UNC's Kendall Marshall recovering from surgery

Kendall Marshall (5) of the North Carolina Tar Heels talks with a referee after a technical foul was called on a teammate in the first half against the Creighton Bluejays during the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Greensboro Coliseum on March 18, 2012 in Greensboro, N.C. Marshall later broke a bone in his wrist during the game. / Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) The father of North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall said Monday his son is recovering from surgery on his broken right wrist and it's unclear if he'll return for the NCAA regional games in St. Louis.

Dennis Marshall said the procedure done in Chapel Hill, N.C., to insert a screw into his son's wrist lasted about 35 minutes.

Dennis Marshall told CBSSports.com's Jeff Goodman that surgery on Kendall went well and lasted about 30 minutes. Moreover, they are optimistic about him playing against Ohio in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

"Hang onto your seatbelt," Dennis Marshall said.

He said when Kendall plays again would be based on "what would be best for Kendall in the long term" and that he didn't know whether the sophomore would be ready to play in the round of 16 against Ohio on Friday.

"I don't know because Kendall's just coming out of his anesthesia, we haven't talked and I don't know how he'll feel four days from now," Dennis Marshall said. "We just don't know.

"Is it impossible he plays this weekend? No, it's not. Is it likely he plays next weekend? It definitely is. It's something we just don't know."

The school also said Marshall's status was unclear for Friday's game in an update Monday afternoon. The Tar Heels (31-5) are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Regional.

The left-handed point guard fractured the scaphoid bone — located near the thumb — when he was fouled driving to the basket during the second half of Sunday's win against Creighton at the Greensboro Coliseum.

UNC star Kendall Marshall breaks wrist

Marshall popped right up, then came out of the media timeout and hit 1 of 2 free throws. He left briefly, then returned again and played about 7 minutes before leaving the game late with the victory secured.

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2012 NCAA Tournament: Opening rounds

"I didn't want my team to worry about me," Marshall said Sunday night. "So I tried to pop up as quick as possible and get to the free-throw line. I didn't want to make a big deal about it. I just want to keep playing and find a way to win."

Marshall, from Dumfries, Va., is a second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference pick who has 351 assists in 36 games, the best season total in league history and fourth most in NCAA history.

The pass-first point guard is averaging about eight points and 10 assists, though he has stepped up his offense recently and scored in double figures the past six games. He had 18 points and 11 assists in the 87-73 win against the Bluejays, his fifth double-double in that span.

Marshall has been the Tar Heels' most irreplaceable player, leading the fast-paced offense with his see-everything court vision and perfect pitch-ahead passes in transition.

The Tar Heels lost No. 2 ballhandler Dexter Strickland to a season-ending knee injury in January. If Marshall can't go, the job would fall to freshman Stilman White and versatile senior Justin Watts.

Dennis Marshall said he and his wife planned to stay in a hotel to take care of Kendall — who is wearing a splint — on Monday night. He said the family and Williams would likely wait a couple of days before talking about the point guard's status for the regionals.

"I would just tell everybody not to get their hopes up and just pray and hope for the best," Dennis Marshall said. "That's about all we can do at this point."

Kendall Marshall's scheduled surgery was first reported by CBS.com late Sunday.

[mtdrmbland]

Dean Smith is a legend and Roy Williams is doing him great justice in continuing the great teams Dean started. More over, I believe these young men also learn about life and not just basketball. Everyone seems to really respect Roy and you can see he truly cares about his players as young men and not just ball players. I think this is the part in many coaches that is missing. Let's go HEELS !!!

[footdronline]

Kendall Marshall Undergoes Surgery for a Wrist Injury. Read more: ******/oelk9p

[KButter5isthebest]

Hi,just wanted to say as A blue blooded Tar Heel fan that I love all our guys and that Kendall is my favorite.I will be praying for him and hope he can return soon,as long as it dosen't hurt him!! I still can't believe that he played on for 7 mins. withouy showing any sign of being hurt.He must be even tougher than I thought.I also think,along with thousands of TH fans that Ethan Wragge should be ban from playing next year,if he's not a senior.His actions against not only Kendall,but hitting John Henson's wrist twice after the whistle is sooo wrong and despicable.Coach Williams would have made our guy sit on the bench probably for the rest of the game.Their coach is not teaching them anything about sportsmanship at all and that is 1 of the many reasons I have beel a Tar Heel fan all my life and will be until the day I die!!!!!!! Carolyn Strickland

[joycie77]

I agree 100% Don't think Henson should have gotten a "T" and the other guy should have been ejected. Hubby said he winked at someone when he hit Henson, but I missed that. Dirty players :( I too hope that Kendall will be able to play, but only if it's ok'd by the Dr. Guess we showed Creighton :)