ROBERT WILLETT - rwillett@newsobserver.com
UNC's Harrison Barnes works his shooting touch prior to the Tar Heels' game against Maryland on Saturday February 4, 2012 at Comcast Center in College Park, Md.
CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina sophomore forward Harrison Barnes practiced between 20 and 25 minutes Monday as he attempted to recover from a sprained ankle he suffered last week.
Barnes re-injured the ankle Saturday during the 83-74 victory at Maryland, but for anyone doubting whether he might play Wednesday when No. 5 North Carolina will host No. 10 Duke, he had a message.
"My ankle's great, and I'll be ready to go against Duke," Barnes said during a guest appearance on coach Roy Williams' radio show.
He sprained his left ankle last Tuesday night during a 68-53 victory at Wake Forest. He said he felt about 60 percent healthy entering the Maryland game Saturday, but he finished with 18 points and made two important shots during the second half.
"I think he showed some big-time toughness," Williams said.
Barnes' 3-pointer gave North Carolina the lead for good with about nine minutes to play Saturday.
Then he made a jumper with about a minute to play that stretched the lead to six.
Barnes said he experienced considerable pain against Maryland, and said it felt like he'd been shot in the ankle. Even so, he was in better shape after the victory at Maryland than he was after the win at Wake Forest.
"He had less swelling and less pain after the (Maryland) game than he did after the Wake Forest game," Williams said.
Still, Williams was cautious with Barnes during practice Monday. North Carolina worked out for about an hour, Williams said, and Barnes worked for less than half of that time.
Even so, Barnes spoke with confidence that he'd be ready to play Wednesday.
Wolfpack not looking past Yellow Jackets
Headed to Atlanta on Thursday, N.C. State (17-7, 6-3) hopes to avoid a second loss to lowly Georgia Tech (9-14, 2-7).
Wolfpack coach Mark Gottfried didn't attempt to deny that landing an NCAA tournament bid is on the minds of his players and the coaching staff.
Two losses to Georgia Tech could be an NCAA resume buster.
After the trip to Atlanta, the Wolfpack will not play again until Feb. 16 at Duke, followed two days later by a home game against No. 15 Florida State.
"You always" think about the NCAA, Gottfried said. "Anyone tells you they don't, they're lying. But it can't be our emphasis every day. There has to be emphasis on the next opponent and how are we going to play in this one game."
In the January game against the Yellow Jackets, N.C. State lost because of major failures to execute in four areas:
A slow start left the team down 40-29 at halftime.
Spotty perimeter defense opened the door for Glen Rice Jr. to score 22 points in 34 minutes.
N.C. State missed 14 of 19 shots behind the 3-point arc.
C.J. Leslie fouled out and Scott Wood and Rich Howell were called for four personals each.
"Georgia Tech obviously came into Raleigh and beat us, so we have our hands full," Gottfried said. "I do think we've improved - improved in a lot of areas. Hopefully, we'll play better."
