ATLANTA — ACC player of the year Ty Lawson is out of the lineup for North Carolina in its tournament-opener against Virginia Tech.

The point guard was in uniform today, but wearing a black, stiff-soled shoe on his right foot to protect his injured toe. He stood at halfcourt and watched North Carolina warm up before the game against the Hokies.

Atlantic Coast Conference staff member Brian Morrison said it was the first time an ACC player of the year missed his team's tournament opener. A a junior from Clinton, Md., Lawson averaged 15.9 points, 6.5 assists in 29.1 minutes per game.