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The Daily Tar Heel

Hard Work Not Enough To Earn UNC Road Win

Not 50 feet from Arrington's celebration sat the North Carolina bench. There were no shouts. There was no need.

The agony of dropping to 5-9, losing the fourth straight conference game, dropping yet another game on the road, didn't need a loud outburst to make itself known.

The quiet unhappiness of the Tar Heels was evident without a display. And with the long road ahead, including Connecticut, N.C. State and Duke in the next two weeks, it begs the question: Where do the Tar Heels go from here?

"We're working hard," said guard Brian Morrison. "Sooner or later, when we play like this, everything's going to go our way."

UNC played Wednesday without leading scorer and rebounder Jason Capel, who remained in Chapel Hill after getting a concussion diving after a ball in practice Tuesday. Without Capel, UNC was out-rebounded 41-27.

"Jason wasn't here, but there's no asterisk next to this loss," Doherty said. "We missed Jason, but we didn't lose the game because of Jason."

Doherty blamed the defense for UNC's early deficit. Against Virginia, North Carolina clung to the Cavs on the zone, but the Seminoles built a comfortable lead by attacking it.

Once UNC switched to a man defense, the energy it had against UVa. surfaced again, and the team cut into FSU's lead.

"For our team to be successful is to play with that energy level and emotion," said guard Adam Boone. "We just have to count on the fact that other things will come."

Those things -- fewer turnovers, better shot selection, cooler heads -- will get a chance to be worked out again when the Tar Heels start preparing for UConn.

Doherty said he doesn't think his team will quit on him.

"I like the look of our guys," he said. "They believed we were going to win this game, and I don't think there will be a problem bringing energy to practice."

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.

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