McCants to make tentative return

Apparently, all it took was a little home cooking.

North Carolina’s star shooting guard, Rashad McCants, returned to full practice Wednesday after a 2 1/2-week absence caused by an intestinal disorder.

McCants’ father, James, attributed the comeback to a better diet.

McCants’ mother, Brenda Muckelvene, traveled to Chapel Hill last week from the family’s home in Asheville to cook for her son and to aid his recovery.

“It wasn’t the illness keeping him back as much as it was the lack of nutrition,” James McCants said. “Any time you’re going to have a home-cooked meal as opposed to McDonald’s and Burger King and all that other stuff, it is going to help.”

McCants has not played or practiced since UNC’s Feb. 19 game against Clemson, when he left the contest in the second half due to an upset stomach.

He did not see the floor in the Tar Heels’ games against N.C. State, Maryland, Florida State and Duke — all UNC wins. The games were the first four McCants missed in his college career.

But according to James McCants, the junior is ready to get back on the floor.

“This was just a minor setback,” James McCants said. “He is a nice, strong, healthy young man.”

At his best, Rashad McCants has been the most explosive scorer for UNC — and perhaps in the nation. The guard was named to the All-ACC third team Monday, and likely would have been higher if he had been healthy. Last season, McCants earned first-team status and third-team All-America honors.

But McCants’ status is still uncertain for the ACC Tournament.

“How much Rashad practices over the next two days depends on how well he feels as we go along,” said head coach Roy Williams in a statement released Wednesday.

“We will have no idea how much he can play Friday, if at all, until we get through these two days of workouts and make an assessment of his progress.”

James McCants, however, said he was confident that his son would play in Washington, D.C., this weekend.

UNC shot an abysmal 1-of-11 on 3-pointers in its win against Duke on Sunday, a number that James McCants said would certainly improve with his son in the lineup. Rashad McCants leads the Tar Heels with 50 converted 3s on the season.

“They need him,” James McCants said. “After going that 1-for-11 stretch against Duke, it’s pretty clear they need an outside threat.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.