NEW YORK (AP) – Theo Pinson tried an alley-oop pass that went directly into the basket for a surprise 3-pointer, and the befuddled look on his face was priceless.
One way or another, just about everything went right for No. 6 North Carolina in its postseason debut Thursday.
Isaiah Hicks had 19 points and the Tar Heels certainly looked the part of a title contender while wearing down Miami for a 78-53 victory in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament.
“I would look at Carolina and think they’re a real threat to win the national championship,” Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga said.
The top-seeded Tar Heels (27-6) got 12 points from ACC player of the year Justin Jackson and held the smaller Hurricanes to 36 percent shooting, setting up a season rubber match in the semifinals Friday night against archrival Duke, an 81-77 winner over Louisville.