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Off the cuff: Even when happy with an ACC Tournament win, 'Ol Roy just can't help but let his politics show through.

Q. Any advantages media-wise or recruiting-wise to have (the ACC Tournament) in the big city?
COACH WILLIAMS: "It used to be much more so than I think it is now. Now everybody's has got social media, and we don't need 'The New York Times' to find out what in the dickens is going on in the country. You know, our president tweets out more bullshit than anybody I've ever seen. We've got social media. In the old days, there's no question it was the media capital of the world, but I'm not sure it is right now. Media capital of the world is sitting right there, right there, right there."

Coach Williams wasn't pleased after Miami went on a 7-0 run to end the first half and draw to within five points.

Q. Coach, the last 50 seconds going into halftime was an explosive moment for Miami. Among some of the writers, we knew there was a lot of frickins coming during the halftime for you. What was that halftime speech to get the team fired up and take over the second half?
COACH WILLIAMS: "Well, the first 75 seconds, there were a lot of frickins out there, I guess. I was just upset with the way we had turned it over, given them the basket, the way we didn't stay in front of the guy and the way we had given them the eight points on offensive rebounds. So we got after them after that, because nobody emphasizes the backboards more than I do. So I got after them a little bit for about 75 seconds, and then I let Coach Robinson talk so I could think of some positive things."

Coach Williams did find time to offer Isaiah Hicks some praise.

COACH WILLIAMS: "If you go 9 for 9 (from the free throw line), that helps you with anything. I thought Isaiah was active. We needed to get the ball inside. We needed to do a better job in the paint. They beat us badly last time. It was embarrassing. I watched it yesterday. It was the worst two hours I've had recently. I think we were more motivated today after the way they manhandled us the last time. But Isaiah was huge for us, and I think that was really good."

 

Tar Heels 78, Miami 53
UNC, Hicks roll past Miami in ACCs

North Carolina responded to a cold-shooting first half by ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson and a late first-half run by Miami by blowing past the Hurricanes in the second half for a 78-53 victory. (3/9)

The Tar Heels opened up a 34-29 halftime lead by outscoring Miami by 20 points in the second half. A 14-5 run early in the second half provided the Heels some separation.

During the run Jackson and Joel Berry drained their first threes of the game to get back on track and help Isaiah Hicks, who had carried the Heels with 11 points in the first half.

Hicks, who sank all nine of his free throw shots, led the way with 19 points for the game while Jackson, who had just two points at the half, finished with 12 points and Berry chipped in 11. Kennedy Meeks closed out the double figure scoring with 10 points.

The Tar Heels had lost at Miami in late January but it was North Carolina's defense that made the difference this time around. The Hurricanes turned the ball over 15 times including nine Carolina steals, and the Tar Heels held Miami to just 37 percent shooting.

The Tar Heels held Miami to just seven points over the last nine minutes of the game, while scoring 19 themselves during that time.

Hicks said Carolina had an attitude change this time around. "We really got after them," he said.

Meanwhile the Tar Heels hit 53 percent of their shots. They were seven of 17 from beyond the arc, while they had 21 assists on 28 made field goals. Carolina was also solid at the free throw line, hitting 15 of 18.

The Tar Heels, who were outrebounded at Miami, this time outrebounded the Hurricanes 36-29.

Bruce Brown, a freshman, led all scorers with 21 points for the Hurricanes, who fall to 21-11.

The Tar Heels, who improve to 27-6 overall, advance to Friday night's tournament tilt against Duke, who came from 12 down in the second half to defeat Louisville.

Box Score


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