MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota point guard Al Nolen will have surgery on his broken right foot, raising the question about whether he’ll be able to play for the Gophers again this season.
Coach Tubby Smith said Monday on a conference call with Big Ten reporters that Nolen’s injury will require an operation Wednesday to place a pin in his foot. Smith said it was too soon to speculate about the senior’s return, but there are only six weeks remaining until the conference tournament begins.
The 16th-ranked Gophers (15-4, 4-3 Big Ten) host Northwestern Wednesday. Nolen missed five games earlier this season because of a stress fracture but decided with doctors to play through without surgery. He then sprained his ankle Saturday at Michigan, aggravating the injury.
