"One, two, three. Dominate," they barked as the huddle broke.
Evidently, Gary Williams' fourth-ranked club, especially guard Juan Dixon, keeps its promises.
Dixon scored 29 points and had eight steals as North Carolina came within two points of its worst-ever ACC loss with a 112-79 drubbing at Cole Field House. The game followed UNC's worst-ever defeat at the Smith Center.
"It was different," a businesslike Dixon said as he dressed. "In the past, you usually get a tougher 40 minutes from those guys."
Maryland (12-2, 2-0 in the ACC) scored a blistering 40 points in the contest's first 10 minutes and broke the 100-point plateau with 5:01 remaining in the game. The 112-point total was the most ever allowed by UNC.
"It is hard to say after games like this that it could be worse, and it could be," said UNC coach Matt Doherty.
Even Williams didn't have to sweat this game. He called off the dogs with more than eight minutes remaining in the first half and with a 43-18 advantage. Maryland's pressure defense had already forced most of the Tar Heels' 15 first-half turnovers. They finished with 25.
"We've got to make good decisions with the basketball, and we're not doing that right now," said UNC's Jason Capel, who scored 27 points, tying a career high.
After freshman Melvin Scott committed six turnovers against Wake Forest on Saturday, Doherty started Adam Boone at point. But this time it was another freshman who had slippery fingers for the Tar Heels (5-7, 1-2) in the first half. Jawad Williams goofed five times within 1:31 after coming off the bench.
