No. 5 North Carolina dominates Texas
(ncaa.com) Harrison Barnes hadn't cracked double figures for two consecutive games while North Carolina's performances ranged from flat to disinterested against overmatched opponents.
On Wednesday night, against a team that had beaten them the past two years, the Tar Heels displayed the talented, fast-paced and -- most importantly -- focused form that everyone expected this season.Barnes scored a season-high 26 points to help North Carolina beat Texas 82-63 for its fifth consecutive win. The Tar Heels (11-2) avenged last season's last-second loss to the Longhorns in their last major nonconference game before opening Atlantic Coast Conference play against Boston College on Jan. 7.
"We usually have lapses and things of that nature," said John Henson, who added 14 points for UNC. "We had a few, but if we can play at that type of level all season, I think we'll be fine."
It was a much sharper performance compared to Monday night's 50-point win against Nicholls State. The Tar Heels showed just enough spark in the second half of that one to talk coach Roy Williams out of an early morning practice the next day, while Williams said he didn't have his team ready to play.
The Tar Heels were ready this time. They went on a 13-1 run to build a double-digit lead midway through the first half and never looked back, turning a 39-23 halftime lead into a 24-point margin late in the game.
"We were more aggressive, we were alert, we didn't miss 27 free throws or whatever it was," Williams said. "I think we were better in every phase of the game, and I expected that."
Barnes was coming off two nine-point performances on 4-for-12 shooting each time. But the sophomore looked far more active and assertive against the Longhorns by attacking the rim or posting up on shorter defenders. He made 9 of 15 shots and finished with 10 rebounds, part of UNC's 49-34 advantage on the glass.
Williams even told Barnes before the game that he'd "be great."
