It’s hard to be critical of UNC coach Roy Williams for PJ Hairston’s freakish injury.

Hairston, who had scored a team-high 21 points, bled profusely and had to have eight stitches after the ball got jammed between two fingers of his left hand.

The problem is that Hairston already had a jammed thumb and earlier in the game hurt his left shoulder. The Heels had the game wrapped up, ahead by 17, when Hairston was hurt with 4:13 to play.

In light of his other injuries and his importance to the team’s resurgence of late, it seems that it would have be prudent for him to be out of the game.

If he can’t go, or isn’t effective because of the injury, it could be a long day against Maryland, which is playing with a lot of energy and want to.

For more on the game itself, please click here.