Toe injury not a first for Lawson

CHAPEL HILL —- The history of Ty Lawson's toe injury turned out to include more than the right big-toe jam he sustained during Friday's North Carolina workouts.

Following Sunday's 79-71 win over Duke in the Smith Center, the Tar Heels' junior playmaker said that X-rays Friday revealed a previous broken bone in the same toe.

"When I broke it, I have no idea," he said. "It could have been last year, or even before that, for all I know. I've hit wrong on that foot so many times I can't remember them all. But when I jammed it Friday, it did really hurt. It hurt today, too, but once I got into the game it was easy to forget it.

"When you're playing Duke, things like that don't bother you as much."

Lawson, who finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, played Sunday with a steel plate inserted into right shoe. Trainers and medical personnel also put a special tape wrap on the toe that prevented it from moving very much.

"That took some adjusting, but it wasn't anything you couldn't put up with it. I think I'll be a lot better once I get us rest," Lawson said. "I don't think there'll be any problem at all for getting ready for our next game Friday [second round of the ACC Tournament in Atlanta]. By then, I feel certain the pain should be gone."

On another front, Sunday was senior day for Tyler Hansbrough, Green, Bobby Frasor, Mike Copeland and a handful of walk-ons. It also was Lawson's final game in the Smith Center if he elects, as is widely expected, to enter the NBA Draft.

"I'm not going to think about that all until after we win the national championship," he said. "Then, there'll be plenty of time to size everything up and figure things out." -- Caulton Tudor, (Raleigh) News & Observer