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Shin Injury Sidelines UVa's Atkins

Posted: 4:34 PM Jan 14, 2013
Reporter: Damon Dillman

Coach Tony Bennett says the Virginia basketball team will be without sophomore forward Darion Atkins because of a shin injury.

Atkins has been slowed by the injury for the past three games. Bennett said during his weekly radio show on Monday night that an MRI earlier that day revealed a "stress reaction" in the injured shin. Bennett wasn't sure how long the injury would sideline Atkins.

"We'll shut him down and take it a week at a time," Bennett said.

Atkins has started 12 of the Cavaliers' 16 games this season, but has not looked like the same player since ACC play began three games ago. He's averaging just 2.0 points in 15.7 minutes in Virginia's three conference games.

For the season, Atkins is third on Virginia in scoring (6.9 ppg) and second on the team in rebounding (4.3 rpg), and leads the Cavaliers with 25 blocks.

Bennett said with Atkins injured, he expected a pair of freshmen -- Mike Tobey and Evan Nolte -- to see increased playing time. Bennett also mentioned the possibility of junior Joe Harris or freshman Justin Anderson, a pair of guards, seeing time at forward.