Pitt forward Kene Chukwuka undergoes hip surgery

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Pitt forward Kene Chukwuka undergoes hip surgery

Jerry DiPaola | Friday, March 29, 2019 7:47 a.m.

Pittsburgh’s Kene Chukwuka (15) is fouled by Boston College’s Nik Popovic during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)

After playing in pain for much of the season, senior Pitt junior forward Kene Chukwuka had hip surgery Thursday at UPMC.

“Kene dealt with back and hip ailments throughout the season,” coach Jeff Capel said. “We are hopeful the surgery will correct the issues and enable him to return to full strength.”

No timetable has been set for his return.

Chukwuka averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 32 contests — all but one — with 17 starts. He led the team in field goal percentage (.534) and was second with 18 blocked shots. In Pitt’s penultimate game, he had a career-high nine rebounds in an ACC Tournament victory against Boston College. He did not play in the second-round game against Syracuse.

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