GREENSBORO -- You can’t accuse North Carolina of going anything less than full speed. The Tar Heels gave it everything they had in the 87-77 loss.
That it wasn’t enough was testament less to another swing-and-miss in Greensboro -- North Carolina hasn’t won an ACC title here since 1998 -- than to how deep, talented and well coached Miami is.
Miami winning the ACC basketball title is a lot like Wake Forest winning the ACC football title: Two old, experienced teams from unheralded programs that put all the pieces together at the right time.
Shane Larkin is a stud. That regular-season championship was no fluke.
Then again, neither are the Tar Heels.
As we head into the NCAA tournament, North Carolina clearly stands as the most compelling of the Triangle teams. Duke, despite its early exit here, is primed for a long run. N.C. State, despite making the semifinals here, looks like it can’t wait for the season to be over -- and it probably will be soon.
But the Tar Heels are a wild card, particularly with P.J. Hairston shooting like there’s no tomorrow -- which, coincidentally, he thought there might not be after tearing his hand open Friday night -- and James Michael McAdoo playing like he did last March, as if he can sense the NBA draft lottery approaching.
It’s the continual development of freshman point guard Marcus Paige that really sets an uncertain ceiling for the Tar Heels, who will be a single-digit seed but not one forecast to make it out of the first weekend.
Paige held his own about as well as could be expected against Larkin, who would not be denied Sunday, but he’s gotten better and better in the second half of the season, almost on a game-by-game basis. If that improvement continues, the Tar Heels are primed to overachieve.
By the same token, they’re still heavily dependent on the outside shooting of Hairston and Reggie Bullock, which is always a recipe for booming and/or busting.
The Tar Heels faced a better team Sunday. How long will it be before that happens again?
For the record, my all-tournament ballot: Larkin (MVP), Hairston, Durand Scott (Miami), Scott Wood (N.C. State), Olivier Hanlan (Boston College). I went with Wood and Hanlan over Paige and Dez Wells (Maryland), who may well end up winning. All worthy picks.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at (919) 829-8947, @LukeDeCock on Twitter or
Comments
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Agree. Heels will be
Sun, 03/17/2013 - 21:44 — unc098Agree.
Heels will be overlooked and hungry. They are also playing extremely well at the moment. They played a great game today. Miami is truly that much better.
If the Heels get on a streak they will do well.
I think the NCAA is really pooping on the ACC and I hope that Carolina, Duke, NCSU and Miami kick some fanny.
ACC
Mon, 03/18/2013 - 00:06 — b_actor77Guys:Wake-Up and smell the coffee my friends and admit that ACC Bball is in Free-Fall. Only 2 teams in top 25 all year long and you feel ripped - off by only getting 4 teams in? BE, Big10, Big12, A-10, Pac-12 are all better and deeper than ACC so what's your beef? Do you really think UVA or MD deserve a bid? When is the last time you looked at their pre-conference (Nov-Dec.) schedules and seen the long lost of freakin' CupCakes they played. Don't worry, help is on the way in the form of Yankee Carpetbaggers that WE invited down to save us from ourselves. UGH!, It may not smell good but what choice did we have???
Perception is reality
Mon, 03/18/2013 - 08:44 — gvillegatrPeople make their minds up before the season even starts when it comes to how good or bad conferences are. Have you ever heard a talking head say, "man, this conference is a lot better/worse than I originally thought?"
Nope.
The ACC is not as bad you make it out. But, no, it is not the best in the country either.
Virginia should have made it in. They had some bad losses, but had some really good wins as well which is better than a lot of bubble teams who got in can say.
They're #1
Sun, 03/17/2013 - 16:23 — JPDOhioThere is no denying that Miami is the best team in the ACC this year. Credit to Jim Larranaga for an outstanding coaching job. Does anybody out there believe that Miami would be where they are today if Frank Haith were still the coach there?
Mizzou
Mon, 03/18/2013 - 11:26 — YAR8packNegative, Ghost Rider. Not even the folks out in Mizzou.
miami
Sun, 03/17/2013 - 15:32 — SurferThe real deal, when they play hard.
Proud of UNC though, they made a game of it and it was actually a closer game most of the time than the final 10 point margin indicates.
Whoever they play in the NCAA, if they can control the game and play at their pace and shooting a high %, I would not be surprised to see them make it through the first weekend.
huh?
Mon, 03/18/2013 - 12:23 — SurferOkay, now that I have seen UNC's seeding and their bracket, I will be surprised to see them make it out of the first weekend. Villinova will be tough, but if they make it past them, then a "home" game against Kansas. Ugh.
On the other hand, if you are going to make it far, you probably have to play the number one seed sometime, why not just knock them out early?