Maryland guard Dion Wiley is expected to miss the 2015-16 season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, an athletic department spokesman said Tuesday.
Since it will take approximately four months for the 6-foot-4 sophomore to recover, it appears unlikely that Wiley would have returned to the team before mid-March and will take a redshirt year instead.
Wiley, who averaged 4.1 points in 13.5 minutes per game as a freshman, was expected to play a much bigger role this season after getting into better shape over the summer.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Wiley was expected to start alongside sophomore Melo Trimble.
"I am really disappointed for Dion because he worked so hard in the offseason and was playing at a very high level," Turgeon said in a statement. "This is a big loss for our team as Dion was expected to be our starting shooting guard. Our doctors were encouraged about the surgery and we know that Dion will work tirelessly to return to the court."
In Wiley's absence, Turgeon will start either Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon or 6-7 sophomore Jared Nickens.
After an appearance at MedStar Harbor Hospital on Tuesday, Turgeon and Sulaimon went to visit Wiley after his surgery at another Baltimore hospital.
The No. 3 Terps open the regular season Friday against Mount St. Mary's.
Wiley was injured last week and felt swelling after practice Thursday, the day before the team's 91-55 preseason win over Division II Southern New Hampshire. An MRI on Friday revealed the torn meniscus.
In some cases, the meniscus can be removed and the recovery period is much shorter ? typically four to six weeks ? but the long-term result is recurring knee pain. In Wiley's case, the meniscus was repaired.
Wiley had knee problems toward the end of his high school career and wore patellar tendon bands under each knee to help minimize the jolt to the affected area.
Since it will take approximately four months for the 6-foot-4 sophomore to recover, it appears unlikely that Wiley would have returned to the team before mid-March and will take a redshirt year instead.
Wiley, who averaged 4.1 points in 13.5 minutes per game as a freshman, was expected to play a much bigger role this season after getting into better shape over the summer.
Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said Wiley was expected to start alongside sophomore Melo Trimble.
"I am really disappointed for Dion because he worked so hard in the offseason and was playing at a very high level," Turgeon said in a statement. "This is a big loss for our team as Dion was expected to be our starting shooting guard. Our doctors were encouraged about the surgery and we know that Dion will work tirelessly to return to the court."
In Wiley's absence, Turgeon will start either Duke transfer Rasheed Sulaimon or 6-7 sophomore Jared Nickens.
After an appearance at MedStar Harbor Hospital on Tuesday, Turgeon and Sulaimon went to visit Wiley after his surgery at another Baltimore hospital.
The No. 3 Terps open the regular season Friday against Mount St. Mary's.
Wiley was injured last week and felt swelling after practice Thursday, the day before the team's 91-55 preseason win over Division II Southern New Hampshire. An MRI on Friday revealed the torn meniscus.
In some cases, the meniscus can be removed and the recovery period is much shorter ? typically four to six weeks ? but the long-term result is recurring knee pain. In Wiley's case, the meniscus was repaired.
Wiley had knee problems toward the end of his high school career and wore patellar tendon bands under each knee to help minimize the jolt to the affected area.
