ATLANTA — After watching freshman forward Tyler Zeller score four points and pull down three rebounds in four minutes against Virginia Tech on Friday, North Carolina coach Roy Williams said “I should play him more if he’s going to be that productive.”
Not that Zeller’s lobbying.
The rookie 7-footer has played only 36 minutes in six games since opting to return to the floor after recovering from wrist surgery, rather than redshirting this season. But he says he has no regrets about coming backing back.
“You make decisions, you can’t regret them,’’ said Zeller, whose putback with 3:39 remaining cut UNC’s deficit to 72-71 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. “And being back, I’ve learned a ton already.”
Here are a few other questions Zeller answered after Carolina beat the Hokies 79-76:
Q: UNC is known as a veteran team this year, so was it nice to see some of the young guys – you, Larry Drew II, Justin Watts, Ed Davis – really impact a win?
A: Yes and no. We always have to be ready to play. The veterans have more experience; they know what they’re doing. But at the same time, Larry and Ed have played all year, so they’re starting to become veterans. So it’s one of those things that when we get called on, we’ve got to produce, and that’s what kind of happened today.
Q: How would you assess your adjustments and improvements since you returned from the wrist injury?
A: It’s been going great; I feel a lot more comfortable now. When you come back at first, you’re not used to the reactions – you’re thinking too much, you see stuff, you think, ‘Ah, I’m supposed to be there,’ when you’re still on the other side of the lane. It’s one of those things where now I can see it happening, and I know when to try to get there, so little things like that. And just being able to be physically stronger; I gained 15 pounds when I was rehabbing. So being back, I feel stronger, and a lot more able to handle my position.
Q: Did you expect that you’d be playing more by now, or did you have any expectations?
A: That’s all up to Coach. That’s for him to decide. I just came back to help out the team. If I don’t get put in the rotation, that’s fine with me, because as long as the team’s winning – if I go in and play terrible, I can’t expect him to put me back in. I just try to go in and help out as much as possible.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
thank you
Sun, 10/18/2009 - 04:18 — lorelakyabthank you ahmet maranki saç bakımı
Must be something wrong with this kid.
Sat, 03/14/2009 - 09:09 — JPDOhioWhy is he bothering to help his team compete for an ACC Tourney and National Championship when he should be whining about lack of playing time? Kids these days just don't have their priorities in line.
ZELLER
Sat, 03/14/2009 - 13:45 — BULLREADERHE IS AN UNC-CH PLAYER, HENCE HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO WHINE.
WHINING IS THE SOLE, HIGHLY DEVELOPED CHARACTERISTIC OF A DUKE COACH AND A DOOOOOOOOOOOK PLAYER--a la Paulus.
Kids got a great attitude
Sat, 03/14/2009 - 08:21 — chrisinraleighI think that him coming back was a good idea. He gets to experience the latter part of the season which is always more intense and serious. Exciting that he is a part of the team.