The Sweet 16 has turned sour for North Carolina.
The Tar Heels' Kevin Madden, who hit all 10 of his field goal attempts in the first two games of the NCAA tournament, injured a knee in practice and is out for the rest of the tournament.North Carolina (21-12), making its 10th straight appearance in the round of 16, faces Arkansas (28-4) in Thursday's Midwest Regional semifinal opener at Reunion Arena. Texas (23-8) meets Xavier of Ohio (28-4) in the second game.
Madden, a 6-foot-6 senior, tore the anterior cruciate in his right knee while driving past another player during a 1-on-1 drill.
Madden, averaging 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds, scored 12 points against Southwest Missouri and 14 against top-ranked Oklahoma.
North Carolina coach Dean Smith said the loss of Madden will change the Tar Heels' approach.
"Of course, we're extremely disappointed that Kevin will be out," Smith said. "We've been using Kevin as a big guard-small forward. That means Rick Fox . . . will be at small forward, and then (Henrik) Rodl will give Fox some rest."
Clemson coach Cliff Ellis said the Tar Heels' loss of Madden will "takes away some team chemistry."
Adding to North Carolina's woes is the realization that this will be like a home game for Arkansas.
Reunion officials estimate that 65 percent of the 17,007 tickets sold for Thursday's semifinals have been purchased by Arkansas fans, who prefer watching their Hogs play at home in Barnhill Arena but are more than happy to travel to Dallas.
Arkansas, ranked seventh, is the highest surviving seed - No. 4 - in the region after the top three seeds, Oklahoma, Georgetown and Purdue, were knocked out.
Arkansas earned its trip to Dallas with an 86-84 victory over Dayton.
North Carolina upset the Sooners 79-77 in Austin to make it to Dallas.