Roy Williams looked and spoke as if his team’s season had ended. As expected, top-seeded North Carolina whipped Creighton 87-73 on Sunday to advance to the Sweet 16. But the devastating news of point guard Kendall Marshall’s fractured right hand landed like a hammer. With the Dumfries native, the Tar Heels seem capable of beating anyone in the country. But can they win without him?
They’ve already lost shooting guards Dexter Strickland (ACL) and Leslie McDonald (ACL). It would be up to reserve guards Stilman White, Justin Watts and maybe sharpshooter Reggie Bullock to pick up the slack. Marshall, with 351 assists on the season, has exceptional court vision and makes North Carolina a terror on the break. That skill is virtually impossible to replace over the course of a season.
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But the Tar Heels might need to do it only for one weekend with games against Ohio and — if they survive — Kansas or rival N.C. State. And Marshall, who had surgery Monday morning, still hasn’t been ruled out for this weekend. It’s a tall task. But don’t count out North Carolina yet.
– Brian McNally
