The defending ACC champion Tar Heels will have their work cut out for them if they are to repeat as champions this year. Conference rival Duke is ranked as the top team in the nation.
The Hurricanes slowed down the tempo, and executed a surgical offense for much of the contest while the Tar Heels struggled to get anything clicking with their offense.
UNC leads the all-time series with Miami 18-5, including a 9-2 mark in Chapel Hill. Tipoff is slated for just after 9 p.m. Wednesday in the Dean Smith Center.
“You lose guys like Kareem Martin on the defensive line. They’ve got a kid committed, Jeremiah Clarke, who’s considered the No. 11 defensive end in the country. So that’s a nice trade-off,” Barnes says.