Cota, considered one of the best point guards in the nation, and Newby were charged with three counts each of assault inflicting serious injury and two counts of simple assault following a brawl on the North Carolina campus Halloween night.

Attorney Bill Blue said the two seniors will plead innocent in Orange County District Court on Dec. 6.

Cota and Newby have said they were trying to break apart the fight but were singled out because they were easily identified.

"We're hoping they will be found not guilty," Blue said. "That is consistent with our review of the case."

The players were suspended from the team following the incident, but coach Bill Guthridge reinstated them Nov. 11. Both played in this week's Maui Invitational. North Carolina won the tournament with a victory over Purdue on Wednesday.

Blue said he hopes the case will conclude Dec. 6 before North Carolina travels to Buffalo a day later and before the Tar Heels play Cincinnati at the Great Eight tournament in Chicago on Dec. 8.