CHAPEL HILL - It ate at Ty Lawson on Feb. 6 -- watching Duke's Greg Paulus hit 3-pointer after 3-pointer, watching the Blue Devils cruise to an 89-78 basketball victory over North Carolina.

"I just wanted to get out there and help,'' the UNC point guard said.

Now, he can. Tonight will mark Lawson's third game back after he missed six with a sprained left ankle. His ankle is still not 100 percent.

"The other night, he didn't drive, he pulled up in two occasions and shot jump shots he would've driven,'' coach Roy Williams said.

But the sophomore said he's getting more lift on his jumpers and feeling more confident in his ability to speed to the basket. In addition, he said he "barely" feels the left hip pointer he sustained during Tuesday's 90-77 win over Florida State.

All good things for the Tar Heels, considering senior point guard Quentin Thomas, who has been starting in place of Lawson, missed Thursday's practice with a swollen right knee. (He returned Friday and will play.)

And also considering they need Lawson's speed to help slow Paulus, who went 6-of-8 on his 3-point attempts in the first matchup.

"I'm real anxious [to play],'' said Lawson, who has averaged seven points, four assists and 20.5 minutes since his return. "Because first of all, they beat us at home. And there's a lot of things going into the game - the ACC championship, the No. 1 seed and just to beat them on senior night. So I'm ready for this game."