Kendall Marshall's Status for NCAA Tournament Unknown After Fracturing Wrist

North Carolina pulled off an impressive 87-73 victory over Creighton in the Round of 32, but they paid a huge price. 

Dynamic sophomore guard Kendall Marshall fractured his wrist. The official twitter page for UNC basketball broke the news.

"

Marshall has a fracture in his right wrist. Status for rest of tournament is unknown.

— UNC Hoops (@UNC_Basketball) March 19, 2012"

UPDATE: Sunday,11:45 p.m. ET

The news is not good for Kendall Marshall or the North Carolina Tar Heels. According to CBS SportsGary Parrish, it looks like Marshall is heading for surgery: 

"

Talked to a source close to UNC. Kendall Marshall will have surgery Monday. Hopeful he'll play in Sweet 16. But it's considered "unlikely."

— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) March 19, 2012"

In an interview with Tracy Wilson on the CBS broadcast, UNC coach Roy Williams had this to say about the injury:

"

Basically the only thing we can say is that he has a fracture of the scaphoid bone of the right wrist, there's nothing else we can say because we've got to see a doctor, they did get an x-ray, and talk to the family, there'll be no update tonight, we just don't know but we know he has that.

"

When asked what coach and player have said to each other, Williams refused to expand before elaborating on his reasoning.

"

I'm not trying to be cruel, but there's a time in coaching when you have to have relationships with players that CBS or ESPN or anybody doesn't have to know everything that's said. He's just a wonderful, wonderful kid and you hate that to happen

"

While this unknown status is a far cry better than being out, this is bad news anyway you cut it. Luckily for UNC, Marshall is left handed, but he uses both hands as well as any player in the country.

He uses that right hand to make passes, finish at the rim and play defense. If he is able to play, you have to imagine that the right hand won't be contributing to much.

Marshall is the glue of the Tar Heels offense. He averaged 7.8 points per game and a spectacular 9.7 assists during the regular season.  

He has been even better in the tournament. He picked up 11 points and 10 assists in the Tar Heels opener and 18 points, 11 assists in the ill-fated game against Creighton. 

If Marshall's role is limited—or non-existent—going forward, then his minutes will likely be taken by freshman Stilman White. 

White only played 4.2 minutes per game this season, and averaged 0.7 points and 0.6 assists.