Tar Heels vow to maintain focus on trip to Miami

North Carolina will try to maintain its share of first place in the ACC today when it hits the road one more time, but will have to avoid repeating the big mistake that it made the last time it visited Florida.

The Tar Heels will play Miami at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables at 8 p.m. Only six games in the regular season are left for North Carolina, which is fighting Duke and Florida State for first place, and four will be on the road.

"We can see the homestretch coming up," coach Roy Williams of UNC said. "We're not there yet, but we can see it. You've got to be able to play every night. We know we're going down to Miami to play a very good Miami team, and we need to play exceptionally well."

North Carolina played at Florida State on Jan. 14 in its first ACC road game and was beaten 90-57. It was the biggest margin of defeat that UNC has suffered in Williams' nine seasons as coach, but it has won its three ACC road games since.

The Tar Heels will play the Hurricanes for the second time this season after taking a 73-56 win in Chapel Hill on Jan. 10. North Carolina is 21-4 overall and 8-2 in the ACC, and Miami is 15-8 and 6-4.

Williams needs one ACC win to reach 100 for his career. If UNC beats Miami, Williams will reach the mark in 139 conference games, the second-fewest needed to hit 100 wins. Vic Bubas, a former Duke coach, reached 100 ACC wins in 128 games.

Harrison Barnes' injured left ankle seems to be improving, after bothering him for the last four games. Williams said that the ankle was less painful and less swollen after last Saturday's win over Virginia at home than it was after last Wednesday's loss to Duke at home.

P.J. Hairston, a freshman guard, is still recovering from a sore left foot that forced him to miss last Saturday's win over Virginia. His playing status for tonight had not been determined. Hairston could help a bench that is struggling to provide points.

The bench has generated only 26 points in the last four games. Williams is looking for more from the reserves than just points, however, and wants substantial help in defense and rebounding.

While the bench overall has struggled, James Michael McAdoo, a freshman forward, is starting to play better as a top reserve. He has scored 22 points, grabbed 17 rebounds and made 8 of 22 shots from the field in the last four games.

"I don't know if I'd say (he's) catching fire, but he is getting better," Williams said.

McAdoo seems more comfortable now and in better grasp of his role. For most of the season, he seemed jumpy when put in games, and he hurried shots that were off target.

He is attacking the basket more, which is helping him get easier shots and is drawing fouls to set up free throws.

"I think he's had to overcome the trials and tribulations of being a freshman," Williams said. "Some (freshmen) come in and all of a sudden things are very good. Most of them come in and they struggle.

"There are very few Tyler Hansbroughs that come in and average 18 (points) a game as a freshman. He's just been a normal freshman. I don't think he ever lost confidence."

Miami is not the same team that lost to UNC in Chapel Hill. It has won five of its last six games, among them a 78-74 overtime win at Duke on Feb. 5 when center Reggie Johnson of Winston-Salem scored 27 points, his career high, and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Coach Jim Larranaga identified two key areas in which the Hurricanes must improve in the rematch, starting with limiting the Tar Heels' offensive rebounding. North Carolina held a 45-29 rebounding advantage in the first game, and grabbed 16 offensive rebounds to score 15 second-chance points.

"We are going to have to take care of the ball better," Larranaga said. "We turned it over more than we should (17 turnovers) at their place. If we can reduce our turnovers and rebound a little bit better, hopefully that will make for a more competitive game.

"Against Carolina, you've got to bring your 'A' game and you've got to play at a very, very high level for 40 minutes."