Louisville's Dieng out 4-6 weeks with broken wrist

Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

And Louisville's bad luck with injuries continues.

This program has suffered more than its fair share of of knee injuries, shoulder injuries and concussions in recent years. The list from last season and the season before alone is mind-boggling. And now this.

Here's the sixth-ranked Cardinals' first big hit of 2012-13: Center Gorgui Dieng will be out four to six weeks while recovering from a broken wrist he suffered last week in Louisville's 84-61 win over Missouri in the Bahamas.

"With a little luck, Gorgui will be back by the start of our Big East schedule," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said in a statement Monday. "We will miss his defensive presence and passing ability, but it's time for other guys to step up their performances."

Dr. Luis Scheker of the Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center in Louisville will perform surgery on Tuesday to insert a screw in Dieng's broken scaphoid bone in his left wrist. The injury initially occurred when Dieng took a charge early in the first half against the Tigers. He returned to the game with his wrist taped and played a total of 24 minutes, and then he sat out the championship game against Duke on Saturday.

Dieng is averaging 8.2 points, eight rebounds and two blocks through five games this season.

This time frame for Dieng's recovery means he will miss the Dec. 29 game against No. 8 Kentucky in Louisville.