According to an update announced by UNC on Wednesday, Terry had missed two days of practice with a fever and suffering migraine headaches, but was expected to play versus the Trojans.
However Williams said during an NCAA press conference on Thursday that he “was not real, real encouraged” after Terry was unable to “do much of anything” during the day's practice sessions at the Continental Airlines Arena.
Terry has been instrumental in the Tar Heelss postseason, and he’s quickly developing a reputation for hitting baskets in the clutch.
During Carolina’s 2007 ACC Tournament title run, Terry scored eight straight points in a decisive span of 1:23 late in the game to beat NC State for the championship. He also added two free throws with 14 seconds to play to clinch the win.
Saturday in UNC’s 81-67 second-round win over Michigan State – in which he wasn’t cleared by team doctors to play until pre-game warm-ups – Terry scored 12 of his 14 points in the final 6:54 of the second half.
“Reyshawn has been great for this team late in the games,” Marcus Ginyard said. “He’s hit some big-time shots late in games. It’s kind of tough to put your finger on all the things that he does for this team, because he does so many things.
“It really would be unfortunate if he didn’t play.”
Williams said if Terry is unable to go, he would likely start either Danny Green or Ginyard in his place.
“Maybe it’s that I am trying to put it off until I have to, but if I had to decide it would be one of those two,” Williams said.