OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton point guard Austin Chatman will have surgery to repair a ligament in his right thumb and is expected to be fully recovered before the season.

The school said Tuesday that Chatman would wear a cast for two months.

Chatman is the only returning starter for a team that has made the NCAA tournament three consecutive years. Chatman has started 71 games in a row and averaged 8.1 points as a junior. He's the Bluejays' top returning scorer.

Chatman scored 10 or more points in six of the last seven games and was named to the Big East all-tournament team.