On Saturday, UNC put the country on notice with a hard-fought comeback victory over its arch-rival Duke. The sheer emotion that the game brought to all the players and fans could last a long time if they can channel it correctly.
Just a few days later, they have to go on the road against a tough and dangerous Miami Hurricanes team. A team hungry to make their own statement and solidify their spot in a packed ACC bracket.
The Tar Heels made many boneheaded plays in the first half and throughout the second half against Duke, resulting in easy baskets, second-chance opportunities, and huge momentum shifts.
Avoid a slow start at all costs!
North Carolina can not afford to come out of the gate slow again in this one. On the road against a team that loves to pressure the ball and force turnovers, they could open up huge, quick runs early and often if they're not careful.
Derek Dixon's impact
Derek Dixon will need to be under control and not try to break the press individually if defensive ace Tru Washington can play.
If Tru Washington is out (which he is listed as probable on the ACC Availability Report), the Hurricanes don't possess much of a bench, so the Tar Heels should have a clear advantage in that category to wear them down. If UNC comes out slow and unfocused early, Hubert Davis should not be afraid to pull the trigger and make wholesale lineup changes to set the tone and try to re-engage his team before it's too late.
Controlling the paint
Miami likes to dominate its opponents in the paint with its senior leader, Malik Reneau, and freshman standout Shelton Henderson. They don't shoot the ball particularly well from three, so packing the paint with North Carolina's three-big lineup will be a key factor in this game.
This is the type of game that fans will find out what type of team North Carolina truly has. If they can correctly channel the energy of their Duke victory and use it to push them even further and gain even more momentum, the sky is the limit for this team.