ATHENS — The Georgia men’s basketball team has started each recent season dealing with a player injury, and this year will be no different.

Derek Ogbeide, a highly-regarded freshman post player, injured his shoulder in practice Saturday and is expected to miss the start of the regular season.

A team spokesman said Ogbeide’s injury was “minor” and his “status is undetermined.”

Georgia opens the season Friday against Chattanooga. The next two games are also at home, against Murray State on Nov. 20 and High Point on Nov. 25, followed by a Nov. 28 trip to Seton Hall.

Ogbeide had a team-high 10 rebounds in Georgia’s exhibition win over Armstrong State last Saturday. He also had four points on 2-of-6 shooting. Ogbeide didn’t start the game, and his 19 minutes were part of coach Mark Fox’s plan to give his young players extended minutes. But Ogbeide was certainly on track to see key minutes early this season.

The Bulldogs have one certain starter in the post: Sophomore Yante Maten. But after that the minutes will now be dispersed among junior Houston Kessler (who started the exhibition game), sophomore Osahun Iduwe (who rarely played last year) and freshman Mike Edwards.

As soon as Ogbeide is ready to return he will certainly become part of the mix again.

The good news for Georgia was that two key players from last year’s team appeared to be healthy after playing through injuries last year. Guards Kenny Gaines and Juwan Parker both played in the exhibition game and looked fine. Guard J.J. Frazier did not play because of what the team said was a facial injury, but Fox said he expected Frazier back this week.