NCAA Tournament 2012: North Carolina Doomed Without Kendall Marshall

In the game of basketball, the point guard position is oftentimes the most valuable player on the floor. He may not always have the most talent, but the point guard is equivalent to a quarterback in football: He is the leader. Kendall Marshall is no exception. 

The Tar Heels are now preparing to play without their stellar point guard, Marshall, who fractured his wrist in their last game. His injury couldn't have come at a worse time. He had surgery on the wrist Monday and is now listed as day-to-day. Although his pain lessens each day, according to coach Williams, "He can't even brush his teeth right now." I'd say if you can't brush your teeth, you can't play in March Madness, but I'm no doctor.

Of course, North Carolina realizes not having Marshall out on the floor hurts them, but do they know how much? He averages more assists than points, meaning he does an incredible job of getting the ball to his teammates in a position where they can succeed. Marshall gets them into their sets and is arguably the team's best on-ball defender. All that, and more, is what the Tar Heels will be missing when they match up against Ohio.

Luckily for NC, Ohio is a No. 13 seed. They are not one of the better teams still playing. However, unfortunately for NC, the Bobcats are currently riding a wave of momentum that can't be stopped and their confidence will be at its peak when they step out of the floor against a gimpy John Henson and a team without its floor general. I smell some trouble for the Tar Heels.

Marshall claims that he knows his teammates can get the job done with or without him, but I wouldn't be too sure. Only time will tell.