Updated 3:55 p.m.
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams gave his team an off day on Thursday, the day after the Tar Heels suffered a disheartening loss at Texas. Williams went on the road recruiting, became sick and still sounded ill on Saturday after the Tar Heels’ 97-63 victory against McNeese State.

At least his team’s play might have made him feel better. A lot about that 85-67 loss at Texas on Wednesday frustrated Williams, and he said after that game that his players needed to “buy in” to his message. Yet Williams didn’t spend practice on Friday preaching any more loudly than normal.

“I told them I was sick as a dog,” he said. “I didn’t want to be screaming in their face and making them sick. So play better.”