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Heels vs Canes
| North Carolina | Miami | |
| Record | 19-9 | 18-10 |
| ACC Record | 9-6 | 8-7 |
| KenPom Rank | 16th | 64th |
| Points per game | 78.3 | 68.6 |
| Adj. Off. Efficiency(Rank) | 114.3(14th) | 109.6(48th) |
| Ad. Def. Efficiency(Rank) | 95.6(58th) | 99.3(113th) |
| Tempo(Rank) | 69.7(18th) | 62.6(285th) |
| Offensive eFG% | 50.7% | 51.1% |
| Defensive eFG% | 45.0% | 47.8% |
| Field Goal % | 47.1% | 43.6% |
| 3P FG% | 32.8% | 35.6% |
| FT% | 68.8% | 73.0% |
| Offensive Reb Rate | 41.0% | 28.9% |
| Defensive Reb Rate | 69.0% | 69.7% |
| TO Rate | 17.9% | 16.3% |
| FT Rate | 36.5% | 34.7% |
Just how bad was UNC offensively on Tuesday night versus NC State? The Tar Heels entered that game with an offensive efficiency of 117.0, UNC is down to 114.3 now. Of course UNC's defensive efficiency dropped to 95.6 while the Heels are below 70 possessions per game for the first time all season.
In that respect the loss to the Wolfpack might be more fluke than anything else. A bad match-up, a solid opponent's game plan and UNC having one of those nights shooting the ball. Heading to Miami, the Tar Heels are in need of a return to the norm on the offensive end. Miami's defensive numbers suggests that's possible though NC State's numbers were very similar and it didn't matter. The Hurricanes also play slower tempo which was part and parcel to the game plan NC State used to give the Tar Heels trouble. A low possession game when UNC struggles offensively makes the game a grind and tough for Roy Williams' team to get traction.
Miami has two players that present interesting challenges for the Tar Heels. Junior wing Sheldon McCellean has a 121.5 OE in ACC play, shooting 38% from three and 57.1% inside the arc. Seven footer Tonye Jekiri presents an issue on the interior for the Heels. Jekiri's DRB% of 29.1 in ACC games tops the league and his 27.3 in all games is 9th nationally.
The other concern for UNC is Devon Reed who is shooting 53.2% from three in ACC play and Manu Lecomte hitting 16-36 in league games. Angel Rodriquez has struggled shooting the three in ACC games hitting just 17-80. Despite the struggles, Rodriguez has shown the ability to hit threes in big games. He was 5-8 versus Florida earlier in the season keying a huge rally to win the game. He also went 4-6 at Duke on the way to 24 points in a 90-74 win in Durham.
UNC's defense has been awfully shaky since Theo Pinson went out with a broken foot and if he is again unavailable, it could be another game where the Tar Heels offense better be on point.