The Minnesota Golden Gophers' men's basketball team got a bit of bad news today, as it appears they may have lost point guard Al Nolen, Jr. for the remainder of the season with a broken foot.
↵According to Myron P. Medcalf of the Star-Tribune, Nolen injured the foot in Saturday's victory over the Michigan Wolverines, and is slated to have surgery on Wednesday. There's a slim chance that he may be back before the end of the season, but it doesn't sound like the Gophers should be banking on that sort of thing.
↵The injury is to Nolen's right foot, the same one that caused him to miss five games earlier in the season with a stress fracture. He could have had surgery then, but declined. Against Michigan, he landed awkwardly while playing defense during the first half, and left Crisler Arena on crutches with a walking boot on.
↵To try to cushion the blow of losing the Big Ten's steals leader, Tubby Smith has said that Blake Hoffarber will play some more at the point, and that the team will need larger contributions from freshmen Chip Armelin and Maverick Ahanmisi.
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