UNC goes on Road to Face upset-minded Miami

Created by Sharon Thorsland

North Carolina is riding high following its come from behind upset of arch-rival Duke on Saturday. Now the Tar Heels will look to avoid a let-down as they travel to Miami to take on a dangerous Hurricane team tonight. The 11th ranked Heels (19-4, 7-3 ACC) have won five straight, while the Hurricanes have bounced back in a big way from last season’s dismal 7-24 record. They’ve won three of their last four after a win over Boston College moved them to 18-7 on the year and 7-3 in league play. Tip-off is set for 7:00 on WBT.

It’s a new era in Coral Gables, where Jai Lucas took over for longtime coach Jim Larranaga, who retired mid-way through last season after 14 years with the Hurricanes. A former Duke assistant, Lucas completely remade the Hurricane roster with a bunch of key transfers and talented freshmen. Like the Tar Heels, the Hurricanes like to run and push the pace. Michigan transfer point guard Tre Donaldson directs an offense that puts up 84.2 points per game. He teams with Tru Washington to combine for nearly 28 points a game. Freshman wing player Shelton Henderson has moved into a starting spot and has picked up his play as of late, with 35 points in the last two games. He starts alongside former Indiana standout Malik Reneau, who is the team’s leading scorer at 20 points a contest. Inside it’s TCU transfer Ernest Udeh Jr., who anchors the defense with his shot-blocking skills and averages nearly 10 rebounds a game. Freshmen Dante Allen and Slovakian wing player Timotej Malovec are the top guys off the bench. No one is a particularly dangerous 3-point shooter, as the Hurricanes shoot just 34% from behind the arc with most of their shots coming inside.

The Hurricanes are playing really solid defense, though, they allow just 70 points per game. They’ll be challenged by UNC star freshman Caleb Wilson and the Tar Heels, who put up 82.6 points a contest. And with big man Henri Veesaar teaming with Wilson and Jarin Stevenson inside, the Canes will have their hands full in the paint. Getting some outside shots to fall will be key – UNC has not shot it well from three lately, but teams are shooting 35% from behind the arc against Miami.

This is a classic trap game. The Hurricanes are a dangerous opponent with plenty of talent that can hang with the Tar Heels and are no doubt hungry for an upset of their own. But the Canes are 0-3 against Top-25 opponents this season, and UNC has won the last three in this series and are 29-10 against them all-time. The Tar Heels should avoid any Duke hangover and get the job done in Coral Gables. Go Tar Heels!