The Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Several players couldn't resist knocking on Matt Doherty's door as North Carolina's coaches broke down film of a 27-point loss to Illinois.

Raymond Felton, Sean May, Jawad Williams and David Noel soon joined the critique of the season's first setback.

"To me, that shows that they care," Doherty said Friday as the No.12 Tar Heels (5-1) prepared to face No.18 Kentucky today. "I kind of liked the fact that they felt comfortable to do that."

At times during last year's program-worst 8-20 season, players appeared numb to lopsided losses. That won't be the case in 2002-03.

"I don't think they're a group that is shaken. They're a group that is mad and disappointed," Doherty said.

Kentucky will offer a new challenge for the Tar Heels in a matchup of the nation's two winningest programs.

UK (3-1) is loaded with experience, starting three seniors, and has a big frontcourt with 6-foot-11 Jules Camara and 6-9 Marquis Estill.

"They've been through a lot of wars, and our guys haven't," Doherty said. "This is our first big-name team we're going to face at home. How do our guys handle that? How do our guys react to a loss? For us, we got exposed at Illinois on Tuesday."

Coach Tubby Smith also expects Erik Daniels to return from an NCAA suspension, although the 6-7 junior jammed a thumb in practice the other day and is questionable.

"He gives us another body inside," Smith said. "We're going to need Erik's passion, and he has a very good IQ for the game. That's where he contributes more for us."

North Carolina's 27-point loss to Illinois wasn't as bad as it looked in print the next day. It was a six-point game with eight minutes left before the young Tar Heels, who start three freshmen, folded down the stretch.

"We reverted to playing pickup ball," Doherty said. "Our kids lost a little bit of poise in that kind of atmosphere."

Doherty beat Kentucky once as a player, but is 0-2 against the Wildcats as a coach. Neither game has been very competitive.

The Tar Heels fell 79-59 last season and lost by 17 points at the Smith Center two years ago.

"We'll mention (the losses) as a motivation thing, but it's kind of like our Penn State game," Doherty said. "We lost to them two years ago (in the NCAA tournament) and you say something about that and our kids can't relate to it because over half of our team didn't play against Penn State. You want to say things that will motivate everybody and that are meaningful to everybody. We're just trying to win against a great, great program."

Smith noticed Illinois was effective using a high-low offense, but the Kentucky coach won't be altering his game plan too much Saturday.

"We've got to play our game," Smith said. "Illinois was really able to guard the Tar Heels extremely well. That's something we're going to have to do a much better job of if we expect to have any chance at all."

Smith is sure of one thing - pride will be high on both sides.

"Playing against the second-winningest program in college basketball is incentive and motivation for our guys," Smith said. "I think our guys respond to challenges really well and I expect them to respond the right way Saturday."