Five, and still alive: Three takeaways from UNC basketball’s home win over lowly Miami
Two years ago, Miami came into North Carolina’s Smith Center and won, a memorable moment in a season that ended for the Hurricanes in the NCAA Final Four.
A year ago, it took 42 points from UNC’s R.J. Davis, a Smith Center record, for the Tar Heels to pull out a four-point win over the Canes.
But that was then.
The Tar Heels continued their late-season push on Saturday with a 92-73 victory over Miami, grinding out a 15-point halftime lead and extending their win streak to five in a row as the Hurricanes’ nightmarish season gets closer to an end.
“We know it’s kind of a do-or-die for us,” UNC’s Seth Trimble said. “We know the situation we’re in, but everybody is kind of embracing it, taking it on and accepting it.”
The rudderless Hurricanes, who had longtime coach Jim Larranaga abruptly retire 12 games into the season, came to Chapel Hill on Saturday with a 6-22 record. The Canes were 2-15 in the ACC after losing their last four — the last a 97-60 beating at Duke.
The oddmakers made the Heels 18-point favorites. They nearly had that covered by halftime despite forcing some things offensively — see R.J. Davis — against Miami’s first-half zone defense.
It wasn’t always smooth for UNC (19-11 overall, 12-6 ACC). Heels coach Hubert Davis angrily ordered up a timeout in the first half after some low-energy plays and defensive breakdowns, and was so heated he had to constantly towel off his face during the break.
“The discipline and details, the things that we talk about that have to be there consistently, wasn’t happening,” Davis said after the game.
The Heels continued to add to the lead early in the second half, looking inside to Ven-Allen Lubin often and having the big man finish. Lubin had 10 points in the first five minutes of the second half as UNC pushed the margin to 21 points.
Lubin finished with a team-high 19 points and Drake Powell had 16 for UNC, which shot 58.9% from the field and was 10 of 18 on their 3-pointers. Jae’Lyn Withers, active on both ends of the court, notched another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
In an ugly season for Miami, interim coach Bill Courtney had a few more miserable moments. In the second half, UNC was at the end of a shot clock when the Tar Heels’ Ian Jackson had to force up a long shot, only to be fouled by Miami’s Divine Ugochukwu.
Courtney took a long, sad walk down to the baseline after that call, his head down.
Matthew Cleveland, a 6-7 senior with a smooth shooting stroke, had a game-high 25 points for the Hurricanes and former Rolesville High star Brandon Johnson had 20.
What’s left now for UNC in the regular season is a trip to Virginia Tech on Tuesday and Senior Night against Duke on Saturday. Then, it’s on to the ACC Tournament in Charlotte and a final chance to make its mark with the NCAA selection committee.
Three takeaways from the game:
Staying on the boards
Get used to this starting lineup for UNC: R,J, Davis, Elliot Cadeau, Powell, Withers and Lubin. It doesn’t figure to change.
“I do like this starting lineup,” Hubert Davis said. “I like the rotations right now. I think it fits.”
The taller lineup has made UNC a much better rebounding team. Before Saturday, the Heels had out-boarded opponents by 14 or more rebounds in the past three games and were plus-47 overall in those three wins.
The Heels, challenged by coach Hubert Davis to be more aggressive, have been more effective in getting to the offensive glass. They had 51 offensive boards in the four games before Saturday and 24 second-chance points in the win at Florida State.
UNC had a 38-26 rebounding edge Saturday, scoring 18 second-chance points.
Heels showing offensive balance
R.J. Davis will always be the defensive focus of opposing teams and certainly was for Miami after his 42-point outburst last season against the Canes. But UNC is showing more offensive balance and not relying as much on No. 4 to get it done and lead the way.
The Heels had six players finish in double figures in the 96-85 win at FSU — Davis the leader with 20 points and Trimble next with 17. Against the Canes, it was Lubin muscling inside for baskets, or Jackson with drives or Trimble with 3’s.
“Team basketball,” Trimble said. “Everybody’s trying to eat, and it’s boosting the team morale.”
The Heels again had six in double figures on Saturday as everyone again contributed offensively. Davis, Cadeau and Withers each had four assists.
“That’s been a difference in us lately,” Hubert Davis said. “We’re sharing the basketball, and you’re having more guys consistently stepping up and playing well at the same time. That’s something we consistently didn’t have maybe early in the season that we are right now.”
Cadeau had the crowd roaring in the second half with a drive and dunk — a big dunk from the 6-1 sophomore guard not known for his hops.
Davis rushed some shots and missed some open shots Saturday and had 13 points on 4-for-12 shooting. Lubin, in contrast, made 9 of 10.
“He has been a consistent rim presence for us over the last six games,” Hubert Davis said.
‘Dream come true’ for a local
Playing in the Smith Center appeared to bring the best out of Miami’s Brandon Johnson.
The 6-8 senior from Raleigh swished through a couple of early 3-pointers from the top of the key, kept on shooting and finished with 20 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.
“Honestly, it was a dream come true today,” Johnson said. “It was hard to remind myself to stay focused on the game. Being here for the first time ever, being a kid from Raleigh, it was like surreal. But it was great, though.”
The former Rolesville High standout played three years at East Carolina — and has a degree from ECU — before the move to Miami. He played 31 games for the Pirates last season and had 11 double-doubles in 2023-24.
Johnson was averaging 7.7 points per game before Saturday and had two points in the blowout loss to Duke in his first “homecoming” game. It was much better for him personally on Saturday, albeit in another loss., the Canes’ 23rd of the season.
“It’s been tough,” Johnson said. “But in every obstacle we face, I learn something different that will help me in the long run if I’m blessed enough to keep playing basketball.”
Having Larranaga retire was a big blow, Johnson said, adding, “It was definitely a shock. I came for him and he left. But I know it’s a part of life. Things happen and you have to take the punches and keep on rolling.”
This story was originally published March 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM.
