Ginyard carrying big load for UNC

CHAPEL HILL --

Marcus Ginyard is accustomed to doing a lot for North Carolina. Playing defense, grabbing tough rebounds, hitting the occasional 3-point shot -- they're all part of his myriad contributions.

But a combination of conditions for a rebuilding team is making his workload this season the heaviest of his career. The strain seems to be showing every week now.

"The bottom line is I feel like I should be playing a little better out there," Ginyard said, "and being a better leader out there on the court."

UNC (12-6, 1-2 ACC) is struggling heading into today's home game against Wake Forest (7 p.m., ESPN Ch. 33). Two straight ACC losses have been difficult for everyone -- UNC fell behind Clemson 35-12 on the road last Wednesday and trailed Georgia Tech 29-9 at home last Saturday.

Coach Roy Williams has spoken to his team about its lack of progress. Ginyard, one of UNC's most veteran players, has spoken up at times, but his words sometimes don't hit their target or simply aren't effective.

"At the end of the day, we all know that we need to change," Ginyard said. "I'm just trying to find a way to do it.

"Obviously, it's a team effort for sure, but there's no question that I do feel a little responsibility to be that leader and try to get the team headed in the right direction."

Ginyard is usually the most outspoken Tar Heel. He speaks his mind but never with anger. Most of the players do look up to him. Williams wants his help, too.

The combination of team leader and team spokesman is proving demanding even for a fifth-year senior like Ginyard. The bright smile is still there but not as often these days.

"There's no question that it's been a tremendous challenge," Ginyard said. "It's tough. Sometimes I feel like I don't always have the answers or I don't necessarily know what to do to try and help give this team a change."

Ginyard has tried mostly to inspire with his play, but even that has been difficult. In one sense, he's alone now. He sat out last season as a medical redshirt because of recurring foot problems, and his original classmates -- Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Bobby Frasor and Michael Copeland -- are all gone.

When Ginyard tried to settle the Tar Heels at Clemson, not much worked. With Deon Thompson and Ed Davis struggling inside, he tried to help, but had just four points and two rebounds and made five of UNC's 26 turnovers.

He fared no better against Georgia Tech, finishing with two points and one rebound in 27 minutes.

Injuries still plague Ginyard. A bruised left foot sidelined him for one game. A sprained right foot sidelined him for three.

"There's been times where I haven't felt like I was 100 percent out there," Ginyard said. "I don't think there's ever been a time that it's held me back enough where I don't feel like I shouldn't have been able to perform to a level that these guys could have been able to rally behind."

Williams has always thought that a little adversity is good for anyone, but only if it's followed by some success. He knows that Ginyard has a lot to be concerned with.

"He's still a wonderful kid," Williams said. "He's also suffered quite a bit. He suffered quite a bit not being a great participant on a team that won the national championship. He's had two (foot) problems this year.

"Human nature is you're not going to be quite happy-go-lucky. And secondly, there's more stress on him. I've asked him to do more things and be more of a leader, to be more of a scorer and be more of this and be more of that."

Ginyard won't say that his season hasn't turned out the way he wanted.

"I think that would be unfair to say," he said. "I didn't have too much of a vision in my mind how this year was going to be. I try to take it day by day and go with what happens and grow with what you learn from.

"There's no question that it's not what everybody else wanted it to be. It is what it is. Right now, we've just got to be excited and be ready to get back out there on the court and become a better basketball team."

bcole@wsjournal.com.