CHAPEL HILL - Formerly suspended North Carolina wing Will Graves is doing well in both summer school and the weight room - and is expected to be on the court when the team opens practice in October. Formerly injured guard Marcus Ginyard is playing and organizing pick-up games - and eager to return to his on-court leadership role this fall.
Both are good signs for the Tar Heels, who have already been picked in the top 5 of some preseason polls - much to the surprise of coach Roy Williams, who isn't quite sure who is going to fill the backcourt rotation.
"This is the least experience and the least depth I've ever had on the perimeter," Williams said during Tuesday's press conference. "...Last year, all of you guys were telling me, 'You've got too many players, isn't that a concern?' And I said, 'no,' and I think it was the correct answer. This year, if you ask me if I'm concerned about our lack of experience and lack of depth on the perimeter, I'll say, 'darn right I am.'_"
UNC will boast one of the deepest frontcourts in the country, with the return of Deon Thompson, Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller, plus the addition of freshmen forwards John Henson and David and Travis Wear.
But gone from last year's national championship team are starting point guard Ty Lawson, starting shooting guard Wayne Ellington, starting small forward Danny Green, and reserve Bobby Frasor (the first guard off the bench).
That quartet accounted for 88 percent of last year's made 3-pointers and 71 percent of UNC's assists.
Not to mention a good portion of the team's transition game.
"We always love big guys - but I've got to have guards," Williams said. "I've got to have perimeter players that know what they're doing."
Sophomore point guard Larry Drew, who averaged 1.4 points and 9.6 minutes last season, is working on that knowledge (as well as his shot) in California with his father, Larry Sr., an NBA assistant coach.
Meanwhile, Williams said Ginyard - a defensive-minded wing who redshirted last season because of a left foot injury - will probably play some at point, along with incoming freshmen Leslie McDonald and Dexter Strickland, who can handle the ball but are more natural shooting guards.
Williams also hopes the 6-feet-10 Henson will be able to play some at small forward.
"When we recruited him, we asked him to be able to spend a great deal of time sliding his feet so he would be able to guard a perimeter guy," Williams said. "So initially, that will be our plan. ... I think he could be a 3, 4 or 5 for us."
Still another factor could be Graves, who was suspended last February for breaking an unspecified team rule. Williams said Graves, who averaged four points and 11.2 minutes last season, hasn't been "re-instated," per se, because the suspension was only for the remainder of last season.
"I'm under the assumption that he's going to do what he was asked to do, and he'll be out there on Oct. (16)," Williams said.
WILLIAMS WILL ATTEND DRAFT: Williams said he will be "the most stunned guy in the world" if Tyler Hansbrough, Lawson and Ellington aren't all first-round NBA draft picks on Thursday night. And he'll be at Madison Square Garden, front and center, to see it happen, as a guest of Hansbrough.
"Tyler's smarter than everybody thinks," Williams said. "He had so many family members that wanted to go, I think that he told everybody that I had to go and that way it was one less decision for him to make."
100 YEARS OF HOOPS: UNC will kick off its season-long celebration of 100 years of men's basketball at the school on Sept. 4, with an alumni game featuring current Tar Heel professional players. Tickets for the 8 p.m. tipoff at the Smith Center are $20, and go on sale June 27. Proceeds will go the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and UNC Children's Hospitals.
Reunion weekend will be Feb. 12-13, and feature another alumni game. Plus, the Tar Heels will wear throwback uniforms in several games this season that will honor former title teams.
By Robbi Pickeral
