UNC’s Cole Anthony out indefinitely; Black out Sunday, too
North Carolina will be without two key starters for the foreseeable future.
Star freshman Cole Anthony has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against Wofford with a right knee injury. And Leaky Black has been ruled out with a sprained foot. Both were wearing suits during warmups.
The news of Black and Anthony’s injuries are a huge blow to the Tar Heels. Especially Anthony, who leads the Tar Heels with 19.1 points per game. The Tar Heels have struggled to score this season, and Anthony is shooting one-third of the team’s shots.
Anthony’s injury is also said to be more serious.
The 6-3, 190-pound freshman point guard is out indefinitely. Anthony is believed to have sustained the injury over time, and not on one particular play.
Anthony has struggled shooting the last two games. He was 4 of 15 from the floor against Ohio State and Virginia, which boast the country’s top two defenses.
The program will look into treatment plans for Anthony over the next few days.
Black’s injury is day-to-day. Black, who starts at wing, but also serves as the backup point guard, is averaging 4.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Point guard K.J. Smith is expected to start at point guard.
Other injury news
UNC junior forward Sterling Manley, who has not played since the 2019 NCAA tournament had surgery on Dec. 12 to repair cartilage in his left knee. There is no timetable for his return.
He missed 16 games during the 2018-19 season for the same injury, and had surgery in the offseason. But he continued to experience soreness in the knee. He has not practiced this season.
This story was originally published December 15, 2019 at 3:32 PM with the headline "UNC’s Cole Anthony out indefinitely; Black out Sunday, too."
