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UNC Basketball: Roy Williams on ACC quarterfinal victory over Miami

By Blake Cockrum

Mar 31, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina head coach Roy Williams speaks to media during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; North Carolina head coach Roy Williams speaks to media during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Roy Williams on UNC’s victory over Miami in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams was much happier with his team’s performance against the Hurricanes on Thursday afternoon than he was when the Tar Heels traveled to Coral Gables a month ago.

On January 28th, UNC lost in convincing fashion to a Miami team that’s had an up and down season and 11 total losses. The Hurricanes, however, simply had the Tar Heels’ number on that particular day.

Dec 7, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts during the second half against the Davidson Wildcats at Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels won 83-74. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts during the second half against the Davidson Wildcats at Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels won 83-74. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

That wasn’t the case in the Brooklyn where the two teams met in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday.

Miami took advantage of a sloppy first half finish by North Carolina, turning a 12-point deficit to just five before the intermission.

But right at the start of the second half, the Tar Heels extended the lead back out to double-digits and then turned on the gas.

What had been a single-digit lead turned out to be a 25-point blowout, sending the Tar Heels to the semifinal round to play Duke for a third time this season.

“One of the things we wanted to do was do a better job on the backboards, to say the least,” Williams said in his post game press conference. “First half, it was 8-0, them on the offensive boards. Second half, the points was 8-4 for us. At their place, they outscored us 11-0 on fast break points, and I thought we ran the ball up and down the court better today. Bottom line is we shoot 53 percent, and they shoot 35%. They played yesterday and we didn’t have to play until today, and I think that helped us as well.”

Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes forward Kamari Murphy (21) is pressured by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 28, 2017; Coral Gables, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes forward Kamari Murphy (21) is pressured by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Isaiah Hicks (4) during the first half at Watsco Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

One of the biggest reasons that the Tar Heels’ offense was so effective against the Hurricanes this time around was the play of senior big man Isaiah Hicks. Hicks scored 19 points including a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.

“If you go 9-for-9, that helps you with anything, Williams told reporters. “I thought Isaiah was active. We needed to get the ball inside. We needed to do a better job in the paint. They beat us badly last time. It was embarrassing. I watched it yesterday. It was the worst two hours I’ve had recently. I think we were more motivated today after the way they manhandled us the last time. But Isaiah was huge for us, and I think that was really good.”

Related Story: UNC vs Duke game preview

North Carolina prepares for a quick turnaround, as they are slated to play Duke for the third time this season in the semifinals on Friday night.

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