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.”

CHAPEL HILL — A few thoughts and reflections on No. 3 North Carolina’s 73-56 victory against Miami last night at the Smith Center:

Updated 12:46 a.m.

CHAPEL HILL — Sixteen games into a season that began with grand aspirations, North Carolina’s players had almost become typecast. Harrison Barnes was the scorer, Kendall Marshall the passer, Dexter Strickland the defensive stopper. As a team, the Tar Heels at times faltered defensively on the perimeter.

These had been known characteristics about UNC halfway through the season. But then came role reversals at the Smith Center on Tuesday night during the Tar Heels’ 73-56 victory against Miami.

While Barnes struggled through his worst offensive game of the season, the Tar Heels (15-2, 2-0) received scoring from the unlikeliest of players. Strickland tied his season high with 14 points and Marshall finished with 12 – the most he had scored since UNC’s victory against Washington last season in the NCAA Tournament.

CHAPEL HILL — No. 3 North Carolina hosts Miami tonight at 9 p.m. at the Smith Center.

While we wait (and wait) for the late tip, consider these three things to watch:

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams on Sunday began watching film of Miami, which visits the Smith Center on Tuesday night. And the thing that stood out most to Williams? The Hurricanes’ guards.

Particularly, the starting backcourt duo of Durand Scott, a junior, and Malcolm Grant, a senior.

“I think that they set the tone for everything,” Williams said.