CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina's top-ranked basketball team can fill several highlight videos with Tyler Hansbrough's dunks, Wayne Ellington's artistic jumpers and Ty Lawson-led fastbreaks.

But along with scoring an ACC-best 89.5 points per game, the Tar Heels also are showing off on defense.

Employing an aggressive man-to-man sprinkled with timely traps, Carolina has held six of its past seven opponents below 37 percent shooting.

They pressure the ball relentlessly, clog passing lanes and finish by grabbing defensive rebounds. That frenetic tempo wears opponents down, but the Tar Heels don't tire because they are deeper than the Old Well.

Senior guard Wes Miller said the defensive turnaround began after a 75-63 win Dec. 2 over Kentucky, when the Wildcats hit 46.3 percent of their shots. Afterward, coach Roy Williams conducted two memorable defensive practices.

"It's been a mentality change," Miller said. "It's five guys playing [together], moving at the same time. That takes time, and we've been doing it the last month."

Senior forward Reyshawn Terry has been a tenacious leader, winning UNC's defensive award a team-high five times. Marcus Ginyard has captured the honor four times and the pesky Miller has claimed it three times.

"We are not having mental letdowns we used to have," Ginyard said. "We are denying, pressuring, giving them one bad shot and getting the rebound."

Williams, inclined to rant over subpar defense more than about any other facet of play, says the Heels are "understanding" the concepts better, realizing the value of sound defense and playing with enthusiasm.

In a Nov. 11 exhibition, the Tar Heels nearly sent Williams flipping over the scorers table when Pfeiffer rang up 101 points in a 140-101 UNC win.

To avoid such a breakdown, the Heels sometimes will work at nine of their estimated 20 defensive stations in one practice.

"It's all coming together," freshman Brandan Wright said. "We really compete in practice. You take pride in guarding your man. [We] take it as a slap in the face when [we] get scored on."

As a result, the Heels have been defending their basket the way CNN's Lou Dobbs wants the U.S. to guard its borders to stop illegal immigration.

Florida State caught Carolina's wrath Sunday, shooting 34.4 percent in an 84-58 loss.

On one play, FSU's Ralph Mims drove the baseline and encountered Hansbrough, who snatched the ball and ignited another fast break.

"They know how to rotate," FSU guard Isaiah Swann said. "[And] they come at you 40 minutes, non-stop. Mentally, you are just drained. You get tired. It seems like every possession, somebody new is coming [at you]."

During one game, an opposing point guard may get dogged by Lawson, Bobby Frasor, Quentin Thomas and Miller.

"If you make good decisions, be tough with the ball, you can get good shots," FSU assistant Stan Jones said. But he noted that UNC creates a "tempo faster than you are accustomed to making decisions [at]."

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