UNC will be without its leading scorer to start the season

North Carolina's Marcus Paige was set to have a huge senior year after leading the Tar Heels in scoring last season and to a Sweet Sixteen berth. It looks like that will have to wait as Paige is going to be sidelined for three to four weeks. He fractured the third metacarpal on his right (non-shooting) hand in practice on Tuesday.

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Coach Roy Williams is not looking forward to that month-long absence probably as much as the fans. "I hate it for Marcus," says Williams. "He's such a wonderful young man - one of the most outstanding people I have been lucky to coach. I know he'll handle this with the same level of maturity and responsibility that he does everything else. Our team will certainly be challenged in his absence. We will need everyone up and down the roster to step up their games and take care of each other and our team until he gets back."

The two-time captain is nine three-pointers away from holding the career school record and has only missed one game up to this time. It was against UAB in his freshman season due to a strained left (shooting) shoulder.