BERRY SCARY NEWS
North Carolina may be without starting point guard after ankle injury
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Roy Williams buried the lead. He started his press conference with a few pleasant thoughts, including his team’s postgame meal Friday night — then he dropped a bomb.
“We have no idea if Joel Berry [is going to play], what his ankle’s going to be like in another 30 hours or whatever it is,” Williams said. “The bottom line is, I can’t be Mr. Miyagi or clap my hands and rub it make it better. We’ll have to see what it’s like. ... I’m hopeful that we’ll have him.”
North Carolina, the top seed in the South Region, is preparing to face ninth-seeded Arkansas in a second-round game Sunday night, and they may have to do so with- out their starting point guard.
Berry landed on a Texas Southern player’s foot after a jumpshot Friday, turning his right ankle. He briefly returned to the game and has been getting treatment since the blowout victory, but he woke up stiff Saturday, was limping when he got out of bed and wasn’t expected to practice, raising concerns about his status.
Williams often prefers early starts in the tournament, but he was thrilled about the 6 p.m. tip time because it will give Berry’s ankle a few extra hours to heal.
Berry said he is at “75, 80” percent and expects to be able to play, but it ultimately will be up to Williams.
“That’s his decision,” Berry said. “If he feels like we can win this game without me playing, I have confidence in my teammates. I’m going to prepare like I’m playing. I expect to play. I want to play. If he tries to sit me out, I’ll try to convince him my best I want to play and that I’m good. I will do whatever it takes.
“I’ve been doing all I can. I want to get out there and play, so it’s worth it. I just want to be ready, and I just want to have confidence in myself, knowing my ankle is fine. Hopefully it will be close to [100 percent].”
This would not be a good time for Berry to miss a game. Arkansas (26-9) puts a lot of pressure on ballhandlers, picking up fullcourt and playing with pace. North Carolina’s seven losses, after all, had one common denominator: Berry struggled. The Tar Heels (28-7) won two games Berry missed in December after he sprained his ankle, beating Tennessee and Davidson. Senior Nate Britt started in Berry’s place and averaged 6.5 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals.
“Nate shot it well [Friday] night, I think made two 3s [Friday] night, was five assists on our chart, no turnovers,” Williams said. “Stilman [White] can shoot the basketball. Seventh [Woods] has tremendous speed and quickness.
“If I can put all three of them together and have one player at the end, I wouldn’t be that worried.
“But Joel has been one of our leaders and not just by scoring or shooting 3-point shots, but the way he plays defense. But we can’t go out and draft anybody. So we’ve got to figure out somebody to play.”