Leaky Black leaves UNC game against NC State with injury

UNC is fighting for a bid in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, forward Leaky Black left Saturday’s game against NC State with an apparent knee injury.

“Leaky Black has left the game with an injury,” UNC Basketball stats and info tweeted.

There was 4:31 left in the first half at the time of Black’s injury, and UNC led at the time 35-22. Black did not return to the Tar Heels bench for the remainder of the first half.

UPDATE: Coming out of halftime, the ESPN broadcast updated Black’s status, saying that he has a hyperextended right knee. He participated in warmups ahead of the second half, and could be available in the second half depending on how he feels and how the game is going. But with UNC holding a large lead entering the second half, the Tar Heels could ultimately decide to hold Black out.

Prior to his injury, Black has two points and one rebound. One the season, he is playing 28.1 minutes per game, averaging 5.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.7 steals. He is shooting 49.5% from the field and 41.9% from three-point range, in addition to 86.7% from the free throw line.

Black was a four-star recruit as part of UNC’s 2018 recruiting class. He was the 60th-rated national prospect, the 20th rated small forward, and the seventh player out of the state of North Carolina, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He has played in 111 career games with 85 starts, averaging 24.7 minutes, 5.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steals.

KenPom predicts UNC’s remaining regular season games

Ahead of Saturday’s game, KenPom took a stab at predicting the outcome of UNC’s remaining regular season games.

Saturday, Feb. 26 at NC State: UNC 80 – NC State 75 (66% win probability)

Monday, Feb. 28 vs. Syracuse: UNC 83 – Syracuse 77 (71% win probability)

Saturday, Mar. 5 at Duke: Duke 82 – UNC 71 (17% win probability)

UNC appears to be well on its way to a victory over NC State. If KenPom’s predicts do ultimately hold true, the Tar Heels will finish the regular season with a 22-9 overall record, including a 14-6 mark against ACC opponents. UNC entered Saturday in a tie for third place in the ACC with Miami, trailing behind Duke and Notre Dame.

The Tar Heels are fighting for a bid in the NCAA Tournament, so finishing the year strong will be pivotal. Luckily for UNC, Black’s injury does not to be a serious one that will keep him out of action for too long.