UNC's Kennedy Meeks has knee sprain, will undergo further tests at Chapel Hill

North Carolina forward Kennedy Meeks left Saturday's Round of 32 game against Arkansas with a knee injury and was unable to return.

The sophomore was diagnosed with a sprained left knee but will undergo further testing when the Tar Heels return to Chapel Hill this week. He was able to leave the court under his own power and head coach Roy Williams spoke somewhat optimistically of his second-leading rebounder's status.

"Kennedy has a knee sprain," Williams said after the game. "That's all we're saying right now. We think that's all it is, but we'll get some X-rays or MRIs or both when we get back and find out what it is."

Losing Meeks for the Sweet Sixteen would be a major loss for UNC, who await the winner of Sunday's game between Wisconsin and Oregon. Meeks averages 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks while shooting 56.6 percent from the floor, and he's probably the team's third-most important player, all things considered.

A potential second-round pick in the NBA Draft this June if he eschews a junior season, Meeks can ill-afford an injury at the personal level, too. Prior to going down, he had scored 19 points with 12 rebounds and nine turnovers in 44 tournament minutes.