UM's Cherry breaks foot, out 10-12 weeks

Posted: Sep 26, 2012 3:21 PM by Scott Breen - Q2 Sports
Updated: Sep 26, 2012 3:21 PM

MISSOULA - Montana senior guard Will Cherry may miss the season's first six games after breaking his foot in a pick-up basketball game over the weekend, Griz coach Wayne Tinkle said Wednesday.

Cherry is one of the top players in the Big Sky Conference - certainly a candidate for preseason player of the year - and will be out 10-12 weeks. Tinkle says no surgery is expected to be required.

The 6-2 guard from West Oakland, Calif., averaged 15.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game last season.

Montana plays six games in November and doesn't start conference play until Dec. 19 at Northern Arizona.

"Will's the quintessential kid who just does whatever it takes to win," Tinkle told cbssports.com. "He always guards the best player and makes plays for himself and his teammates. He's the ultimate competitor."

Montana went 25-7 last season, won the Big Sky regular-season title with a 15-1 record and then won the Big Sky Tournament. The Grizzlies' season ended with a 24-point loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament.

Tinkle said Keron DeShields and Jordan Gregory will fill most of Cherry's minutes in November.