UNC graduate transfer Cameron Johnson is dealing with a minor back injury that caused him to sit out of all team activities on Tuesday, head coach Roy Williams told the media afterwards at his scheduled press conference.

“We just did a quick 30-35 minute shootaround, then went in and watched tape and they did a weight session before that,” Williams said. “And Cam did not do anything. If we had to play today, he wouldn’t play at all.”

The Tar Heels are currently scheduled to travel to Charlotte later this week, where they’ll face No. 15 seed Lipscomb on Friday in their First Round NCAA Tournament game.

Johnson–a 6-foot-7-inch wing in his first year with UNC after transferring from Pittsburgh–has started 18 games this year and is averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per outing.

He previously missed time in late November and early December with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Since joining the starting lineup on Jan. 9 against Boston College, however, the Tar Heels have taken on a new-look approach–fielding a perimeter-based group with no starter taller than 6-foot-8.

Williams remains hopeful that he’ll get Johnson back healthy before Friday’s game, and still expects him to play as of right now–but he will be cautious if the improvement doesn’t come as quickly as needed.

 

 

Photo via Todd Melet