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North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams underwent surgery Tuesday morning at UNC Hospitals to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury he suffered in early October when he slipped on a wet step at a local golf course in a charity event.

The 90-minute surgery was deemed a success and Williams returned home later in the day. He expects to return to work later this week and should be on the bench Sunday when the Tar Heels play host to the University of Nevada.

Williams will wear a sling on his left arm for approximately four weeks with rehabilitation expected to last several months.

The Tar Heels did not practice Tuesday and assistant coach Steve Robinson sat in for Williams during the head coach's weekly radio show.

ISIAH'S WOES: Isiah Thomas is adjusting to what starting over really means at Florida International.

An 84-71 loss to Murray State dropped FIU to 2-5 on the season, Thomas' first at the school.

But Thomas has found "glimmers of hope," he said.

"The college kids, they don't have as much talent, you know, as an NBA player has. But they have heart," Thomas said. "I mean, these guys fight. They give you everything that you could possibly want. You root so hard for them because they try so hard. You're living with every mistake that they make and you're just rooting for them because they try so hard."

It's going to take more than trying hard for FIU to win this season. Thomas' silver lining is there, though. Basketball, he said, feels like a game again.

"I'm falling in love with the guys. I'm falling in love with the game," Thomas said. "That's a beautiful thing for me because sometimes, the game breaks your heart and I'm lovesick for the game."