Lawson's status uncertain for tourney

CHAPEL HILL — If top-seeded North Carolina had to play in the ACC Tournament today or tomorrow, point guard Ty Lawson would not play, coach Roy Williams said this afternoon. So whether the newly-dubbed conference player of the year is able to play Friday when UNC plays Miami or Virginia Tech is still up in the air.

Lawson's jammed right big toe — which did not prevent him from playing against Duke, with the help of a numbing shot — has grown worse since Sunday's victory, both coach and player said. Lawson, one of the fastest ballhandlers in the country, was wearing a walking shoe and said he was mostly moving from place to play with the aid of crutches.

Williams said he wouldn't hesitate to sit Lawson during the ACC Tournament with the NCAA tournament on the horizon; Lawson said he'll do whatever he needs to do to help his team's goal of winning a national title.

"If I can play in the ACC Tournament, I definitely will play if there's only a little bit of pain,'' Lawson said. "But the big picture right now is the NCAA Tournament, because that's where our goals are as a team. We'll just wait and see how it is, and make a decision from there."

Lawson jammed the toe when he smashed his foot into a basket support during last Friday's practice. He said doctors discovered a previously healed fracture in the toe, which is making the injury worse.