So while North Carolina junior Bobby Frasor continues to rehabilitate the torn ligament in his left knee, he can't quite help being an extension of his coach on the bench.

Frasor has been limited to coat-and-tie status since he was sidelined for the season on Dec. 27. But he still tends to make mental notes during games, share tips during halftime and be available to crack jokes or offer support throughout.

Teammates say Frasor's contributions have been important to UNC's season. In the NCAA round of 16, the top-seeded Tar Heels will play fourth-seeded Washington State at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Thursday.

"Just because he hasn't been able to play doesn't mean that he hasn't been a leader ... that he hasn't been a big part of this team,'' said senior point guard Quentin Thomas, who has huddled with Frasor many times this season to discuss strategy.

Nevertheless, it has been a frustrating few months for Frasor, rehabbing in the training room or pool while his teammates are in practice, watching fellow point guards get hurt with no ability to check in for them in games.

A starter as a freshman, Frasor had an injury-plagued sophomore year as Ty Lawson took over at the point. Frasor was regaining his shooting form and defensive consistency when he went chasing a loose ball against Nevada and his knee buckled under him.

The Tar Heels were devastated to lose one of their best defenders and leaders on the court. Frasor said he's enjoyed watching Thomas, a third-stringer, make the most of his opportunity to keep the team winning when Lawson suffered an ankle injury.

Even so, Frasor has felt a bit antsy. Not since middle school -- if even then -- has the Illinois native been sidelined for so long.

"It's really different, and as much as I say I'm part of the team, it's definitely not the same,'' he said. "... But I definitely love every minute I hang out with these guys. When they win, I'm happy. ... We're winning games and championships, so I can't complain at all."

Indeed, teammates say he has kept his notorious good humor throughout his rehab, even cracking one-liners the night he learned he'd be sidelined for at least six months. Support from friends, family and fans have helped him stay positive. Since he can't rebound, pass or shoot with his teammates, he does the next best thing: He tells them how to do it.

"You see a lot from the bench - what plays might work, what we're not doing, what guys are doing well,'' he said. "So a lot of times, I mention things at halftime."

Sort of like a coach?

"In a way, but it's still hard to figure out how you want to say things,'' he said. "You don't know how touchy guys are or how they're going to take things. So you really want to be more like a teammate."

Frasor, the son of a high school coach, said he may want to coach one day. In the meantime, he said he is determined to come back stronger than ever next season -- and hopefully lead his team to another long NCAA run.

Last week, he said, he started jumping, and although he's limited to stationary dribbling and practicing set shots, he may be able to start sprinting again in another 10 to 12 weeks.

"Everything's feeling good; I really don't have any pain when they give me something new to do,'' he said. "So if things keep going well, hopefully I can be back sooner than they expect."

He hopes to stay longer, too. Under NCAA rules, a player cannot get a medical redshirt if he participates in more than 30 percent of his team's games during the regular season. Frasor played in 12, meaning he exceeded the limit, but still plans to petition the ACC, then NCAA, for an extra year.

"It can't hurt to try,'' he said.

After all, he'd like to get back to coaching on the floor, from the point -- as soon as possible, and for as long as possible.

"I told Bobby that the only thing missing the night of my senior game was having him there, playing beside me,'' Thomas said. "He's been an important part of this team this season ... but I have no doubt he's going to come back and lead this team to something special next year, too."