Scout.com > Minnesota Damian Johnson To Miss Four to Six Weeks Story URL: http://minnesota.scout.com/2/803512.html Chris Monter GoldenSports.net Oct 21, 2008 Damian Johnson underwent successful surgery to repair his fractured left hand. Dr. Pat Putnam, a Minnesota hand specialist, performed the surgery. Johnson, who injured the hand in practice on Oct. 20, is expected to be sidelined between four and six weeks. Johnson missed Tubby's Tip-Off Friday night with a knee injury. Johnson would likely return in mid-November or early December. Damian Johnson averaged 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season. He is the team's third-leading returning scorer and top returning rebounder. Johnson started six of 34 games and shot 48.4% from the field, 25% from three-point range and 55.7% from the free throw line. Minnesota’s season gets underway on Monday, Nov. 3, in an exhibition slate versus St. Cloud State. Minnesota’s other exhibition game will be Thursday, Nov. 6 against Northern State. Both exhibition contests will be held at Williams Arena. The Gophers open the regular season at Williams Arena on Friday, Nov. 14, against Concordia-St. Paul in the first game of the NABC Classic, a four-team round-robin tournament hosted by the University of Minnesota. Game two will pit the Gophers against Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 15 with game three taking place on Sunday, Nov. 16 against Georgia State. Copyright © Scout.com and GoldenSports.net