Miami could test Tar Heels

CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams already knew a lot about Miami guards Durand Scott and Malcolm Grant when he began to scout the Hurricanes on Sunday.

But as he watched video of Miami, which will play No. 3 North Carolina at 9 tonight at the Smith Center, Williams took notice of a Miami player with whom he was unfamiliar.

His size alone made Kenny Kadji stand out. The sophomore, a native of Cameroon who transferred to Miami after two seasons at Florida, is 6-foot-11.

But there was something else, too, that caught Williams' eye: Kadji can shoot with the precision of a skilled guard.

"I didn't know anything about him until I started watching some tape," Williams said Monday.

When the Tar Heels (14-2, 1-0 ACC) have struggled defensively this season, they have done so against quality guards and against players capable of shooting well from the outside.

Miami (9-5, 0-1), which ranks third in the ACC in 3-point shooting (38.4 percent), possesses both of those characteristics.

Scott and Grant, who ranks second in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.6), form one of the most experienced backcourt duos in the ACC. They're also among the most productive in the league.

Both players will enter the Smith Center averaging better than 13 points per game. And, as Williams said Monday, "They set the tone for everything."

Good guards - and good backcourts - have caused problems for North Carolina this season. Nevada-Las Vegas used its guards and successful perimeter shooting to earn a 90-80 victory against then-No. 1 North Carolina on Nov. 26 in Las Vegas.

During a Dec. 10 home victory against Long Beach State, the Tar Heels had no answer for Casper Ware, who scored 29 points and was, at times, unstoppable during the first half.

Grant is capable of going on a similar hot streak for the Hurricanes, who suffered a 52-51 defeat Sunday at then-No. 21 Virginia.

And so, too, is Kadji, who has made nine of 16 3-point attempts this season. Shane Larkin, a freshman guard, has made 42.5 percent of his 3-point shots and Trey McKinny Jones also is a capable outside shooter for Miami. Miami center Reggie Johnson is back after missing the first nine games of the season recovering from a knee injury. His return has helped open the offense, first-year coach Jim Larranaga said.

"The balance between having Malcolm Grant and Durand Scott handling the guard play, Reggie Johnson now manning the middle, it's given a little freedom to help Kenny to step out and shoot some perimeter shots," Larranaga said. "And he shoots it well. He's getting more and more comfortable and confident."

The Tar Heels tonight will attempt to start faster than they did in an 83-60 victory against Boston College on Saturday.

North Carolina held a 15-14 lead in that game before beginning a 10-0 run midway through the first half.

"I thought we came out a little sluggish, but I was glad we were able to concentrate down the stretch," forward Harrison Barnes said. "I think the biggest thing that we have right now to do is just concentrate. We can't have mental lapses in games."

Nor defensive lapses. North Carolina's perimeter defense has proven faulty at times this season, and it likely will be tested again tonight.