Marcus Paige is back — and without a moment to spare.
Exactly four weeks after fracturing a bone in his non-shooting hand in practice, the North Carolina senior guard will hit the court for the first time this season tonight against No. 2 Maryland.
Coach Roy Williams said Paige will likely start with sophomore guard Joel Berry, as sophomore wing Theo Pinson slides to the bench.
“I’m probably not going to be peak Marcus ...” Paige said. “I have first-game jitters, but it’s (December). It’s just a situation I’ve never been in before.”
Paige will wear padding underneath his right hand as a preventative measure, but the guard said the pain is gone and his hand is 100 percent.