bgorman@heraldsun.com; 419-6668
CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams watched Sunday's matchup between Duke and Wake Forest and came away impressed with both team's big guys.
The Blue Devils and Demon Deacons combined for 47 fouls and played one of the most physical games in the ACC this season.
"It was a man's game, by far," Williams said. "It was sort of scary watching that part of it because we haven't, ourselves, dominated the backboards like that against another big team."
The No. 24 Tar Heels, who were dubbed the No. 1 frontcourt in the nation by SI.com before the season began, have struggled against physical big men this season, and it's a concern for Williams as his team hosts the sizable Demon Deacons tonight (7 p.m., ESPN) at the Smith Center.
It also does not help UNC, which already lost sophomore forward Tyler Zeller to a stress fracture in his right foot for 4 to 6 weeks, that it could be without its top forward against Wake Forest (12-4, 2-2).
Sophomore Ed Davis, who leads the team with 14.6 points a game and 9.4 rebounds, sprained his left ankle in Saturday's loss to Georgia Tech and missed practice Monday. Williams said Davis was "expected to be limited at best" for Tuesday's practice and would be a game-time decision today.
Sophomore guard Larry Drew II, who hyperextended his right knee Saturday and missed Monday's practice, is expected to play today.
Without Davis in the lineup, freshmen Travis and David Wear could see more playing time up front, and Williams said there's a possibility of junior Will Graves sliding over from the three to the four spot.
"I'm always ready to step in wherever," Graves said. "It might be a little awkward running a couple plays, but I could just about play any position just by paying attention to what's going on in practice."
The loss of Davis also would make it even tougher for the Tar Heels to contain 6-9 forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who leads Wake Forest with 17.6 points per game and leads the ACC with 11.6 rebounds, and 7-0 Chas McFarland, who averages 6.9 points and 7.6 rebounds.
The Tar Heels (12-6, 1-2 ACC) were outmuscled inside by similar big men in losses to No. 5 Syracuse, No. 2 Kentucky and No. 1 Texas and more recently in losses to No. 17 Clemson and No. 19 Georgia Tech. Clemson forward Trevor Booker dominated last week's game for 21 points and nine rebounds, and the Yellow Jackets outscored the Tar Heels 30-24 in the paint Saturday.
"I don't know what the right word is -- out-physicaled, outplayed, more aggressive, less aggressive," Williams said.
The Tar Heels starting forwards and top two scorers -- Davis and senior Deon Thompson -- disappeared for stretches during both ACC losses. After the Georgia Tech game, Thompson said he needed to start demanding the ball more. Davis and Thompson have combined for just 32 points and 18 rebounds the past two games.
"They have not done as well as I've wanted them to do about getting the ball in the low post position and then fighting for that position," Williams said. "But I still think our big guys can determine the outcome of some games."
NOTE -- Fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for the "Celebration of a Century" reunion game on Feb. 12. Tickets for the game are $10 and are available at TarHeelBlue.com or by calling the ticket office at 962-2296 or 1-800-722-HEEL.
