Ginyard close to return for Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams said wing Marcus Ginyard probably won't be ready to play in Thursday's game against Evansville, but the senior is getting closer.

"I'm staying out of our live stuff, but I'm doing all of our dummy drills — getting out there, and running ... cutting, dribbling, shooting,'' Ginyard said Saturday. "Really the only stuff I'm being held out of right now is the live stuff."

Ginyard, last year's starting small forward, has been sidelined since October, when he had surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot.

Saturday marked the first time he has been in uniform for a game; he went through pre-game warm-ups, but did not play.

"It's always better to be as close as you can to playing, and it's definitely one step better than wearing a suit on the sideline, so it's good,'' Ginyard said.

— Robbi Pickeral