UNC freshman star Nassir Little listed as questionable for Sweet Sixteen game

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WTVD) -- Freshman star Nassir Little may not play in North Carolina's Sweet Sixteen game against Auburn on Friday.

Head coach Roy Williams said the young wing player is listed as questionable to play because he has flu-like symptoms.

"If he's like he is today, there is no way he can play," Williams said.

Little did not practice Thursday with Tar Heels in Kansas City. Little is battling a flu bug and stayed at the Tar Heels team hotel.

"I can say, it's hard to make 180-degree-turn because there is no way in the world he could play if we were playing today," Williams said, and he joked that while watching Little try to eat, that the fork looked heavy.

It's going to be a game-time decision," Williams added.

Little came to North Carolina as the team's top-rated recruit. In fact, he was the highest-touted recruit to play at UNC since Harrison Barnes in 2010.

Little struggled at the beginning of the season, but he has made significant strides and is now the first man off the bench.

The 6-6 forward is coming off a monster performance against Washington. Little scored 20 points off the bench and added 19 in the Heels' first-round game against Iona.

In the NCAA tournament, Little is averaging 19.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. He's shooting over 70 percent from the field, and he is perfect from behind the arc (1-1) and the free throw line (4-4).