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• As expected, North Carolina had problems with its interior play against Miami. The Hurricanes outscored North Carolina 30-20 in the paint, and 13-7 in points off offensive rebounds. But Miami didn’t take control until it used a smaller lineup to better defend the Tar Heels on the perimeter. That change happened during the final 15 minutes, and the Hurricanes then did a better job of fighting through screens, or switching off of them, and limiting the Tar Heels from the outside.
• Miami’s struggles from the free- throw line didn’t bode well early on, when it seemed like a back-and-forth game might come down to the final few possessions. But the game wasn’t decided in the final seconds, in part because of the Hurricanes’ improvement at the line. They started 5 for 10, but made their final 10 free-throw attempts.
• The Tar Heels at times during the second half played a zone defense, with mixed results. The Tar Heels came up with a stop while using the zone, but also allowed a long Shane Larkin 3-pointer that gave Miami momentum. North Carolina coach Roy Williams rarely uses a zone, and the Heels played their usual man-to-man in the final minutes.
• The majority of the crowd at the Greensboro Coliseum wore light blue on Sunday, and the many Tar Heels fans in attendance were loud, helping to create a home game atmosphere. for UNC. That wasn’t surprising. What might have been: There was a good showing of Miami fans, too.
