COLLEGE BASKETBALL DAILY REPORT : NCAA MEN’S FINAL FOUR : Minor Injuries Hinder North Carolina

North Carolina will go into Saturday’s semifinal game against Arkansas nursing some bumps and bruises.

Coach Dean Smith read an impromptu report on the injuries on Tuesday. “Donald Williams, sprained left ankle, status unknown, hasn’t seen him yet today,” Smith read. “Jeff McInnis, pulled groin muscle, not any better than yesterday.

“Rasheed Wallace, sprained ankle, improved over yesterday. Pierce Landry sprained right wrist, slightly improved over yesterday but wrist is still tender.”

Williams didn’t practice, and McInnis and Wallace were limited to halfcourt drills. Landry has been able to work only on his defense and not his shooting.

Mainly, the injuries hinder North Carolina’s preparation for Arkansas’ pressure defense because there aren’t enough bodies in practice.

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Arkansas and North Carolina, semifinal opponents on Saturday, have met twice before in the NCAA tournament. Arkansas won, 96-73, in the 1990 Midwest Regional semifinals; North Carolina won, 80-74, in the 1993 East Regional semifinals.

“I don’t remember that,” Arkansas Coach Nolan Richardson said. “I don’t even know the score.

“I don’t care to remember it,” he said. “Why? Because I have a different team and they have a different team. So why should I remember what they used to do or tried to do against the guys that I coached three years ago?

“I’m not being sarcastic. I just don’t get caught up in what happened three or four years ago.”

North Carolina is the last team to beat Arkansas in the NCAA tournament.

Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman, the Razorbacks’ scoring leaders this year, played 30 minutes and 29 minutes against the Tar Heels. Guards Clint McDaniel played 23 and Corey Beck 18.

North Carolina’s only real holdover from 1993 is Williams, who scored 22 points in 30 minutes against Arkansas.