UConn's Nik Khamenia Out 6 to 8 Weeks Following Foot Surgery

Fourth-ranked UConn will be without forward Nik Khamenia for the next six to eight weeks after head coach Dan Hurley announced Thursday that the Duke transfer requires surgery on his left foot. Khamenia has made a strong early impact for the Huskies, averaging 10.7 points per game while shooting 62% from the field and placing second on the team with six 3-pointers.

The loss comes at a challenging point in the schedule for UConn, which faces a tough non-conference stretch. Khamenia is projected to miss upcoming high-profile games against No. 12 Arizona and No. 2 Duke, as well as likely sitting out games against No. 3 Illinois and No. 15 Kansas.

In response to Khamenia's absence, Hurley indicated that freshmen Colben Landrew and Egor Amosov will take on larger roles in the rotation. Landrew was already receiving heavy minutes, but both newcomers will now absorb increased responsibility while Khamenia completes his recovery.

What to watch next: UConn faces Ohio State on Friday in Hartford, Connecticut, in its first game since the injury news.