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Broken hand to sideline Villanova guard Dylan Ennis four weeks

Villanova Wildcats head coach Wright yells at officials during NCAA men's basketball tournament against North Carolina Tar Heels in Kansas City

Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright yells at the officials during the first half of the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, March 22, 2013. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

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After sitting out the 2012-13 season after transferring in from Rice, Villanova guard Dylan Ennis is expected to be a part of Jay Wright’s perimeter rotation this season. In his one season as an Owl Ennis, a native of Brampton, Ontario, averaged 8.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game and earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team honors.

Unfortunately the plans of Ennis factoring into the Villanova rotation have hit a snag, as the school announced on Friday that Ennis will miss at least four weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand. Ennis suffered the break to the third metatarsal in that hand during practice on Thursday.

“We’re disappointed for Dylan because we know how excited he was about being out there with his teammates,” Wright said in the release. “But we know that Dylan will work hard during this time so that he is ready to help us as soon as his injury has healed.”

So who steps in as the player most likely to relieve starter Ryan Arcidiacono in Ennis’ absence? According to Nick Menta of CSN Philly, the answer to that question could be a player who at one point this past spring wanted to transfer.

Ennis was expected to be the primary backup to Ryan Arcidiacono, but those duties likely now revert to senior Tony Chennault, who transferred to Villanova from Wake Forest within weeks of Ennis back in 2012.

Chennault, who figures to see fewer minutes and play off the ball in a crowded Villanova backcourt, actually announced his intent to transfer this past April, but later decided to stay with the program.


With Ennis expected to miss at least four weeks (he’ll be re-evaluated by team doctors at that time), the question is whether or not he’ll be ready to return when the Wildcats participate in the Battle 4 Atlantis in late-November. Villanova opens with USC in an event that includes Kansas (possible semifinal opponent), Iowa, Tennessee and Xavier.

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