University of North Carolina Athletics
Notebook: Lawson Still In Question For UK
November 30, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2007
By Turner Walston
It's looking unlikely that Ty Lawson will return to the court Saturday at Kentucky. Roy Williams said Lawson participated in about 25 percent of the team's drills on Thursday, but not at full-speed. "I thought he would have made more significant improvement," Williams said. The coach said if Lawson were not 100 percent, he likely wouldn't play and risk further injury on Saturday. "I think that's the way you make things linger," Williams said. "If I see him limping around at practice today (Friday), I would think that would probably mean that he's not going to play tomorrow."
Williams said Lawson's absence against Ohio State and most of the BYU game could help his team in the long run. With Lawson out, Bobby Frasor and Quentin Thomas have played more significant minutes at the point guard position. "More quality time has enabled those guys to hopefully get more confidence," Williams said. "If we can get Ty back completely healthy, I think those guys will be even better then."...
The two winningest programs in Division I college basketball will meet for the 30th time. Kentucky leads all schools with 1,952 wins, and Carolina is second with 1,920. Carolina leads the head-to-head series, 19-10. The Tar Heels and Wildcats will play for the eighth straight season. Carolina has won three straight in the series after dropping the four previous games.
Tyler Hansbrough said the team isn't ignoring the historic nature of Saturday's game. "I think it makes the game much better," he said. The national prominence of both programs gives the game added gravity, Hansbrough said. "I think that's what makes this game what it is."...
Carolina's toughness has been tested in back-to-back grueling games against Brigham Young and Ohio State. The three games prior to BYU were won by an average of nearly 33 points, but the Tar Heels won Saturday and Wednesday by 10 and 11 points, respectively. Williams said the task only gets more challenging in traveling to Lexington. "You're talking about one of the great places in college basketball," Williams said of Rupp Arena. "The enthusiasm they have is at such a high level. I think that it challenges you in different ways, but to me the toughness is being able to handle adversity, being able to handle the unfavorable crowd and still being able to maintain your poise and do a good job of executing what we want to do."...
In his two career games against Kentucky, Hansbrough has struggled offensively. He's a combined 3-15 from the field, with 13 total points. "Their defense is one of the toughest we face," Hansbrough said. "They allow you to only have one shot. I don't know how much their system's changed since Coach (Tubby) Smith has left, but I know it's always been an aggressive defense."...
Wayne Ellington's sharp outside shooting has proved deadly to the last two opponents. He's hit big three-point shots at crucial times that helped nail the coffins shut on both BYU and Ohio State. Ellington said he's letting the game come to him, rather than forcing ill-advised shots. "I feel more confident taking them now. I feel more comfortable. Throughout the game, I'm just taking more shots that are `in the flow.'" I just feel more comfortable, more loose and more confident in the shots I'm taking."...
The Wildcats enter Saturday's game 4-1, winners of four straight after dropping the opener at home to Gardner-Webb. The Tar Heels said they know Kentucky would love a `statement win' against No. 1 North Carolina. "All teams are more `up' and more prepared when they're playing Carolina," Ellington said. "We've got a target on us."
"They're going to have their best game for us," Hansbrough said. "I know they're going to prepare well for us, so we'll be ready, too."
