With its first exhibition game coming up Monday, the Washington basketball team has already been dealt a minor blow.

Senior shooting guard Ryan Appleby injured his right thumb during a rebounding drill at practice Wednesday and will miss up to six weeks, coach Lorenzo Romar said.

"It is unfortunate to have something like this happen, but the good news is that Ryan shouldn't miss too many games," Romar said in a press release. "Forget about the impact this has on our program. We're more concerned that Ryan returns for his senior season. You don't want something like this to happen to anyone their senior year."

Appleby averaged 10.5 points per game as a junior and figured to be a key proponent for the Huskies this season. The sharp-shooting guard from Stanwood, Wash. is just 59 three-pointers shy of breaking the school record of 212 held by Deon Luton.

His 84 three-point field goals made last season set a school record.

While Appleby is one of just two seniors on the UW roster, the Huskies don't lack depth at guard. Fellow senior Tim Morris, Justin Dentmon, Adrian Oliver and Joel Smith will need to fill Appleby's shoes during his absence.

[Reach reporter Christian Caple at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]