Jerry Tipton on UK basketball

North Carolina lists point guard Ty Lawson as “limited” going into Wednesday night’s game at Ohio State.

“That’s wishful thinking on my part,” Coach Roy Williams said on Tuesday. “But I don’t know that it’s false.”

Lawson sprained his right ankle last Sunday in a game against Brigham Young. How much he plays at Ohio State and then at Kentucky on Saturday remains unknown.

Williams said he wouldn’t know until Lawson practiced and then North Carolina saw how the ankle reacted to the activity.

Lawson had a then career-high seven assists against Kentucky last season as a freshman. “Ty gives you such a threat,” Williams said. “He pushes the ball and gets it to the rim.”

Losing Lawson or having him diminished will affect the Tar Heels, Williams said.

In his place, North Carolina will start junior Bobby Frasor, who came to the Tar Heels as a point guard and then moved to shooting guard a year later.

“I’m not saying woe is me,” Williams said. ” Bobby Frasor led us to 23 wins (in the 2005-06 season).”

Williams noted Frasor’s improvement as a defender. Frasor is healthy again after missing two stretches last season because of foot and hip injuries.

When asked how improved he is this season, Frasor said it was like “night and day.

“Last year, I was still hesitant. My confidence was kind of shot last year. This year that’s all in the past and I’m looking ahead.”