deterrent. Opponents attempt just 25.9 percent of their field goals at the rim, one of the lowest rates in the country (according to CBBanalytics.com). 

Some Caleb Wilson is better than no Caleb Wilson

If Wilson is perceived to be limited as a shot-blocker because of his hand injury, opposing players may be more willing to challenge him on the interior. That wouldn’t just lead to more points and the potential of reinjury, it would also create the possibility of foul trouble for a team that has one of the lowest foul rates in the country. 

Now, obviously, some Wilson, even if his minutes are decreased, is better than no Wilson for North Carolina. But the freshman forward is such a key to unlocking the Tar Heels’ ultimate ceiling in March, so any limitations will put a hard cap on how far Hubert Davis’s team can be expected go in the NCAA Tournament. 

Wilson is going to try to come back, and that’s admirable, but from Hummel’s experience at least, it won’t be easy for him to get back to 100 percent with just seven regular-season games remaining.