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UNC Basketball: Joel Berry to return Wednesday night?

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NC- APRIL 4: Joel Berry II of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to cheers during their welcome-home reception for the NCAA men's basketball team on April 4, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-65 yesterday to win the national championship. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC- APRIL 4: Joel Berry II of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts to cheers during their welcome-home reception for the NCAA men's basketball team on April 4, 2017 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated the Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-65 yesterday to win the national championship. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images) /
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Point guard Joel Berry could make his return on Wednesday night

The return of University of North Carolina point guard Joel Berry might be coming sooner than we thought.

Berry has been out for a few weeks now with a broken hand after hitting a door following a game of NBA 2K18. The point guard sat on Friday’s season opener against Northern Iowa but did shoot around in pregame a little bit.

Now he might be close to returning.

Head coach Roy Williams provided an update on Berry’s status during his weekly radio show “Roy Williams Live” on Monday night.

Williams told host Jones Angell of Tar Heel Sports Network that Berry is “cautiously feeling better” and did practice on Monday.

Berry is expected to practice again on Tuesday as he’s not suffering any different pain in his hand. 

The head coach left the door open for a possibility of Berry playing in Wednesday’s game against Bucknell. When the injury first occurred, it was reported that Berry would miss at least four weeks.

That timetable meant missing the game against Northern Iowa and Bucknell with a possible return against Stanford on Nov. 20. But now there’s a chance he plays on Wednesday.

Williams went on to say that they will see how Berry feels tomorrow at practice.

I wouldn’t be shocked either way regarding the point guard’s status for Wednesday night’s game.

If UNC feels like he’s ready to return, then we will see him out there but if they don’t want to risk a re-injury of it right away, then he could make his debut against Stanford.

Whenever it happens, it will be nice to get Berry back in the lineup and UNC at full strength.

Cam Johnson

In addition to Berry’s injury, the Tar Heels saw graduate transfer Cam Johnson suffer a neck injury which caused him to miss Friday’s game.

Johnson was suited up but did not play after suffering a sprained neck in practice.

Williams told the show: “I’m not sure yet what we’ll have with Cam.” That doesn’t sound good for Johnson’s chance to play on Wednesday but he hasn’t been ruled out yet.

Next: UNC stays put in AP Top 25

Check back for more on Berry and Johnson’s injuries as we will provide updates when available.

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