UNC's Lawson Out for Va. Tech, and Thompson and Green May Be Out, Too

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Already down their top two point guards, and with nagging injuries bugging two more starters, North Carolina might have to play without Deon Thompson and Danny Green on Saturday against Virginia Tech.

Thompson is recovering from a hyperextended knee he suffered during a play on Tuesday’s game at Virginia, while Green came down with a case of the flu.

Head coach Roy Williams said during his regular press conference Friday afternoon that he didn’t expect Green to be at practice later that day, and he would have a better feel for Thompson after practice.

“If we had the game scheduled right now at two o’clock, probably Deon Thompson would not play,” Williams said. “And there’s no doubt if it were at two o’clock, Danny Green would not play.”

Williams also said that Ty Lawson would miss Saturday’s game and predicted that he wouldn’t play next Wednesday against N.C. State either.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Williams said of the injury bug that has bitten the team in the last two months. “Never such a significant number. Not just for one guy but I’m talking about different people at the same time.”

The result, Williams said, is that Will Graves and Mike Copeland should expect to see heavier minutes on Saturday.

“The one thing that will change is that Will Graves and Michael Copeland better get their butt in gear,” Williams said.

“And the way I phrased it right there is almost exactly the way I’m going to phrase it to them. Sometimes we need you to play and this is one of those times, and when you’re called upon, I expect you to do positive things. And I think that’s a message that they will get loud and clear.”

Tyler Hansbrough is in better condition after having an ingrown toenail removed that had bothered him since last week, and Marcus Ginyard is still ailing from various injuries, but improving, Williams said.

And a healthy Ginyard is crucial for UNC.

“When your fourth point guard plays 30 minutes, it’s not a good situation most of the time,” Williams said. “But thank goodness that the fourth point guard for us is a tough, tough individual and he did an awfully nice job up at Virginia.”

He said that, as always with injuries, the Tar Heels would tweak some things in practice, but just couldn’t drastically change their style of play, although playing some zone defense is possible.

“We’ve done that in the past,” Williams said. “Shoot, we worked on the zone before we went to Virginia. At one point, I stood up to call a zone, and we didn’t because we had a guy in the game who had never played that position.”

In surviving recent close games against Clemson and Virginia, Williams said he has been presently surprised with his team’s toughness and how they’ve found unconventional ways to win.

But he’s concerned with foul trouble, the team’s high-turnover rate, and especially the injuries.