CHAPEL HILL - Rashad McCants, the enigmatic guard who led North Carolina in scoring last season, compared playing for the Tar Heels to being in prison.

In an interview with WRAL-TV that aired Friday night, he also said being a part of the team was like a 9-to-5 job.

"You're not allowed to do certain things," the Asheville native said. "You're not allowed to say certain things, but once you get out of jail, you're free. (I'm) in my sentence, and I'm doing my time."

McCants said his uncle first made the reference to prison.

Last season, North Carolina coach Roy Williams sent McCants to the locker room in the first half of a game against UNC- Wilmington. Williams said McCants and teammate Jesse Holley, who were on the bench, were not cheering enough for the players on the court, so he told them to leave.

Williams and McCants downplayed the incident after that game, and McCants went on to average 20 points while starting 29 of 30 games. He shot 41 percent on 3-pointers.

The Tar Heels held their first official practice Saturday.