Hansbrough playing? Heels not saying

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams said (again) he does not know whether forward Tyler Hansbrough will play against No. 13 Michigan State in Detroit on Wednesday night. The senior has missed four games this season because of a stress reaction in his right shin, then a “tweaked” left ankle.

Other notes:

• Ford Field, site of Wednesday's ACC/Big Ten Challenge game, is also the site of this year Final Four — where both teams hope to end up in April.

“Playing there this year gives us a feel for the court, so if we go back ... we’ll be used to it,’’ point guard Ty Lawson said.

Especially because of the unique raised-floor configuration, which was also used when an NCAA Regional was played there.

"I'm afraid we are going to be playing on a raised court, and it will be unusual for me,'' Williams said. "I know when I was watching the games last year, it just looked weird and I don't know that I would enjoy it.

"As coaches, we get in a rut and think what we do is more comfortable than change is, but I'm going to have a hard time trying to figure out if that's going to be even more fun."

• Freshman Delvon Roe chose Michigan State over UNC. Asked if he thought he was pretty confident once upon a time that Roe would choose the Tar Heels, Williams said: "I thought he was a wonderful young man and a wonderful player, and I thought we had a good chance."

The forward is averaging 6.2 points and five rebounds after returning from surgeries on both knees.

• The Tar Heels have won four of their five games in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge since Williams took over as head coach.

— Robbi Pickeral