Chapel Hill, NC (Best E Casino) - North Carolina senior forward Tyler Hansbrough will likely miss the Tar Heels' season-opener Saturday against Penn because of a stress reaction condition in his right shin.

UNC announced Wednesday that Hansbrough, the reigning national player of the year, will probably not be recovered from the injury in time for Saturday's game. Hansbrough has not missed a game during his three years at North Carolina.

"We've made the decision to hold Tyler Hansbrough out of action a little longer," said Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams. "It's extremely doubtful that he would play against Pennsylvania, and I emphasize extremely doubtful. We will continue to evaluate him and have more information when it becomes available."

Hansbrough has been sidelined since the last week of October with the injury.

The Poplar Bluff, Missouri native averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds last year, leading the Tar Heels to a school-record 36 victories and a Final Four appearance. Hansbrough has played in 108 games over his first three seasons with the Tar Heels, who have a 90-18 record over that time period.

The Tar Heels, who were chosen as the No.1 ranked team in both the preseason coaches' poll and the Associated Press poll, lost to eventual national champion Kansas in the national semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Entering this season, Hansbrough is poised to become North Carolina's all-time leading scorer. He has 2,168 points, which is just behind Phil Ford's 2,290.