LINCOLN — A second Nebraska basketball player has gone down with a major injury before the season even starts.

Sophomore Toney McCray suffered a detached elbow ligament in a pickup game last week when he tumbled over a teammate.

“He's not going to have to have surgery,'' NU coach Doc Sadler said today. “It's not season-ending, but it's probably at least four to six weeks.''

Earlier this summer, sophomore center Christopher Niemann suffered a season-ending knee ligament injury.

McCray played in 30 games last season and started three. The 6-foot-6 wing from Missouri City, Texas, averaged 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds, and was expected to challenge for a starting spot.

“It's never good to get hurt,'' Sadler said. “But if it had to happen, I guess now is the time.

“Hopefully, in a couple of weeks he can start some conditioning. But missing that much time in anything isn't good.''