Until Saturday afternoon the Miami Hurricanes existed as a theoretical concept. They were a team that, ideally, was good but lacked the resume to prove it. The Canes managed to mount a solid 10-2 record but achieved that against a poor nonconference schedule. The skeptics had reason for some cynicism.

To paint a clearer picture, heading into Saturday's immense home showdown against ninth-ranked North Carolina, here's what you saw on Miami's dossier in the six most difficult and important games the team played this season.

vs. Iowa State: 17-point loss
vs. Florida: 9-point loss
@ Syracuse: 15-point loss
vs. Notre Dame: 5-point loss
@ Wake Forest: 17-point loss
@ Duke: 12-point loss

The six toughest opponents Miami faced all resulted in defeat, four of them by double digits. A home loss on Saturday to UNC would have been exceedingly damaging to the team's reputation and profile. Prior to tip, if you were building a 68-team bracket and wanted to keep Miami out, you'd have a defensible case.

But instead of losing, the Hurricanes validated themselves. They are theoretical no more.

Jim Larranaga, who once coached a little squad named George Mason to a second-round NCAA Tournament upset of mighty North Carolina, defeated the Tar Heels for the fifth time in his career. This was no squeaker. Miami stuffed North Carolina 77-62 and got level in the ACC (4-4) in the process. A double-digit difference in deference to the U. The Hurricanes are now 14-6 overall and get four of their next six games at home.

Another upshot from the outcome: The ACC standings feature no teams with fewer than two losses.

This could be the trampoline game for the Hurricanes. The ACC is a monster to go through, and more losses will come in the next two weeks, but having home games against Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Clemson should get Miami into the top six of the league standings by Feb. 18. As of Saturday, they're tied for eighth. A win like this could even, eventually, push Larranaga's club into the top third of the conference.

But being eighth, by the way, is good enough right now to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. Miami, which barely got by Boston College at home on Wednesday night, had a monstrous game from a freshman most don't know enough about. Bruce Brown went for 30 points. That's a huge sign. What's also good is how Miami won so convincingly yet didn't play an "A" game. It was a fine effort, but far from the team's best.

I think that's a good thing. The defense did its job to near "A" level.

North Carolina's loss doesn't change my opinion of the Heels, for the record. They didn't have Theo Pinson. I wrote earlier this month that Pinson's involvement on the floor changes North Carolina's ceiling. He's out indefinitely with an injury to his right foot. Pinson was seen in a walking boot on the bench on Saturday. He already missed much of this season with a right foot injury. No news there, but if he's able to come back relatively soon, North Carolina should still be considered in the top five in terms of most talented, well-rounded teams in college hoops.