GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Ty Lawson's availability for the North Carolina Tar Heels' second-round game Saturday against LSU was dependant on practice Friday afternoon and any subsequent swelling, the point guard said.
Lawson has missed the past three games with a jammed right big toe. He said he's been in the hotel pool three or four times a day.
"They say the pool loosens your toe up, so that's what I've been doing," he said. "I got up around 8 to get in the pool and do little things with my foot. It feels better. It's still stiff, but it's a lot better. Â… We'll see what [coach Roy Williams] says after practice. I'm just wondering what's going to happen."
Williams said it will be a game-time decision but if Lawson is healthy enough to play, he'll start.
"The plan is to have him practice a little or a lot, just depends on how well it goes," Williams said. "That will be the first test. Then at 11:30 tonight we'll have the second test. Because by that time we'll know whether there's going to be any swelling or not.
"So he has to get through the first that he can do it. Get through the second without any swelling and see how he feels tomorrow. So it will be a game-time decision more than likely."
Lawson sat on a training table in the visiting locker room today with his left shoe on and his right shoe off, listening to Lil Wayne on his iPod and sending messages on his phone.
He said he's been asked the same question "four or five hundred times" and he's "ready to get it over with."
Heather Dinich covers ACC football and basketball for ESPN.com.