Which means Ed Davis will be out for the rest of the season since there is a good chance this season will end on ACC Tournament Thursday.
Ed Davis has suffered a broken bone in his left wrist and joins pretty much half team as Tar Heels who have missed games this season due to injury. Davis injured the wrist during a collision against Duke. He played the rest of the game with it taped.
I hereby dubbed this “The Lost Season” Seriously, has any program gone from the top of the mountain one season to a season filled with lackluster performances, tons of losing and multiple injuries the next? It is nothing short of shocking to watch what has transpired over the last five months.
So if this team was not in “developing for next year mode” before they are now. The other question here is whether this means Davis will return for next season. His draft status to this point has been based on potential and I am not sure he has done enough this season to distinguish himself as a major draft pick. Obviously Davis will gather information from both his father and Roy Williams to determine whether he should return or not.
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I really REALLY hope this humbles not only Davis, but Roy and this team. I really REALLY hope they come back hungrier than ever. Ed was riding high last year in a Marvin Williams-type hype with not even starting and being projected as high as #2 if he would have left last year. Now, I don’t see any team in lottery taking a chance on a kid who played hurt most of all season and disappeared against physical, undersized bigs. So people, if you haven’t already don’t go jumping off any roofs because the following looks pretty daggum good:
1 LDII/Marshall
2 Strick/Bullock/Leslie
3 HBJB/Henson/Graves/Wears
4 Davis/Henson/Wears
5 Zeller/Davis
I hate to say this, but that projected roster doesn’t really get me excited. Davis probably won’t come back for another season anyway, especially since a lot of people still have him going in the top ten of the next NBA draft (go figure).
I pray Marshall is the goods because I can’t watch another year of Drew getting serious minutes.
THF…If “Davis has done enough this year to distinguish himself as a major draft pick,” then everything I thought I knew about basketball is wrong.
That triumphant yell you heard in the distance was Tracy Smith realizing he has a chance to get a career high in points Sat. afternoon.
This is like the Sean May injury all over again. Deon might be able to play the 5, but with both centers hurt, Deon isn’t a traditional back-to-the-basket center. If Deon leaves the game, it’s going to be a four-guard, one-swingman offense. We don’t even have a Byron Sanders style player to take up space on the court.
This is going to get ugly.
damn……..for some reason I knew he was seriously hurt (which is why I didn’t post questioning his toughness during the game.)
are we now the favorite to win a single game on our remaining schedule? I’d think not. well, State.
Drew, Strickland, MacDonald, Ginyard, Graves, D Wear, Deon, Henson.
Will is gonna shed a few pounds before season’s end…..
stephens,
With the NBA it is strange. Sometimes they draft guys who have done very little on the basis of potential. On the court I have not see anything to make me think Davis is top ten yet every time I look at some mock draft there he sits.
Yeah the NBA is all about potential.
Am I the only one who was a little excited about the injury? What bad can come from it? If Davis stays, that’s an obvious positive for next year, but even if he doesn’t, at least Henson and the Wears get more PT and experience this year. Is anyone really upset that without Davis, maybe UNC finishes the year 0-7 or 1-6 instead of 1-6 or 2-5?
THF…Agreed. There is bound to be at least one delusional GM who will throw up his hands and say “who’s left? Davis? What the hell.”
Well, everyone that has been questioning Davis gets to see what happens when he’s off the court. It will be interesting to see what happens, at least we get to start off with State rather than someone with more mojo.
I don’t see Davis returning for next season.
To those who keep on saying this and that about Ed being a draft prospect, He doe’s two things now that project very well for the NBA. He rebounds the ball and he blocks shots. Those two things usually carry over from college to pro. That he can do those things and move his feet well for a big are not easy to find. Also even though we seem to have a guy go off for a career game against us seemingly every time out, it’s generally not his man. So in sum, he can rebound the ball, he can play some defense, and he’s a good athlete with long arms. He’ll have these things going for him even if he doesn’t improve at all. He’ll likely add strength in the league, most every one does. If he doesn’t improve at all on offense he’ll still be valuable to a team with what he’s capable of now. For all the whining and complaining that people do about him, There simply aren’t that many guys walking around who have the skill set that he has, and that skill set is valuable to the NBA.
Before anyone laughs, just remember I realize this is a weird comparison. Look at Antonio McDyess’ numbers and look where he was drafted. The sophmore year numbers look fairly similar to Ed Davis’ right?
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcdyean01.html
I’ve already taken a lot of heat for remaining on the Larry Drew bandwagon, but I’ll start a new one…..START HENSON AT THE 5!!!
This is terrible. This is the worst news I have ever heard. I haven’t stopped crying since I found out. This must be what Hell is like.
So, those of you who can’t stand to watch Davis play, who called him soft, who think he’s the worst player ever, how do you feel now? Are you happy? Are you happy he won’t be playing another game? Do you feel the same way now that he’s gone? Are you okay with this? I sure hope not.
Draft Express still has Davis #5 in their mock, behind only Wall, Turner, Favors and Cousins. Looking at their list, though….I could easily see him falling some, but outside the lottery? Seems pretty unlikely……I’m gonna say he’s almost certainly gone.
Well I’m not excited, and I wouldn’t welcome an injury to any of our players. But Ed is the Heels best defender and rebounder. His absence means Deon has no margin for error with fouls. D Wear and Henson are a little undersized to hold down the front court when Deon rests. And the games will be significantly less watchable.
Assuming he’s going to be drafted, his Tarheel career has to rank right there with Marvin Williams. Not too shabby.
@ uncgirl50…
1)Sorry that he’s injured, 2)no, 3)yes, 4)yes, 5)yes.
