Ginyard returns as Heels rout Rutgers

11:30 P.M." SUNDAY" DEC. 28 -- Marcus Ginyard stole the show during No. 1 North Carolina's 97-75 win against Rutgers.

And all he had to do was walk onto the court.

The senior forward" sidelined until Sunday while recovering from knee surgery made his debut against the Scarlet Knights" logging his first 11 minutes of the season to a standing ovation from the Smith Center crowd.

""It felt great" Ginyard said. It's exciting to get back out on the court. I'm just trying to work my way back out there" getting a little tired out there.""

In a season where 20-point victory margins have become the norm (UNC has won its last 12 games by double-digits) and senior forward Tyler Hansbrough knocks off another record every night (Hansbrough drained his 800^th career free throw and grabbed his 1"000^th career rebound Sunday)" Ginyard's return added a wrinkle to the Tar Heels' routine steamroller-esque performance.

Ginyard scattered his contribution throughout the stat sheet with three offensive boards"" two steals and two assists to go along with three points.

But it was obvious the senior was not quite back to full form. In Ginyard's only trip to the line"" the wingman was so gassed that he airballed his second free throw.

""I mean" you can just add this stuff to the blooper reel for me" he said.

""I wouldn't say totally out of shape"" just a little bit out of shape. It wasn't too difficult.""

Midway through the first half" coach Roy Williams sent Ginyard away from the bench and onto a stationary bike to loosen up" and Ginyard checked in with 6:03 remaining in the opening period.

""He's probably only at about 80 percent right now"" Williams said. But I wanted to send him out there and see how he handled it.""

Williams and Ginyard both said Ginyard will continue to warm up on the stationary bike before playing for the immediate future.

Hansbough and Ty Lawson led the Tar Heels with 26 and 19 points" respectively and Danny Green added 18. Hansbrough's 26 points tied Rutgers' Mike Rosario for the game-high.