Junior guard Leslie McDonald, who has not played in the University of North Carolina’s last three games, will not play in the next three games, but will return to the lineup for the Virginia Tech game on February 2nd.

“Leslie did not do what we expect of our student-athletes and therefore is not going to play in the next three games,” says Tar Heel head coach Roy Williams. “His knee has improved and he would have been medically able to return this week, but he won’t dress for Georgia Tech, NC State and Boston College. I’m disappointed for him and our team because he worked so hard to get back from his knee injury and has been a valuable contributor for us this season. He’s a good kid and we look forward to his return.”

“I’m sorry that I won’t be able to play the next three games but I will be ready to help my team again beginning with the Virginia Tech game,” says McDonald, who is Carolina’s fifth-leading scorer this season. “I did not take care of my responsibilities as a student-athlete and have to miss some games as a result. I will do what I can to help prepare my teammates in practice even though I can’t play.”

The Memphis, Tenn., native missed all of last season with a knee injury that he suffered in July 2011, and is averaging 8.4 points and shooting 43.1 percent from three-point range this year. He had 24 points against UAB and 21 against Mississippi State earlier this year.

– News release

North Carolina’s defense definitely won this 62-52 game against Maryland. In the first half, where the game was won, the Tar Heels scored 14 points off Terrapin turnovers, most of which were forced by Carolina’s aggressiveness on defense.

“We just came out with a lot of intensity,” UNC’s Marcus Paige said. “The first half was probably the best half of basketball we’ve played all year. Right away from the beginning, just pressuring, they did have some turnovers but we caused some of those. We weren’t able to maintain it. They came out aggressive in the second half. But in the first half, we played some great basketball.”

James Michael McAdoo says the sense of urgency came from Coach Williams but the players have to actually go out and do it.

“Some of the games this year we haven’t done that at all, but as you can see when we do do it like in the first half, we’re a great basketball team. We can play phenomenal,” McAdoo said. “Other times like in the second half when we let down, you can see glimpses of how we used to be and how we still can be. I feel like that’s just coming with us maturing and continuing to buy into what Coach Roy is telling us.”

Carolina will have to put two halves together to beat Duke and State this season.

For more on the game itself, please click here.

That was some “want to” North Carolina showed in a 77-72 victory at Florida State. Whether it was the 0-2 ACC start or memories of getting embarrassed in Tallahassee last year, the Heels played with a pep in their step.

The three things that stuck out to me were Reggie Bullock’s aggressiveness on the boards, P.J. Hairston’s aggressiveness in getting his shot and the unexpected solid play of Jackson Simmons.

Simmons, who has gone several games without playing at all, got 15 minutes of playing time and played well. He was three for three from floor, two of two from the line and he had four offensive rebounds.

But the things that got him additional playing time was his smart play in the first half which included a backdoor pass to Bullock, a solid screen that led to another bucket and diving on the floor to keep a possession for UNC.

His 10-footer in the last minute of the first half gave the Heels a 32-30 lead at the half and his follow shot with about three minutes left gave the Heels the lead for good.

It was also his birthday.

As Coach Williams said he likes to say, “Always be prepared, you never know when you’re going to be called on.”

For more on the game itself, please www.cb3media.com/goheels” target=”_blank”>click here.