CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina junior guard Leslie McDonald will serve a three-game suspension, the school announced in a statement on Wednesday.

UNC didn’t specify the reason for McDonald’s suspension but both McDonald and Tar Heels coach Roy Williams said in a statement that McDonald failed to meet his responsibilities as a “student-athlete.”

Roy Williams has promised a lot of running if North Carolina overlooks Georgia Tech tonight. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina has played some of its best basketball of the season during its past two games – a pair of victories against Florida State and Maryland. Now, with a victory tonight against Georgia Tech, the Tar Heels would have a winning ACC record for the first time this season.

The Yellow Jackets enter the Smith Center at the bottom of the league standings, at 0-4. But don't count on the Heels taking the Yellow Jackets lightly – not unless UNC wants to endure what Roy Williams described earlier this week as a “track meet.”

Some things to know before tonight’s late tip-off:

CHAPEL HILL — Joel Berry, an Orlando, Fla., point guard who is considered one of the nation’s best prospects in the class of 2014, has committed to play for North Carolina, the Orlando Sentinel reported earlier today.

North Carolina will have a different look on the road when it travels to N.C. State this weekend. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina will wear a new road uniform on Saturday when it plays at N.C. State.

The Tar Heels, who, of course, have long worn Nike gear, will wear what Nike describes as the “Nike Hyper Elite Road Jersey” and the “Nike Hyper Elite Short.” I don’t really know what “hyper elite” means, but Nike says the uniform offers “lightweight performance through sustainable materials.”

James Michael McAdoo (above) and Reggie Bullock (not pictured) led North Carolina on Saturday against Maryland. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — It’d be difficult to find a game with a pair of halves that were more contrasting than the one today was for North Carolina. The Tar Heels played their best half of the season during the first 20 minutes of their 62-52 victory against Maryland. And then came the second half.

Here's the story of UNC's victory. And the look back:

Updated 5:02 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina played its finest half of the season during its 62-52 victory against Maryland here on Saturday, yet Tar Heels coach Roy Williams admitted afterward that it was difficult for him not to bemoan the way his team played during the final 20 minutes.

“I’m giving myself a pep talk,” he said, referencing his desire to focus on the good and overlook the bad. “I want to focus on the dadgum first half.”

And what a half it was for UNC, which dominated in a way that it hadn’t yet this season. Reggie Bullock, the junior guard, scored 21 of his 24 points during the first 20 minutes – outscoring Maryland by himself in the process – and the Tar Heels led 42-20 at halftime.

UNC coach Roy Williams has preached the importance of playing with a sense of urgency. ROBERT WILLETT

CHAPEL HILL — Been somewhat of a slow week here in Chapel Hill, what with North Carolina having its off week early. Not that it’s really been an off week. The Tar Heels practiced Monday and Tuesday, took off Wednesday, and are back at it today in preparation of their (important) game against Maryland on Saturday.

Now’s as good of a time as any to take a look at some questions facing this UNC team. So without further delay, here’s a little interview with myself on all things Tar Heels:

James Michael McAdoo (seen here in a game earlier this week against Miami) and his North Carolina teammates were the aggressors early on Saturday at Florida State. File photo. ROBERT WILLETT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — North Carolina entered Saturday in desperation mode and earned a hard-fought victory against Florida State. Here's the story..

And the look back …

Updated 7 p.m.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Haunting images began to come to James Michael McAdoo on Friday night when North Carolina arrived here for its game on Saturday against Florida State.

“We get to the hotel last night, I’m just like, man, this is bad memories all over,” McAdoo, the UNC sophomore forward, said following the Tar Heels’ 77-72 victory against the Seminoles. “Showing up to the arena today, just horrible memories in this place.”

Nearly a year ago to the day, UNC (11-5, 1-2) had suffered a 33-point loss against FSU here in the Donald L. Tucker Center. On Saturday, the Tar Heels celebrated a victory that both avenged that loss and provided a modicum of hope that perhaps they can turn around their season after an 0-2 start in ACC play.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — And welcome to Tallahassee, folks, where it’ll be about 70 degrees outside and a lot warmer inside for North Carolina if it can’t get things going against Florida State at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

We all remember what happened the last time UNC played at Florida State. As low as that 33-point defeat was for the Tar Heels, they’ve traveled here seeking a season-turning victory. I wrote about that in a story here.

A pregame look at Tar Heels vs. Seminoles: