UNC's Barnes sits out practice with sprained ankle

CHAPEL HILL -- After suffering a sprained left ankle in North Carolina’s 68-53 victory at Wake Forest on Tuesday night, Tar Heels sophomore forward Harrison Barnes did not practice on Thursday, according to a UNC spokesman.

Barnes’ status for the Heels’ practice on Friday, and their game on Saturday at Maryland, remains in doubt. After traveling to Maryland, No. 5 UNC returns home to host No. 7 Duke next Wednesday night.

Barnes suffered the injury during the first half against the Demon Deacons. He said he “rolled” his ankle running down the court. He left the game and proceeded to the Tar Heels’ locker room, where a trainer re-taped his ankle.

He returned late in the first half and played most of the second. He finished with 13 points in 27 minutes but acknowledged that he was in pain after the game ended. He said he hoped that rest and icing his ankle would make it feel better.

UNC didn’t practice on Wednesday, when tests confirmed Barnes’ ankle sprain.