If we were 14-10 or 15-9 right now and still in the tournament picture, I’d be crushed by this loss. Right now? It’ll mean minutes for Henson and it increases the chance (still not likely imo) of Ed’s returning next year. Plus, he’s not been fun to watch this year. He’s looked frustrated, bored, or at best phlegmatic. So, no weeping here.
Though if Smith goes for 30 and we lose to State at home….let em flow.
uncgirl:
Did you hurt your shoulder and not tell anyone?
It will be ok.
“This must be what Hell is like.”
What are Things that Roy might say for $500, Alex.
Alriiight, boulderHeel…keepin it light….swat I’m tawkin bout.
Visualization of the day…
Roy, at home in his recliner, staring at the ceiling, arms raised in the air, laughing hysterically, intermittent pauses with glazed eyes looking around the room, more laughing, “….Wanda, bring me another beer…”, clicking over to ESPN covering a high school game…”that guy doesnt look too bad…Wanda!!!, call Holladay!!!, tell him channel 16, number 42 in white…”, more laughing, smashes the remote against the wall.
Ewing Theory, anyone?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/010509a
Well if we lose 4 pts. and a couple of rebounds and blocked shots, I don’t think it will make a huge difference in the outcome. I’m all for seeing the Henson, Wear, McDonald and Strickland play whole game minutes. Get to see what happens when they settle in. If they lose, I won’t lose any sleep over it; if they win, yeah baby.
I feel good about attending the Celebration of a Century alumni game tonight. UNC will be assured of a victory.
Ed is going to have to make the same decision this year that he had to make last year. Does he just wanted to get drafted high or does he want to have an actual career in the NBA? He chose the latter last year. If he is still more focused on being a long term starter (and potential star) in the NBA then he should come back again (in my opinion) because right now he is not physically strong enough to hold his ground in the NBA, and he also needs to develop either a jump shot or a hook shot. Ultimately its his decision and he should do whatever will make him happy, but lets not kid ourselves and say that this team would be better without him. It won’t be.
Why did Eddie continue playing with a broken wrist? Sounds like he was displaying some toughness I didn’t think he had. But I guess it explains the missed free throws at the end of the game.
I think we’ll suffer without him, mostly because it just puts more pressure on Deon, which has proven to be not a good thing! Hopefully it allows Henson to step out a bit and prove himself. The kid seems to do well when he’s being challenged, as far as I can tell.
If Ed wants to be a great college player, he’ll stay. If he wants to take advantage of a weak draft year and a generous draft position, he’ll go. I think he’ll be encouraged to stay by his dad and Roy, so hopefully he heeds their advice.
ed is one guy i’m not thrilled to see go down…the other starter i don’t want to see go down is larry. the other 3 i could live with or would be more in the “sweet now our youngsters can develop” mode. like 850 just said, let’s not kid ourselves. we’ve been disappointed with ed’s lack of star power, but he’s still a good player, would you take deon over ed? check yourself into the mental facility if you answered yes.
also in agreement with above 850 comment is that ed has been floating in the top 8 of the lottery all season and nothing has changed, which leads me to believe (or really just confirm) that teams have and will always draft talent and that the only thing ed could have done this year is move up to #2 behind wall w/ good dominant performances. his decision is his. i think, as opposed to May who was riding a high, ed will still have the same potential next year. the question is whether an injury like this rattles him into wanting to get nba money, or if it has ever been a question at all about returning, both ways.
we’ll see, if ed comes back for WHATEVER reason, i’ll be very happy. i’m not ready to concede to front line of zeller and henson….but it will be nice to see Henson not having to fight the lead footed graves for minutes.
Miss ya Ed. One of my favorite heels, last year he played amazing, especially after everyone was saying how much better zeller was.
Ed is a champion, and I hope he makes the right decision. Its hard for me to tell him to come back, without the assurance of a great pg to get him the ball.
If he is a top 5 pick he needs to go, he has won a championship and played a big role in last years run.
I really worry that with Henson getting more minutes, that he might be auditioning for the draft. I know, I know crazy talk!, but he did a interview and was ask about being one and done. He said something along the lines of, whenever i am assured a lottery spot I am gone.
Lose both of them and Deon, and next year is going to be the same.
Its funny how 5 months ago, Kendall Marshal was the next great PG, and Barnes was going to have his number next to 50′s
We start losing, and now Marshal is slow, horrible, and cant shoot, and Barnes is our version of Josh McRoberts.
Truth is we dont know whats going to happen, but with Roy and some experience we are closer to 30 wins than 8-20.
” Its hard for me to tell him to come back, without the assurance of a great pg to get him the ball.”
“As my high school coach told our 6’10″ center, no point guard in the world can get you the ball if you don’t ask for it.”
BTW. We had a 4 year div I starter at point that was once on the cover of SI.
@boulderHeel….Wow, you played high school ball with Ed Davis?
just a hunch, but I think he returns, as he seems to like playing with LD & this group.
Anyone else attend the Celebration of a Century game tonight?
It was awesome. Cold chills & close to tears many times. It was a special night.
It was great to watch players diving on the floor after loose balls. I don’t think I can put into words what I observed there tonight. UNC basketball is alive and well.
I did, joebill, and I feel the same as you. Absolutely wonderful. It’s been a tough and unusual year, but I don’t know how one could attend an event like that tonight and not come away feeling good about Carolina basketball. UNC will be back!
Same here LarryS. I just got back, snow was crazy and it didn’t help that I’m staying in Raleigh this weekend. But yes, it was awesome. The tribute to Dean made me cry.
I also had one of the experiences that stay with you forever. i was waiting in the bus line and who is that standing beside me? Charles Scott! Then I looked around and noticed Lenny Rosenbluth and Bobby Jones! I was too scared to say anything to them, but I did take a stalker picture. Greatest night ever!