College Sports
Email
Print
Tar Heels glad that Ginyard is playing
Senior says that he isn't in top shape yet, but he'll improve as time goes by
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: December 31, 2008
CHAPEL HILL - The longest three months of Marcus Ginyard's basketball career came to a patience-stretching end Sunday night.
Ginyard, a 6-5 senior at North Carolina, played for the first time this season after undergoing surgery Oct. 8 to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. Seldom had he found running the floor at the Smith Center and breaking a sweat so gratifying.
He saw only 11 minutes of action in North Carolina's 97-75 win over Rutgers, but he was elated to be on the floor with his teammates and finally helping out.
"It felt great; it was exciting to get back out on the court," Ginyard said. "I was just trying to work my way back in it. I got a little tired out there, but hopefully (stamina) will come as I get more involved."
He will try to continue his comeback today when North Carolina (12-0) plays Nevada in Reno at 10 p.m. The game will be North Carolina's last before starting ACC play on Sunday.
Ginyard took the final step of his return less than two weeks ago, when he was cleared for full practices. But as late Friday, Coach Roy Williams wasn't sure that Ginyard would play Sunday.
"After Friday night's practice, I was convinced I was not going to play him," Williams said. "He looked like he was laboring too much, dragging his foot, the whole bit."
Ginyard's foot improved the next day. And then, with about 10 minutes left in the first half Sunday and the Tar Heels ahead 30-21, Williams walked down the bench and told Ginyard to get ready.
First Ginyard had to loosen up his left foot and ankle on a stationary bicycle. He entered the game with 6:03 left in the half and the Tar Heels in front 39-30, and he drew a loud standing ovation from the home crowd. His first shot, a layup about two minutes later, rattled in and out of the basket.
He made his second shot, following up after two others had missed 3-point attempts, to give the Tar Heels a 48-34 lead. Ginyard played four minutes before returning to the bench, and then came for seven minutes in the second half.
"It was just not being out there (that hurt the most)," he said "It was just having to watch every single play just knowing that you're not getting in the game. Not going in was the worst part about it."
He took two free throws with 7:13 left in the second half, making the first but barely grazing the bottom of the net with the second shot. When asked if he missed because he was exhausted in his first game back, Ginyard laughed and agreed.
The shot will rank alongside a missed dunk in the NCAA Tournament against Mount Saint Mary's last March, when Ginyard slammed the ball against the rim and then fell to the floor.
"It just added stuff to the blooper reel for me," Ginyard said. "That's what it really comes down to."
Williams said that Ginyard has more work ahead to become an integral part of the lineup. Ginyard's conditioning has to improve, and Williams said he will have to tinker with the playing rotation to find minutes for Ginyard.
"I wouldn't say I'm totally out of shape; I'm a little out of shape," Ginyard said. "It wasn't too difficult (playing). Getting back to moving the way I used to moving was probably the most difficult thing."
The Tar Heels welcomed back Ginyard and are confident that they'll have a stronger, tougher team with him on the floor. He was the team's defensive player of the year each of the past two seasons.
Danny Green, who replaced Ginyard in the starting lineup, said the Tar Heels can use Ginyard's determination the rest of the season.
"I know he's not exactly at 100 percent, but he's moving and he's doing OK," Green said. "He gives us another threat. He can pick us up, especially on the defensive end of the floor."
About two weeks ago, Green was asked if he might return to the bench when Ginyard returned. Ginyard, a starter all of last season, walked by Green moments later, broke into a big smile and said, "I want my job back!"
Ginyard said Sunday night that he won't be insistent about that old job.
"I was just messing with him," Ginyard said. "It's not a worry of mine at all. I'll do (Sunday's role) for the rest of the year if we're going to continue to get better and play to our potential."
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
Game day
Towson at N.C. State
• Site, time: RBC Center, Raleigh; 2 p.m.
• Radio: WIFM 100.9; WSJS 600
• Of note: N.C. State (8-2) has gone to the wire in its past two games, losing to Marquette on a 3-pointer with less than a second left and then defeating Loyola (Maryland) 62-60 on Monday after a key defensive stop by Ben McCauley, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Towson (5-7) lost its last game 70-63 at Lafayette on Sunday and will be wrapping up a four-game trip today. Junior Hairston -- who played on two NCHSAA 3-A championship teams at West Rowan and started his college career at College of Charleston -- leads Towson in scoring (15.1 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg).
Loyola (Maryland) at Duke
• Site, time: Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham; 4 p.m.
• TV/radio: ESPN2 Ch. 32; WIST 98.3
• Of note: This will be Duke's first game since Dec. 20 and its last tune-up before starting ACC play Sunday against Virginia Tech. Duke (10-1) dismantled unbeaten Xavier in its last game, winning 82-64 on a neutral court. Coach Mike Krzyzewski called the performance "great" and said that his team had sharper preparation and better confidence. This will be the second straight ACC opponent for Loyola (Maryland), which fell to 4-8 Monday after losing 62-60 at N.C. State despite a shot to win in the final 20 seconds.
North Carolina at Nevada
• Site, time: Lawlor Events Center, Reno. Nev.; 10 p.m.
• TV/radio: ESPN2 Ch. 32; WTHZ 94.1
• Of note: North Carolina (12-0) will play its last game before its ACC opener in the place that bills itself as The Biggest Little City in the World. Nevada is 7-5. This will be only the seventh New Year's Eve game for UNC since the ACC started in 1953. The Tar Heels are 5-2 in New Year's Eve games, with three straight wins. Center Tyler Hansbrough has averaged 26 points in his last six games. UNC has won 38 straight regular-season, nonconference games -- its longest such streak in the ACC era.
Email
Print
