Indiana freshman phenom Eric Gordon has met every challenge so far this season. The red-hot Hoosiers are hoping he can handle the next one -- playing hurt.

Gordon's father told the Indianapolis Star on Wednesday that his son came down hard going for a rebound in practice on Tuesday and put out his non-shooting hand to break his fall.

"He did injure his wrist, but there's no swelling," Eric Gordon Sr. said, according to the newspaper. "He's going to be able to play. What they'll probably do is put some protective padding on it, and he'll play."

Eric Gordon's father said his son will likely have to wear the padding for several weeks.

The No. 11 Hoosiers travel to Madison to face No. 13 Wisconsin on Thursday (9 p.m., ESPN).

Indiana (17-2) is off to its best 19-game start since 1992-93, in large part due to Gordon.

The 6-foot-4 shooting guard entered the week leading the Big Ten in scoring (21.7 points per game), has taken more free throws (144) and made more free throws (122) than any other conference player and ranks fifth in 3-pointers per game (2.6).

He's already tied Mike Woodson's school record for most 30-point games by a freshman (three) and with a stronger finish, he may yet challenge Michael Redd's conference scoring record for freshmen (21.9).

Hardcore Hoosiers fans have embraced Gordon by wearing T-shirts that read "Got Gordon" and chant his name regularly during games, privileges typically reserved for upperclassmen.

But Gordon remains humble, quiet and would do anything to avoid talking about himself.

"Coach told me not to even act like a freshman," Gordon said. "So I just play, I just play my game and let that take over."

Now, he faces another hurdle to stardom, dealing with injury. Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson has seen Gordon handle everything else.

"Watching him every day you can almost see his development in front of you," Sampson said. "He is a very attentive listener. Some kids hear you, but I am not sure they listen to you. Some kids look, I'm not sure they see. This kid hears you, he listens to you, he looks and he sees."

See More at http://sports.espn.go.com