Marshall complains about Creighton going after John Henson's injured wrist ... before injuring his own. (Getty Images) |
GREENSBORO, NC -- North Carolina toppled Creighton on Friday night, but it came at a cost: star point guard Kendall Marshall fractured his right wrist, UNC announced following the game. CBSSports.com's Gary Parrish reports that, according to a source close to North Carolina, Marshall will have surgery on Monday.
Parrish's source says that Marshall is hopeful he'll play in the Sweet 16. However, it's considered "unlikely" that Marshall will be able suit up for the Tar Heels.
CBSSports.com's Jeff Goodman confirmed Monday's surgery with Dennis Marshall, Kendall's father. Marshall told CBSSports.com a screw will be inserted in the non-shooting wrist, and the sophomore point guard's status for Friday will depend on how much pain Kendall can take.
No updates are expected from Marshall or UNC until after the surgery.
According to a UNC spokesman, it is a fracture of the scaphoid bone. In an unusual move, North Carolina coach Roy Williams had the media clear out of the locker room so he could address the team. After clearing everyone out -- John Henson remarked that it looked "like a clown car" -- Williams went in and talked to the team for a few minutes.
[Related: Orthopedic surgeon discusses Marshall's injury]
Prior to that, Williams was one of many different people to come and go from the trainer's room. Someone brought a bag of ice, Marshall's family members were escorted in to see the point guard and several doctors were brought in and out. In addition, I personally spotted a gentleman leave the training room with a badge that read "x-ray services."
What Williams said will likely remain unknown, as CBS Sports Tracy Wolfson asked him what was said between the two.
"That's nobody's business," Williams replied.
Per UNC, Marshall suffered the injury late in the game while driving to the basket. Marshall continued to play for a little bit with the injury, but then looked over to the bench and requested a sub.
He spent the final minutes of the game having his wrist examined by trainers at the far end of the bench.
North Carolina put together its best -- and most complete -- game since Henson's injury. They looked poised to make a deep run in the tournament, but as my colleague Jeff Borzello pointed out, if Marshall's injury is a worst-case scenario, then Carolina's title hopes could be in trouble.