CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina's basketball team hasn't played an out-of-town game since losing by a point at Kentucky on Dec. 3.

The Tar Heels' stay-cation ends Saturday at Florida State (2 p.m., ESPN). Win or lose against the Seminoles (10-6, 1-1 ACC), Roy Williams says his team has improved since the trip to Kentucky.

"I think we definitely got better," Williams said before Friday's practice in the Smith Center.

"We got better defensively, had better rebounding moments, got more balance with different guys scoring, not just depending on one or two guys. I think in many, many ways we have gotten better."

The Heels (15-2, 2-0) also got a little unlucky Wednesday, when starting guard and defensive stopper Dexter Strickland sprained an ankle during an individual workout. There was no team practice Wednesday, the day after a 73-56 win over Miami.

The same thing injury hit freshman forward Desmond Hubert later Wednesday

"In 24 years as a head coach, that's the first time I've had two guys to get hurt on an off day," Williams said.

"Both stepped on a guy's foot ... both came in to get individual workouts by themselves and stepped on somebody's foot. Dexter was playing one-on-one with somebody. They both missed practice (Thursday)."

Strickland is expected to play at Florida State, but Williams said wingman Leslie McDonald will not attempt to play this season.

McDonald tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a Durham summer-league game in July.

He recently returned to practice and is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation, Williams said. However, Williams said that after meeting with McDonald and his family, it was decided that it would be in McDonald's best interest to take the whole season off to recover. He'll return for the 2012-13 season with two full seasons of eligibility.