Roy Williams doesn't sound optimistic his best low-post scorer will be available Thursday night.
The North Carolina coach said on his weekly radio show on Monday night that the Tar Heels are preparing as though they won't have Kennedy Meeks when they face top-seeded Wisconsin in the West Regional semifinals.
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Meeks suffered what North Carolina has called a sprained left knee Saturday night when Arkansas defender Anthlon Bell took a charge and fell into the big man's left knee. Meeks did not practice with the Tar Heels on Monday, but the 6-foot-9 sophomore is expected to travel with the team to Los Angeles.
"It's not good," Williams said on his radio show. "They're not completely ruling him out, and they're not saying that he can play. Let me say it that way — I don't think we'll have him, but we'll just have to wait and see."
By far North Carolina's most efficient back-to-the-basket scorer, Meeks shoots 56.6 percent from the field and averages 11.6 points per game. He is also North Carolina's leading shot blocker and second-leading rebounder this season.
If Meeks can't play, reserve big man Joel James would be the most likely option to start in his place alongside Brice Johnson in the frontcourt. North Carolina also could go small and insert guard Nate Britt into the lineup instead of James, but that could leave the Tar Heels more vulnerable defensively against a Wisconsin frontline that includes national player of the year candidate Frank Kaminsky and forwards Sam Dekker and Nigel Hayes.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
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