UNC Basketball: Tar Heels’ Leaky Black, Sterling Manley OUT at Louisville

Pair of Tar Heels to miss game at Louisville

The UNC basketball team will be without sophomore power forward Sterling Manley and freshman guard Leaky Black when the Tar Heels travel to Louisville for a matchup with the Cardinals on Saturday afternoon.

For Manley, it’s his ninth consecutive game out of the North Carolina lineup after suffering a knee injury just prior to the Tar Heels’ game against Harvard. His last game was against the Davidson Wildcats all the way back on December 29th. He recorded five points and four rebounds in 13 minutes of play off the UNC bench in that game.

It’s in that capacity they’ve missed Manley the most over the past month-plus. His energy off the North Carolina bench as a top reserve, particularly as starter Garrison Brooks’ first backup, has been valuable this season.

Manley’s averaging 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 12 minutes per game, while shooting 55 percent from the floor. And his per 40 averages of 15.1 points and 14.6 rebounds are fantastic, highlighting his efficiency when in the UNC lineup.

Black, too, will be out against the Cardinals on Saturday with a left ankle sprain that he suffered during the Tar Heels’ game at Georgia Tech. His absence will obviously shorten up the UNC bench even more against a Louisville team that shelled the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill just three weeks ago.

Black is averaging 2.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in just 11 minutes per game off the UNC bench. His speed, energy and efficiency when on the court have been valuable for North Carolina, especially when starting point guard Coby White needs to come out of the game for a breather.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams was unable to comment on a timetable for Black’s recovery, but stated that junior guard Seventh Woods would have to step up — and play better — in Black’s absence.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the North Carolina basketball program.