Tar Heels Are Simply Too Tough for Maryland, 109-75

For the previous six games, third-ranked North Carolina hammered the opposition expecting that the Atlantic Coast Conference season would be more demanding.

But on Saturday, the Tar Heels made a ranked conference team look just as helpless as their other opponents.

Rashad McCants scored 19 points to lead seven players in double figures in the Tar Heels’ 109-75 rout of No. 22 Maryland, a blowout that was the latest in a growing string of impressive victories.

The Tar Heels (13-1, 2-0) had their highest scoring output ever against the Terrapins (9-3, 1-1), and were two points from matching their biggest margin of victory in the series. It was also the most points Maryland had allowed in any game in the past 14 years.

“We wanted to send a statement out that we’re a better basketball club than we were last year,” said Sean May, who had 14 points.

“There were a lot of question marks about this team because we’ve had the talent for a few years and haven’t really lived up to it. And we used every excuse in the book.”

As of now, that’s a scary thought for the rest of the league. The Tar Heels have won 13 consecutive games -- most by lopsided margins -- since a loss to Santa Clara in the season opener.