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CHAPEL HILL -- If this is the toughest question Roy Williams has to answer this season, then North Carolina basketball fans should go ahead and make travel reservations for the Final Four in San Antonio. Still, it had to be asked Thursday during the team's media day.

When a loose ball goes out of bounds during a Tar Heels practice this season, who will go after it? Traditionally, that has been the role of freshmen at UNC, who also help serve water during practice breaks and lug around weights in the weight room. The problem is, there aren't any true freshmen this season on the roster.

But there is one redshirt freshman -- Will Graves of Dudley.

"In the past -- and I have had just one freshman a couple of times -- I would designate which sophomores I was mad at the most and they would have to help him," Williams said. "The first couple of days we'll make Will go get them by himself. He still needs to lose a little weight."

Graves, 6-feet-6, doesn't need to lose nearly as much weight as he did last season, though. After weighing in at a peak of 272 pounds, Graves has gotten down to the 240-245 range.

"He's been great," Williams said. "But that doesn't mean I want him to stop."

Graves' biggest step has been cutting out his favorite food vice -- pepperoni pizza.

"I haven't had Pizza Hut pizza in who knows how long," Graves said.

FRASOR'S FOOT: It wouldn't be an update on the Tar Heels without a progress report on Bobby Frasor's injured right foot, would it?

Williams said Frasor passed his "tough time" during his conditioning test Wednesday, a mark that allows players to get out of the first week of preseason conditioning. The coach said he asked the junior guard if the test bothered his foot and got a firm "no!" in response.

"So I expect him to do everything that everybody else does," said Williams, whose team will start practicing tonight.

Frasor said he spent a lot of time in June and July just shooting free throws and taking a break from putting too much stress on the foot.

"I wouldn't say it's perfect," Frasor said of the foot. "But it's getting there."

"Q" ON THE DL: The other injury news from Thursday centered around senior point guard Quentin Thomas. Thomas had arthroscopic surgery about three weeks ago to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

"I'm about 75 percent right now," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to do a full practice by the first of November."

Contact Jim Young at 373-7016 or jyoung@news-record.com