Carolina definitely owes one to the Miami Hurricanes.

Despite the Tar Heels having already beaten the U on January 19, they still need to avenge that terrible loss in the Smith Center last February 27. Who can ever forget that game? Not Joel Berry, who was playing at home for the last time as a Tar Heel. Not Ja’Quan Newton, whose buzzer beater and only three-pointer of the night won the game and sucked all the oxygen out of a delirious Dean Dome.

That heartbreaking and stunning loss left Carolina needing to sweep Duke in Durham to finish with a double bye in the ACC tournament. The Heels couldn’t do it and, despite another win over the Blue Devils in Brooklyn, had to play four games to win the ACC tourney title. And, as we all know, they ran out of gas against top-seeded Virginia in the final.

Newton and two other starters, who combined for 42 points in that game, are gone, and Miami isn’t the team it was last year. But the 10-12 Hurricanes will be ready after their big win over Notre Dame Wednesday night, and three players who scored in double figures on Roy Williams Court are back.

Ol’ Roy hates losing on Senior Night, and he loved Berry as much as Theo Pinson and any other senior he’s ever coached. Berry had just tied the game with a dramatic three-pointer in front of Williams and the UNC bench, and surely we were going to overtime. But Newton came gazelling across mid-court and launched a sort of long running set shot that went in.

So that memory should amp up Carolina as it goes for a seventh straight victory and maintain its virtual tie with the winner of Duke and Virginia for first place in the ACC, with those Cavaliers coming to town Monday night.

A lopsided win would be good for another reason. Williams could use his bench generously in preparation for Virginia, which can flat wear you out on both ends of the floor with its ball-control offense and pack-line defense.

So defend the coach’s court and win one for Joel and Theo, move on to Monday and get ready to rumble against the rugged and third-ranked Wahoos, who play No. 2 Duke later on Saturday in a game that should wear both teams out. Good.

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