RALEIGH — No. 7 North Carolina defeated N.C. State 86-74 at the RBC Center here on Tuesday night. A look back at the Tar Heels’ victory against the Wolfpack:

No. 7 North Carolina travels to N.C. State tonight for the second meeting between the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. Three  things to watch from a UNC perspective:

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina Roy Williams said earlier today that the N.C. State team the Tar Heels will play on Tuesday night in Raleigh is far different than the one that suffered a 74-55 defeat against UNC at the Smith Center on Jan. 20.

CHAPEL HILL — Three North Carolina-related things to consider on this snow-melting Monday morning from Chapel Hill …

CHAPEL HILL — No. 8 North Carolina defeated Clemson 74-52 here on Saturday at the Smith Center. Some thoughts and observations after the Tar Heels improved to 56-0 at home against the Tigers:

Updated 8:34 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL — Outside of that 33-point loss at Florida State on Jan. 14, North Carolina coach Roy Williams has mostly liked his team’s defensive effort and intensity. Now he’s starting to appreciate the Tar Heels’ defensive execution, too.

UNC’s 74-52 victory against Clemson at the Smith Center on Saturday wasn’t always pretty, and the Tar Heels’ defense was a primary reason why. The Heels (23-4, 10-2) held the Tigers (13-13, 5-7)  without a field goal during the final 7 minutes, 42 seconds, and UNC held Clemson to 37.5 percent shooting overall.

It was the third consecutive game in which No. 8 North Carolina held its opponent to less than 40 percent shooting, and it continued the Heels’ recent trend of defensive improvement. Even when the Tar Heels entered the season as the favorite to win the national title, critics questioned their defense.

Now it’s becoming a strength.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — No. 8 North Carolina defeated Miami 73-64 here on Wednesday night at the BankUnited Center. The look back:

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Harrison Barnes scored 14 of his 23 points in the second half to lead No. 8 North Carolina to a 73-64 victory against Miami at the BankUnited Center on Wednesday night.

SOUTH FLORIDA — Welcome to lovely Plantation, Fla., where in just a few hours I’ll be making my way to Coral Gables for No. 8 North Carolina’s game tonight at Miami. Three things to watch while the Tar Heels and Hurricanes meet for a second time:

North Carolina coach Roy Williams might have figured before the season that the Tar Heels’ depth would be the least of his concerns. But as injuries have mounted he said on Monday that the Heels’ depth is “not quite what we hoped it would be.”