Ginyard leads from bench

When the Tar Heels take the court at Ford Field on Saturday there won't be a whole lot Marcus Ginyard can do to help their cause.

But that doesn't mean he won't do everything in his power to get his team ready before tipoff.

It didn't take long for him to start. On the plane ride home from Memphis right after UNC earned a berth in the Final Four Ginyard was already sitting next to freshman Tyler Zeller" imparting the wisdom he gained from the event last year.

""I was just telling him a couple things about just being at the Final Four" Ginyard said. One thing is just to enjoy it. There are 300-something other teams that want to be where we are so first and foremost" just to enjoy it.""

Ginyard" a senior has been limited to this kind of role as a stress fracture and the ensuing surgery sidelined him for nearly the whole season. It left the Tar Heels without their best defensive stopper.

But rather than moping about his misfortune he responded by finding new ways to contribute. No one would know better than Zeller" who sat next to Ginyard on the bench for a chunk of the season while he recovered from an injury of his own.

""Marcus is a very positive guy" Zeller said. He's always cheering on helping us. And even to this day he'll maybe scout he'll call out a play or stuff like that. He's always helping us telling us to get help-side" stuff like that.""

Lately" though the foot is starting to feel better. Ginyard said he still has bad days" but there are many more good ones in between.

The improved condition has even allowed him to get back on the practice floor with his teammates — which might be the hardest part.

""If I was feeling really physically bad and couldn't go" I guess it would be a little easier to accept not being out there on the court he said.

But now that I'm back practicing almost at 100 percent" and being able to play — but still not being able to play — that's the roughest part right now.""

But even if it is just at practice"" one of the ACC's premier perimeter defenders is still a good addition to the practice squad.

""He's given us a more talented individual on the blue team" coach Roy Williams said.

It helps a great deal having a higher quality athlete to guard Wayne (Ellington) or Danny (Green)" and I think that's really helped us. And his leadership has been big for us too.""

Ginyard has trouble fully appreciating the progress" though because when the game days arrive" he's still been relinquished to the bench for all 40 minutes.

And he can't help from picturing himself out on the court — even when the game is out of hand.

""Every time coach comes past me I do think about that" Ginyard said. When he walks past to put Jack (Wooten) and J.B. (Tanner) and those guys in the game I'm like ‘Man" I wish you'd just grab me and throw me in there.'""

For now" though Ginyard settles for a different role. He'll be the motivator. He'll be the practice squad member who chases around the starters. After all" he has to.

""Just to continue to contribute to the team is obviously very important to me" Ginyard said.

So that's the way that I have to do it right now. Not being able to play in the game" this is my only time where I can really get after it and try to make them better.""