ATLANTA — If John Henson’s injured left wrist keeps him out of North Carolina’s ACC tournament semifinal game against N.C. State here on Friday, the Wolfpack likely wouldn’t be too disappointed. Henson has simply dominated N.C. State throughout his career, and the Wolfpack hasn’t had any answer for him inside.

Here’s a look at how Henson has fared against N.C. State during the past three seasons:

ATLANTA — All North Carolina junior forward John Henson could do was brace himself and hope for the best. With about 15 minutes to play in the first half of the Tar Heels’ 85-69 victory against Maryland on Friday in the ACC tournament semifinals, Henson collided in the air with the Terrapins’ Ashton Pankey.

The collision came after Henson had secured a rebound, and he was attempting a follow shot when Pankey’s contact sent Henson tumbling. He lost his balance – and his footing – and used his left hand to break his fall. A media timeout provided Henson a brief reprieve, but he motioned to be taken out of the game after attempting a free throw.

No. 7 North Carolina travels to N.C. State tonight for the second meeting between the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. Three  things to watch from a UNC perspective:

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina Roy Williams said earlier today that the N.C. State team the Tar Heels will play on Tuesday night in Raleigh is far different than the one that suffered a 74-55 defeat against UNC at the Smith Center on Jan. 20.

Three North Carolina-related things to consider on the morning after the Tar Heels’ 74-55 victory over N.C. State on Thursday night:

Updated 11:19 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL — It had been eight years since N.C. State entered the Smith Center with as strong of an ACC record as it brought here on Thursday night. After five long, losing seasons in league play, the Wolfpack’s resurgence inspired thoughts that maybe they’d closed some of the margin between them and North Carolina.

But the No. 7 Tar Heels proved otherwise on Thursday during a dominant 74-55 victory that reaffirmed the gap between these programs remains wide. The Heels’ victory was their 11th consecutive in this series, and that stretch of supremacy is UNC’s longest over N.C. State (15-6, 4-2) since the formation of the ACC in 1953.

CHAPEL HILL — It won’t be long now. We’re only about four-and-a-half hours away from tip-off at the Smith Center between North Carolina and N.C. State. This will be the 220th meeting between the Tar Heels and Wolfpack, yet some younger fans might not fully grasp the history the two schools share.

UNC coach Roy Williams, though, doesn’t need any reminders. During Williams’ meeting with media members on Wednesday, I asked him why the rivalry with N.C. State continues to mean as much as it does to him.

Here’s what he said:

Just a reminder, in case you hadn't already seen our promotion, that The News & Observer today at noon is hosting a live chat about the North Carolina-N.C. State game. So come on out and join me and Joe Giglio, our N.C. State beat reporter, at noon.

You can access the chat at www.newsobserver.com/sports. See you there.

CHAPEL HILL — No. 7 North Carolina hosts N.C. State tonight at 7 at the Smith Center. From the Tar Heels’ side of things, here are three things to watch: