SLO - Injured center Vidmar lost for season

ISTANBUL (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Slovenia had an effective one-two punch in the low post last summer when the husky and powerful Gasper Vidmar shared the minutes with the taller, shot-swatting Mirza Begic at the EuroBasket.

The two averaged a combined 11 points and 10.6 rebounds and helped the hosts clinch a fifth-place finish to seal a spot in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

It remains to be seen if new coach Jure Zdovc will have to take a different approach following the news that the 26-year-old has torn his ACL and damaged his meniscus while playing for Fenerbahce Ulker in a Turkish Airlines game against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.

The club has said that Vidmar will be operated on and not play again this season.

Vidmar had started in 13 of the club's 15 Euroleague games and averaged more than five points and four rebounds.

Among those to offer words of support was Slovenia national team veteran Bostjan Nachbar, who tweeted about Vidmar: "Come back stronger my friend."

Slovenia are not counting Vidmar out of their plans, yet.

In reporting the severity of the injury on their website, the Slovenian Basketball Federation said: "The rehabilitation of such injuries after surgery lasts at least six months, making Vidmar questionable for the World Cup in Spain which starts 30 August 2014."

The 2.10m Vidmar played for Slovenia at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey but tore his ACL the following season and was unable to play at EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania.

On Monday, Slovenia were drawn in Group D of the FIBA Basketball World Cup with Lithuania, Australia, Angola, Korea and Mexico.

FIBA