UNC Basketball: Kendall Marshall's Injury Dooms UNC Tar Heels' Title Hopes

Just when it looked like North Carolina was back at full strength, the injury bug turned around and smacked them in the face.

Shortly after their 16-point win over Creighton, the Tar Heels announced via Twitter that starting point guard Kendall Marshall suffered a fractured right wrist. With 10:56 left to play in the second half, Marshall attacked the rim and hit the deck hard, landing squarely on his right hand.

Although the damage wasn't immediately apparent, it was later announced that he broke the scaphoid bone, which is situated between the hand and forearm on the thumb-side of the wrist.

"

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

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

This a crushing blow for the Tar Heels, who live and die on the success of Marshall. It's uncertain if he will return in the tournament, but I think it's safe to say that UNC is completely screwed if he can't play.

While Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller get most of the attention, Marshall is the heart of Carolina's offense.

He controls the flow of the game, running UNC's offense with precision. He dictates the tempo of every possession and sets his fellow Tar Heels up for easy bucket after easy bucket. If he's not there to dish out assists, Carolina's offense will be reduced to little more than a chaotic mess.

Even if he does tough it out, the Tar Heels can kiss their national championship hopes goodbye.

The other legitimate national title contenders (Kentucky, Ohio State and Syracuse) all have elite point guards who will extend no mercy to the ailing Marshall.

I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to play, as the injury occurred on his non-shooting hand. However, I doubt he will be able to perform with any sort of effectiveness.

He's still going to need his off-hand for dribbling, passing and simply catching the ball. If he can't perform these basic duties, the Tar Heels championship dreams will be shattered.