Don’t think so? Ponder this.

A player needs two rebounds for a triple-double. There’s only 3:14 remaining and North Carolina is leading by 22 points. Think the Tar Heel player would get the chance with Deano calling the shots?

The consensus is no.

Matt Doherty is not Dean Smith, however. The first-year Tar Heel coach is a guy who throws T-shirts into the student section when he walks out of the Dean Dome tunnel. He still jumps around with the same exuberance as when he played.

And because of it, North Carolina (6-2) not only defeated the University of Buffalo 95-74 Sunday but Jason Capel became the second Tar Heel in history to ever record a triple-double.

In fact, the other came just two games ago, courtesy of 7-footer Brendan Haywood. And just for the record, Dean Smith didn’t coach that game either.

As the clock wound down Sunday — and with the outcome already decided — the only real suspense was whether Capel could get the necessary rebounds needed for the milestone.

With the score 89-67, Doherty decided to end the starters’ day — that is, except for Capel.

“I knew something had to be up when he left me in,” chuckled Capel.

“Itold him he needed two rebounds (for the triple-double),” Doherty said. “Itold him he had a minute.”

“Itold him I’d get it,” Capel said.

So the 6-8 junior forward walked back on the court with Michael Brooker, Brian Bersticker, Jon Holmes and Orlando Melendez.

The move simply endeared Doherty even more to the Tar Heel fans. One even hollered, “Doherty’s a coaching genius. None of those other guys can shoot. There will have to be some rebounds.”

Sixty-eight seconds later, Capel pushed his way underneath for his ninth rebound. Then, he knocked stringbean Bersticker out of the way and grabbed his 10th board. He missed the follow shot and for good measure, latched on to No. 11.

“I told Bersticker to block out and I’d go get it,” laughed Capel. “Ithink on one of the two, I took it right out of his hands.”

Doherty finally replaced Capel with 1:21 left. His line: 16 points, 11 boards, 10 assists and a standing ovation from 18,134 appreciative fans.

Doherty gave a sheepish grin when asked about leaving Capel in.

“I don’t want to sacrifice things for individual success,” he pointed out, “but in certain situations, it’s deserving. And Cape deserved it.”

Funny thing, though. Capel wasn’t even sure he, or any of the regular starters, would answer the opening bell. A day earlier in practice, the Blue team had shown them up and he wouldn’t have been surprised if the starting five sat.

“The Blue Team won every competition,” Doherty scoffed. “I was mad. I said some things to some people.”

His tirade sunk in. The starters came out with a vengeance, pounding their way to a 46-28 halftime lead over the smaller Bulls. Seven-footer Brendan Haywood and 6-11 Kris Lang had their way inside, taking passes from Capel and point guard Ronald Curry for easy shot after easy shot.

Buffalo, which battled with 6-8 players inside, was eventually outrebounded 41-30. Coach Reggie Witherspoon knew the Bulls’ biggest problem.

“We couldn’t make our guys grow,” he shrugged.

Curry shined on the perimeter. The football team’s quarterback, playing just his third game, was rewarded with his first start of the season at the shaky point guard position while freshmen Adam Boone and Brian Morrison come off the bench.

Curry (9 points) was perfect from the field (3-for-3, including 2-of-2 from long distance). He also had four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes, harassing Buffalo (1-4) into many of its 16 turnovers.

“Ronald gives us maturity. Day after day, he’s getting more comfortable,” Doherty said. “Obviously, he’s strong. If he gets a finger on the ball, he’ll knock it away.”

And obviously, Curry has won a starting job.

“As long as I hit open shots, that will separate me from the rest of the guards,” he said.

Curry brought the crowd to its feet by drilling two straight treys at the 10-minute mark and starting a patented Tar Heel run. Morrison made the prettiest pass of the game moments later when he whipped a rope to Lang for a bucket. Joe Forte, who led all scorers with 23, then scored on a rebound and when Haywood tipped one in, UNC had its largest lead at 85-56.

That left Capel to put the finishing touches on his triple double.

“I didn’t do anything different,” he maintained. “My teammate scored when I passed them the ball.”

His teammates also enjoyed joking about it.

“For it to happen twice in a one year shows how special this team is,” said Haywood, who finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. “But I was still the first to do it.”

“I think my time’s coming,” Forte added.

Lang tried to take credit for most of Capel’s success.

“He got about six (assists)off me,” the big man smiled. “But who’s counting?”

When will Lang join the triple-double club?

“I’ll get some double-doubles,” he said. “But not a triple-double. Idon’t pass the ball.”

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NOTES: Haywood’s triple-double came Dec. 4 against Miami. ... Lang (11-of-17 FG’s) matched his career high with 22 points. He also scored 22 against Michigan State. ... UNC’s starters atoned for their bad practice. They scored 84 of the 95 points and dished out 21 of 29 assists. ... The Heels shot a season high 58 percent from the field (40-of-69). ... Former West Rowan and Catawba grad Bob Rathbun called the game for a national TVaudience on Fox Sports.