UConn took another hard shot to the chin on Tuesday with the news that freshmen Alterique Gilbert and Mamadou Diarra will join starter Terry Larrier on the sidelines for the rest of the season.

The school announced that Gilbert, who's been out the last three games since dislocating his left shoulder at Loyola Marymount on Nov. 17, will have season-ending surgery within a few weeks to repair a torn labrum. Gilbert will need about six months of rehabilitation and recovery.

Gilbert, the American Athletic Conference preseason freshman of the year, was expected to play a prominent role this season. The talented point guard averaged 10.3 points in three games and also leads the team in steals with seven.

Sore knees prevented Diarra, a reserve forward out of Putnam Science Academy, from appearing in a regular-season game. He was diagnosed with significant patellofemoral syndrome and will redshirt this season. At this point, no surgery is required, just rehabilitation and rest.

The Huskies were already dealing with the loss of Larrier, who averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in four games before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Oklahoma State on Nov. 21 at the Maui Invitational. He's scheduled to have surgery to repair his torn left ACL sometime in the next few days.

UConn already is off to a rocky start, carrying a 2-4 record into Wednesday night's game against Boston University at the XL Center in Hartford.

g.keefe@theday.com