Marcus Paige Injury: Updates on North Carolina Star's Foot and Return

North Carolina star Marcus Paige is currently battling a plantar fasciitis injury in his right foot, and it doesn't sound like it's getting any better. 

InsideCarolina.com's Dijana Kunovac has the news:

Paige has been dealing with the injury, and last Saturday, he was able to fight through the pain to score the game-winning bucket in the Tar Heels' thrilling win over then-No. 5 Louisville. But his most recent quote, via Kunovac, isn't encouraging:

The preseason ACC Player of the Year has been noticeably less efficient this season, averaging 13.3 points per game on just 36.6 percent shooting. His true shooting percentage, according to Sports-Reference.com, is at 51.2, a huge decrease from his sophomore mark of 59.2. 

Still, as one of the best players in the country, Paige's importance to the Tar Heels is obvious. He is the team's best shooter as well as the go-to option in the clutch. Should this injury continue to limit him, it's going to be difficult for the Heels to overcome. 

If Paige misses any time, Nate Britt would need to step up. The sophomore has improved vastly this season, but it's unclear how he could handle full-time point guard duties.