Amida Brimah Injury: Updates on UConn Star's Finger and Return

UConn junior center Amida Brimah has broken a finger on his right hand and could miss six to eight weeks, per ESPN's Jeff Goodman on Tuesday.        

Per the Hartford Courant's Dom Amore, the 7-footer suffered the injury during team practice on Monday and will need surgery. 

Continue for updates.

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UConn's Frontcourt Takes a Hit

Tuesday, Dec. 22

According to a release from the school, Brimah will be undergoing surgery on Wednesday. 

A co-captain of the team, Brimah recently saw his streak of 84 consecutive games played snapped on Sunday, when he suffered a groin injury. On a 7-3 UConn team, Brimah is one of the team's best defenders, leading the Huskies and ranking eighth in nation with 3.0 blocks per game. 

Despite his size, Brimah is athletic enough to guard away from the basket if needed, as he is the kind of player the opposition needs to get plenty of separation from in order to get a shot off. 

His offensive game isn't necessarily at the same level of his defense. He averages 7.8 points per game and needs to work on his strength and finishing down low. But Brimah's presence is something defenses have to take notice of because of his stature—something UConn will also miss. 

UConn head coach Kevin Ollie spoke about the 230-pounder in the school's release:

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Amida is one of the best defensive players in the country, so obviously not having him has a big impact on us. But you never know when somebody can get hurt, which is why everybody always has to be ready to play. Everyone will have to lift their level of play --- the big men, of course, but our guards, as well will have to play better defense on the perimeter without Amida in there. We look at it as an opportunity for somebody to step up and have an impact on the game and the program. And I believe every player on this team has the capability to do that.

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The Huskies have a pair of 6'10" forwards who could step in for Brimah while he recovers in senior Phil Nolan and freshman Steven Enoch. However the two players combined still have 22 fewer blocks than Brimah. 

Opponents might try to take advantage of Brimah's absence, moving their offense into the paint early and often. The Huskies' first test will come on Dec. 29 when they take on the Texas Longhorns and Cameron Ridley, a center averaging a double-double with 12.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. 

Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.