North Carolina coach Roy Williams is hoping for better production out of James Michael McAdoo and Reggie Bullock. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — While I was driving back from Charlottesville, Va., earlier today, North Carolina coach Roy Williams was taking some time to speak with reporters on the first ACC teleconference of the season.

After a disappointing 61-52 loss at Virginia on Sunday night, Williams was asked, basically, about his level of concern over the loss last night, especially given that in recent seasons UNC has suffered early-season setbacks – like the debacle at Florida State last season – and recovered from them.

So the question went, basically, don’t these sort of things happen from time to time?

North Carolina fell apart during the second half of its 61-52 defeat at Virginia on Sunday. ROBERT WILLETT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Here's the story of the game from John Paul Jones Arena. And, as usual, the look back …

Updated 11:35 p.m.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — North Carolina guard Dexter Strickland stood beside his locker in a quiet, somber North Carolina locker room on Sunday night, and while he tied his tie he thought about how the Tar Heels went from leading Virginia by eight early in the second half to suffering a listless 61-52 defeat.

“I thought we were getting it going,” Strickland said, and who didn’t after UNC turned its one-point halftime lead into a 36-28 advantage with 16:25 to play?

Few teams ever manage to look all that good offensively against the Cavaliers (11-3, 1-0), who employ a slow-it-down pace on offense, and then follow that up with an aggressive suffocating man-to-man defense. But early in the second half, at least, the Heels were managing – making shots, forcing turnovers, creating transition opportunities.

And then, Strickland said, the Heels (10-4, 0-1) just began to make “simple mistakes” on defense.

North Carolina needs to be the aggressor tonight during its ACC opener at Virginia. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — In just a little while I’ll be driving north toward Charlottesville, Va., where tonight North Carolina opens its ACC schedule at Virginia. But first, here’s a preview of the game, which will feature a contrast in styles – UNC’s run-run-run vs. the Cavaliers’ slow-it-down pace.

I wrote about that contrast in a story right here..

North Carolina guard Reggie Bullock will be back in the lineup for the Tar Heels when they open ACC play at Virginia.

CHAPEL HILL — Reggie Bullock will return from his concussion and play on Sunday when North Carolina opens its conference schedule on the road at Virginia, according to a team spokesman.

Roy Williams is not a fan of some aspects of the NCAA's APR rules. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — Reports have emerged that the NCAA is considering significant changes to its transfer rules. One proposal would allow athletes with at least a 2.6 GPA to transfer and be able to play immediately, without having to sit out a year.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams said he wasn’t informed enough to offer an opinion on the potential new rule, but he did offer some general thoughts on transferring, and on the APR, which is a tool the NCAA uses to track academic progress.

Reggie Bullock is expected to play on Sunday at Virginia, barring any setbacks related to his concussion. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina guard Reggie Bullock returned to practice today and coach Roy Williams is hopeful that Bullock, who suffered a concussion last week, will be able to play on Sunday when the Tar Heels begin ACC play at Virginia.

Bullock, a junior, sat out UNC’s 79-73 victory against UNLV on Saturday, and hadn’t practiced since suffering the concussion.

Brice Johnson's offense was a bright spot for North Carolina during the non-conference portion of the schedule. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — As North Carolina coach Roy Williams said recently, “big-time basketball” is upon us. That being, of course, the start of ACC play. The Tar Heels open the conference portion of their schedule on Sunday night at Virginia, and so now’s as good of a time as there ever will be to take a look back at how UNC fared during the non-conference portion of its schedule.

So without further delay, a look back at the good, the not-so good and everything else in between from the start of the season until now:

Dexter Strickland scored a season-high 16 points to help lead UNC to a victory against UNLV. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina earned its most impressive victory of the season earlier today in a 79-73 triumph against UNLV. Here's the game story. And, without further delay, the look back …

Roy Williams says a victory against UNLV could inspire confidence in his team. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — Is it ever too early to start thinking about an NCAA tournament resume?

“It’s not for you guys, but it is for us,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said earlier today, when I asked him that same question. “You know, I mean, I’m trying to figure out how the hell to get the ball in-bounds, is one of the things that we were thinking about.”