North Carolina coach Roy Williams criticized his team’s toughness following a lackadaisical victory at Clemson last week. After a slow start on Saturday against Florida State, the Tar Heels showed some resolve took control before finishing with an easy 79-58 victory.

James Michael McAdoo led UNC with 21 points, 17 of which came during the first half. Reggie Bullock, meanwhile, scored 12 of his 20 points during the second half.

Dexter Strickland has been a different player since North Carolina has gone to a four-guard starting lineup. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — And after a long day of driving, working on a few stories and finding time to stop in Lexington at a certain famous BBQ spot, I’m back. Been a busy 24 hours – a stretch that began last night with North Carolina’s 68-59 victory against Clemson.

Here's the story of the game, persevered for posterity. And, as always, here’s the look back:

Roy Williams in January defended his decision to lead his team -- most of it, anyway -- off the court in the final seconds of a loss at Florida State. ROBERT WILLETT

Court-rushings in college basketball have become a national topic today after Duke coach Mike Kzyzewski last night expressed concern for his player’s safety following the Blue Devils’ lost at Virginia. After time expired, Cavaliers’ fans rushed the court and wild scene ensued.

You’ll remember that North Carolina coach Roy Williams has been at the center of court-rushing controversy, too. Here’s a look back at how Williams’ decision to leave the court in the final seconds of a lopsided loss at Florida State a season ago. Near the year anniversary of that loss, Williams was still defending that decision …

CLEMSON, S.C. — After suffering a season-ending knee injury a season ago, Dexter Strickland labored through North Carolina’s preseason conditioning drills, and he struggled through much of the first half of the season.

But his late-season transformation – and that of the Tar Heels – continued on Thursday night during UNC’s 68-59 victory against Clemson at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Can North Carolina maintain its sense of urgency on the road against an inferior opponent? ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — For the second time in about a week, I’m preparing for a long drive south on I-85. This time, at least, I’ll be stopping in Clemson, S.C., where North Carolina and Clemson play tonight.

The preview …

UNC made nothing easy for N.C. State forward C.J. Leslie on Saturday. With Leslie on the court, UNC outscored the Wolfpack by 27 points. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — Apologies for the late “look back,” folks, but I did have some thoughts we had yet to discuss here about North Carolina’s 76-65 victory against N.C. State on Saturday.

So without further delay …

How will North Carolina sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo fare inside against N.C. State senior Richard Howell? ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — And welcome to game day, folks. North Carolina and N.C. State will tip off at the Smith Center at 4 p.m.

A preview, including a look at who has the edge:

North Carolina coach Roy Williams didn't want to go small, necessarily, but he acknowledged it has provided the Tar Heels with their best chance to win. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — If you haven’t already be sure to give this column from colleague Luke DeCock a read. As he writes, North Carolina coach Roy Williams is uncomfortable, in some aspects, with the Tar Heels’ small lineup.

It’s a new thing for Williams, going small with a four-guard lineup that includes P.J. Hairston, Reggie Bullock, Dexter Strickland and Marcus Paige. Williams has built his offense, and much of his coaching success, on a traditional lineup of big guys who can score and rebound down low, smaller guys who can shoot and drive on the perimeter, and a point guard who can tie the whole package together.

Marcus Paige says he learned from playing against N.C. State's Lorenzo Brown earlier this season. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — Marcus Paige hasn’t re-watched all of North Carolina’s 91-83 defeat against N.C. State. But he watched enough of it to try to learn something from a humbling performance.

“It wasn’t a terrible game for me, personally,” Paige, the Tar Heels’ freshman point guard, said of his play against the Wolfpack when the teams first met on Jan. 26. “But obviously it wasn’t a good game at all. So obviously there’s a lot of room to go up.”

North Carolina sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo scored 15 of his 22 points during the first half on Tuesday night. ROBERT WILLETT

ATLANTA — Getting ready to make the drive north after North Carolina’s 70-58 victory here last night against Georgia Tech. It wasn’t always pretty – and at times was ugly, as Roy Williams pointed out – but this was an important victory for the Tar Heels, who are learning how to run.

Onto the look back …