Tar Heels' Kennedy Meeks works out

North Carolina Tar Heels sophomore Kennedy Meeks, who suffered a sprained left knee against Arkansas on Saturday, participated in non-contact drills during the team's first practice in Los Angeles, the school said Tuesday.

Coach Roy Williams said in a release that Meeks' availability for their next practice would depend on how quickly his knee recovered from the workout and if he felt any more pain.

The No. 4 seed Tar Heels face the No. 1 seed Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA tournament's West regional semifinal Thursday at Staples Center.

Before leaving Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Monday, Williams said that if Meeks didn't practice on Wednesday, "it would be hard to play" against the No. 1 seed Badgers.

Meeks' participation at least gives UNC hope that he'll be in the lineup against a Wisconsin frontcourt that is one of the most talented it has faced this season.

Meeks has averaged 11.6 points and 7.4 rebounds, but he has been in a slump the past eight games, when he has scored in double figures only once.

Through the first 28 games of the season, he was held to single digits only seven times.