Harrison Barnes (sprained ankle) did not practice yesterday. Practice today is at 3 p.m., and Williams won’t be sure of his status until after that.
“If he gets out there today and he’s hurting, he’s not going to play,” Williams said. “I can’t ever remember playing a kid who couldn’t do anything the day before.”
UNC SID Steve Kirschner said that Barnes told him he will practice on a limited basis today. “He looks like a million bucks,” Kirschner said.

Kendall Marshall also has a “blip” in his ankle, but he practiced fully yesterday and Williams expects the point guard to be fine.

Maryland coach Mark Turgeon said that Williams saved his career when Williams took him on as an assistant coach at Kansas.
Williams said that win or lose, he’s not going to enjoy competing against his former assistant.
“I don’t normally talk to coaches before games,” Williams said. “But he’s part family.”
Williams compares the feeling of playing against Turgeon similar to the feeling Dean Smith had when he beat Williams in the 1993 Final Four.

Details about the new ACC schedule upon expansion came out today, which includes the end of the UNC-N.C. State home-and-away every year. Williams said he will not look at the report unless he is “really bored.”
“I hope to be alive when that thing happens,” Williams said. “I’m worried about Maryland.”

Tyler Zeller spoke about freshman James Michael McAdoo and his improvement in the last few games.
“He’s much more confident. He’s doing a much better job finishing around the rim, which is something he’s been struggling with all year and I think he’s playing much better defensively also,” Zeller said.
“He just kind of showed up one day in practice and started playing really well. We were all happy and then it stayed.”

North Carolina (19-3, 6-1 ACC) will play Maryland (13-8, 3-4) on Saturday in College Park, Md., at 4:00 p.m.