On Monday, Pitt guard Damian Dunn underwent surgery on his thumb after dislocating it in Pitt’s game against Wisconsin.
“Pitt guard Damian Dunn underwent surgery to repair a right thumb injury Monday afternoon,” Pitt said in a press release. “Dunn suffered the injury, as well as a left ankle sprain, in the opening minutes of the Greenbrier Tip-Off title game against No. 19 Wisconsin Sunday evening and is expected to miss at least six weeks of action for the Panthers.”
Just two minutes into Pitt’s game against Wisconsin on Sunday, Dunn jumped up in the air and found Jaland Lowe across the court with a pass. On his way down, Dunn turned his left ankle, spraining it. In addition, Dunn dislocated his thumb during the play.
After staying down for a bit, Dunn was helped to his feet by Pitt’s training staff. He left the game and did not return.
Eventually, Dunn made his way back to the Pitt bench with some sort of tape/wrap on his right hand. He did not put any weight on his left leg. Check out video of this below.
Dunn was averaging 13 points per game for Pitt this year before Sunday night’s game and was a key piece to the Panthers’ 6-0 start to the year. He has started each game for Pitt so far in the regular season.
Dunn came to Pittsburgh after a lengthy career at Temple followed by a one-season stint at Houston.
Dunn is a 6-foot-5 guard who averaged 6.4 points per game last season for the Cougars, shooting 36% from the field and 32% from three-point range. Prior to last season at Houston, he spent four years at Temple, averaging at least 13 points per game in each of his three seasons of action. In his final season with the Owls, Dunn started 20 games and averaged a career-best 15.3 points per game. He hit a career-high 48 three pointers that year, shooting 35% from downtown.
“Damian is an experienced guard with the ability to really score the ball,” Pitt head coach Jeff Capel said upon his signing at Pitt. “He is highly competitive with a big frame to get to his spots on offense as well as guard multiple positions on the other end of the floor. We targeted him early in the transfer process and are excited to have him join our program. I really like how our backcourt is coming together with the return of Ish and Jaland as well as the additions of Damian and Brandin [Cummings].”
Dunn is a Kinston, North Carolina native.
See Capel’s full press conference here.
So does that mean he’s eligible to get a medical redshirt and return next year?
I wouldn’t think if he hypothetically comes back in January. I don’t make those decisions though
Hope he has a speedy recovery. Their depth will be tested without him in the lineup.
They need his toughness for sure. Wisconsin took it to Pitt in the second half and pitts guards weren’t tough enough to stop them. This is a big injury, but it gives all the other guys a chance to get big minutes for the next 6 weeks. If Dunn gets healthy and a few guys step up maybe this could add much needed depth for a late season run and be a blessing in disguise.