Pitt's Fields to miss 8-12 weeks

[JoseA]

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pitt junior point guard Levance Fields will be out eight to 12 weeks after breaking a broken bone in his left foot to become the second Panthers starter knocked out of the lineup in as many games.

Fields was hurt driving to the basket in No. 6 Pittsburgh's (11-1) first defeat of the season, an 80-55 loss in Dayton on Saturday night. He will have surgery Monday on the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, the school said Sunday.

"We're extremely disappointed for Levance," coach Jamie Dixon said. "We expect him to make a full recovery and return sometime later in the season."

Small forward Mike Cook was lost for the year when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in Pitt's 65-64 win over Duke at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20.

Fields will likely miss the rest of the regular season, including Big East conference play. Pitt's next game is Jan. 2 at home against Lafayette.

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Horrible timing for the injury coming into a difficult season of Big Easy play. Fields was one of the leaders of Pitt's team, and I honestly see Pitt struggling to make the NCAA tournament with this news. Some of the senior guards like a Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin will have to elevate their play to a higher level.