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Tar Heels shut down 'Canes

Miami shoots 23.4 percent from the field as No.14 North Carolina rolls 67-45.

By KEVIN BRAFFORD

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 5, 2000

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- There were two baskets, each 10 feet off the floor, at the Smith Center on Monday night. But you wouldn't get Miami to swear by it.

The Hurricanes provided a new barometer for cold shooting, making just 18 of 77 field goals (23.4 percent) in a 67-45 loss to 14th-ranked North Carolina.

The loss was the second straight for Miami after a 3-0 start. And while the 95-63 rout by North Carolina-Charlotte came on a previous trip north six nights earlier, this one was more methodical.

The 'Canes launched 23 three-pointers, making just three. They did try to go inside, but it seemed Tar Heels center Brendan Haywood was there each time for the block.

The 7-foot senior blocked a school-record 10 shots to go with his 18 points and 14 rebounds. It was the first triple double in school history.

"We kept going at the big fellow a little too much," UM coach Perry Clark said. "We showed some inexperience in that we kept trying to shoot the ball over the top of him."

Warren Martin held the UNC blocks record with nine in 1985. First-year Tar Heels coach Matt Doherty, a starter but more of a role player during his North Carolina playing days, laughed when asked how close he ever came to a triple double.

"I played 10 minutes one game, I had more than 10 cups of water at halftime and I set more than 10 screens once," he said. "That was my triple double."

Junior forward Kris Lang added 17 points for UNC. Haywood and Lang combined to make 15 of 20 field goals , only three fewer baskets than all 11 Hurricanes.

"We're a young team," said junior John Salmons, who scored a team-high 12 for UM. "Everybody has a new role. Last year we started off 5-5. This will be forgotten about later. Like coach says, "It's a sprint, not a marathon.' "

There were few bright spots in either half, but the first was especially dim for Miami. In addition to shooting 7-of-39, Miami had eight turnovers and committed 10 personal fouls.

North Carolina's own ineffectiveness allowed UM to stay close, trailing just 7-4 near the midpoint of the first half. But from there, the Tar Heels went on a 26-14 run, punctuated by back-to-back Haywood dunks to close the half.

The second half was just as forgettable. The 'Canes didn't score in a seven-minute stretch midway through the half as North Carolina went on a 16-0 run to push an 11-point lead to 55-28. In fact, when freshman Darius Rice made a three-pointer with 6:39 remaining , it was the first points in the half by a UM player other than Salmons.

Clark said his team played better than it did in the loss to UNCC but had little to show for it.

"I thought we played well defensively," he said. "We were getting good looks, and we missed some shots that we normally make. With young people, they need to see it go in once in a while."

"I tell you what, we guarded and that was fun," Doherty said. "We got into them, and I don't believe that they had many open looks."

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