Ernest Udeh Jr.'s dominance and stifling defense propelled the Miami Hurricanes' upset. Key offensive breakdowns and freshmen struggles doomed UNC.
The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball squad earned a much-needed 75-66 victory over the 11th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels at the Watsco Center on Tuesday night. Coach Jai Lucas and the team never trailed and executed down the stretch to survive every attempt of a late comeback.
Here are the main takeaways from the game:
Hurricanes; Big man on campus: Senior center Ernest Udeh Jr. isn't a flashy center, but he rose to the occasion against the Tar Heels. The Orlando native finished with a new season high scoring 15 points on 87.5 percent shooting, 10 rebounds, an assist, a steal, a block, and a team-high +15 in 35 minutes.
It's Udeh Jr.'s third double-double in ACC play, fifth overall in the regular season. He had five alley-oop dunks, which were critical over the Tar Heel's lenghty frontcourt.
Hurricanes; Forcing turnovers: The Hurricanes don't have the flashiest offense, but thrive when opponents make mistakes. They forced 11 turnovers and scored 10 points off them, eight in the fastbreak. The Tar Heels did not seem prepared for the Hurricanes' havoc.
Tar Heels; Caleb Wilson's lack of presence: Caleb Wilson is considered among the best freshmen in the nation, projected as a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft. However, the Hurricanes did a great job in barely allowing any breathing room for the 19-year-old.
Wilson scored a new season-low 12 points on 40 percent shooting, six rebounds, and three blocks in 26 minutes. He expressed clear frustrations towards the end of the second half. Wilson apparently suffered a left-hand injury after it was tapped in the second half.
Hurricanes; Outstanding frontcourt production: The Hurricanes' starting frontcourt of freshman Shelton Henderson, senior forward Malik Reneau, and Udeh Jr. outperformed Wilson, junior Jarin Stevenson, and junior Henri Veesaar. They combined for 43 points, including 32 of the team's 46 total points in the paint.
Tar Heels; Outstanding bench production: The Tar Heels had five players off the bench log at least seven minutes and combined for 24 points. The Hurricanes only had two reserves score a total of nine points. The lack of depth has been consistent throughout the regular season, especially in ACC play.
The Hurricanes limited free-throw opportunities for the Tar Heels and committed fewer turnovers, which played critical roles in this victory. Coach Lucas and the team officially claim the standout victory, in front of a 7,355 crowd, which was needed for the NCAA Tournament resume.
It's only the beginning of the Lucas chapter for the program.
The Hurricanes' record improved to 19-5, 8-3 in ACC play. They will face the North Carolina State Wolfpack on the road on Saturday.
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