LOUDONVILLE - The Siena men’s basketball team has already had to deal with more injuries than coach Mitch Buonaguro would like.

Before Saturday’s season opener against Vermont, there is another one to overcome.

Junior guard Kyle Downey strained a ligament in his knee and will be out for at least three weeks, according to Buonaguro.

Downey fell over sophomore forward Davis Martens, while diving for the ball last week in practice.

"That hurts a lot because he’s our sixth man and has the ability to score in double figures," said Buonaguro.

Downey averaged 5.0 points per game in 15.0 minutes last season, as a sophomore.

It’s just another injury for Downey, who has been hampered by injuries throughout his career.

In 2008, he missed most of the offseason with a back injury.

This past January, Downey broke his right foot and missed most of the rest of the regular season, returning to play in the season finale against Marist and into the postseason.

The injury to Downey is just another for the already walking wounded Saints.

Seniors Ryan Rossiter (Achilles) and Clarence Jackson (ankle) have already missed practice time, as has freshman Trenity Burdine (foot).

The injury bug has also bit sophomore Jonathan Breeden.

Breeden, who averaged 8.0 points per game in the team’s two scrimmages, has had some swelling in his foot and ankle.

While it doesn’t seem to be seri¬ous, Buonaguro is still concerned.

"I think Breeden will go (on Saturday)," he said. "I just hope his foot and ankle injury doesn’t persist."

Breeden played in just 16 games as a freshman and averaged just 3.4 minutes per game, but his good start to this season, had him likely seeing more game action.

"I plan on playing him in the Vermont game right away," Buonaguro said.

The injuries leave Siena a little shorthanded, with the season opener just three days away.

NOTE: The Trentonian's Ben Doody and I will be co-hosting a MAAC chat at 11 a.m. tomorrow. We're hoping to make this a weekly thing. Please stop by the blog.