CHAPEL HILL — UNC coach Roy Williams has made a habit of calling point guard Ty Lawson "Dennis the Menace." But after his 23-point performance on a gimpy right toe Saturday, Williams said he may start calling the junior "Rambo."
"I don't think he's 100 percent," said Williams, who nonetheless thinks Lawson will play Friday, when the top-seeded Tar Heels play No. 4 seed Gonzaga in the Sweet Sixteen.
"I don’t think he’s going to be 100 percent, but we’ll take whatever we can get, especially if it’s like that performance Saturday. Because that’s about as good as I’ve ever had a point guard play in 21 years as a head coach."
Lawson, who jammed the toe in practice on March 6, was not limping during his Tuesday press conference, and said he's been icing the toe up to seven times a day.
It also didn't swell as much as when he played on the injury March 8 against Duke — but then again, he also didn't soak it in hot water and Epsom salt, a remedy his dad recommended and likely made the swelling worse.
“My dad didn’t come no where near me [this time],’’ Lawson said Tuesday, laughing. “He said, ‘Yeah, I learned my lesson the first time.’”
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
lawson's toe
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 23:12 — george32epsom salt and hot water is a folk remedy that reduces soreness in a sprained or twisted joint at the expense of encouraging swelling. icing such an area limits the swelling but maginifies the pain/discomfort. unc's trainers have elected this latter treatment and the toe is still store. to Only Roy Can Screw It Up, if you need to resign your Rams Club Memembership and courtside prime seats because of your lifetime contributions of over 50k if car if carolina does not win the national champtionship, so be it-otherwise stop whing like a teenager whose mommy will not buy you the latest cell phone. in and one and done tournament anything can happen, witness the Kansas miracle shot last year against Memphis to force overtime after they nearly lost to Davidson.
Only ROY can screw up 2009
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 21:31 — unc1dmoLawson is only 1 spoke in the Carolina wheel....No doubt the most IMPORTANT spoke....... and there is NO ONE on this roster that can take his place.....
But last i looked TLaw was on the floor at the start of the 2nd half vs LSU...when NC got blown off the floor on a 13-2 LSU run......
And only after the one UNC "Enforcer" Ed Davis.... came in to replace Charmin Soft Thompson... did Davis give some Kick butt to the relatively soft Carolina line up.... and their fortunes started to turn.....
BENCH Charmin Soft and Play Ed Davis 30-35 minutes.....Stop getting blitzed at the start of a half with a weak spot on the floor....
It's a lineup of Davis- Hansbrough-Green-Ellington-Lawson that will bring a banner back for the rafters...and.....
Only ROY can screw this up in 2009...... where anything less than a Championship banner is UNACCEPTABLE
N&O reporting
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 18:32 — igliigliSo where is the N&O's reporting on non-athlete students?
RE: N&O reporting
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 23:48 — Thinking"So where is the N&O's reporting on non-athlete students?"
Probably someplace other than the sports section.
N&O Reporting
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 01:40 — igliigliThe article is not in the sports section, it was in the education section.
You can look at all sections and not find any non-athlete mentioned.
I thought after
Tue, 03/24/2009 - 18:20 — jeromfitzhis last game coming back from an injury still hurting that might make him a "B-Ball Court Dragon". Watch how he grimincing in pain and such showing UNC fans how tough he can be for you school.