No. 6 North Carolina (14-2, 3-0) is headed up to Syracuse (10-6, 0-3) to play a desperate Orange team that needs a conference win. That task may have just become a little taller with Kennedy Meeks expected to come back. He suffered a bruised right knee a few weeks back and has been recovering since then.
Coach Roy Williams said Meeks practiced Wednesday and Thursday, though his participation was limited. Meeks started the first nine games this season and averaged 12.3 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Tar Heels before his injury. His absence has seen Brice Johnson post some impressive numbers. Johnson is coming off a career-high 39 points and 23 rebounds against Florida State, and he has averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds with Meeks out.
