McAdoo tweaked his back during UNC’s win at Maryland on Wednesday. When asked about the injury, Williams told reporters that his sophomore forward had been diagnosed with a bulging disc in recent weeks.
McAdoo left UNC’s win over Wake Forest on Feb. 5 for a short spell in the second half while clutching his lower back. On the following Monday, Williams said that his staff had been “very concerned about [McAdoo’s] back for the last week or so” during his ACC teleconference call.
“We’re just going to have to wait and see on James Michael,” Williams said of McAdoo’s participation in practice on Friday. “But yesterday he did nothing and could do nothing.”
McAdoo, however, indicated that Wednesday’s tweak in College Park and his bulging disc may not be related.
“Honestly, I don’t even think it has to do with the disc,” McAdoo said. “I think I just tweaked a muscle back there, not necessarily aggravated the disc.”
When asked if he anticipated playing against Duke, McAdoo replied: “Yes sir.”
Back problems have plagued the Norfolk, Va. native for years.
“I’ve been having back issues sporadically since the end of my junior year of high school,” McAdoo said. “But it’s never gotten to the point where I’ve had to completely stop playing and it still hasn’t gotten to that point. So it’s just something that I’ve got to keep an eye on. Having found out what’s wrong with it helps with the treatment.”
McAdoo is averaging 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds since North Carolina switched to its small lineup seven games ago.