UNCASVILLE, Conn. – We’ve got the championship game everyone was looking forward to in the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. No. 24 North Carolina defeated Richmond and No. 3 Louisville held off Fairfield Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena, setting up the title game Sunday (1 p.m.) between the Tar Heels and Cardinals, and between coaches Roy Williams and Rick Pitino.
Three thoughts going into the game:
1. Williams has a real challenge keeping the Tar Heels together while the NCAA eligibility reviews of Leslie McDonald and P.J. Hairston continue. The players did not make the trip and North Carolina officials don’t know how long it will take to get a ruling. Williams was asked if he thinks he will ever coach the two players again.
“I think I will,” Williams said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that I think I will. You don’t know. That’s all you can say. It’s a very unfortunate thing for them, for our team, their teammates and our program. . . . But North Carolina is going to play regardless of who’s out there. That’s what we’ve got to focus on. We have to sit there and wait. At some point we’ll find out what happens and we’ll go from there.”
Williams has told his players over and over that they can’t think about what is missing. The players say they understand, but these situations are hard for everyone, not just the players in limbo.
“I had to remind the team of it the other day,” Williams said, “because I think we’re still looking over our shoulder wondering if the cavalry is going to come back. And I told them we’ve got to play with who we have right now.”
2. Louisville had been averaging just short of 17 fouls a game during its first four games. Saturday the Cardinals were called for 26. The new emphasis on limiting hand checking in college basketball might seem like a challenge for a team that presses and is known for aggressiveness under Pitino. But Louisville doesn’t seem too bothered.
Pitino thought a lot of physical play went uncalled Saturday and that everyone is still adjusting.
“It’s interesting because prior to this game we didn’t have one foul in the back court in four games,” Pitino said. “So we haven’t fouled much. Somebody told me that the games have been five minutes shorter on an average. I don’t know if that’s true. But that tells you everybody has already adjusted to it. Everybody thought the games were going to go on forever.
“I think we all adjust. We have to learn to move our feet. Shot blocking now becomes more of a premium, rather than drawing the charge. I actually think that’s a good thing. There was so much flopping going on in college basketball. It’s not good for the game.”
3. Both Carolina and Louisville struggled Saturday, especially early in their games. Here’s a prediction that both teams will come out ready Sunday – just because of the names on the front of the jerseys.
“They’re really, really good, so they present challenges for you in every area,” Williams said of Louisville. “They play extremely hard. They defend like crazy, they can score and come at you It’s a big time team. Rick Pitino is one of the great coaches in our game. It’s a recipe for success that they’ve played for a long time. They’re fun to watch. I don’t like to watch them when I’m playing against them, but they’re a really fun team to watch.”
Pitino wasn’t happy with his team, calling it the worst game the defending national champions had played this year. Louisville still beat Fairfield 71-57.
“This wasn’t a close game,” he said. “You’re going to see close tomorrow. That’s if we don’t get blown out. If we play this way tomorrow, it won’t even be a game. I think their size is going to give us a little trouble. They do a lot of good things defensively and they’re long. They offensive rebound very well.
“We got off to a bad start offensively. And with young people today, offense triggers their defense. If they’re doing well, their defense suffers. We’ll come back. i don’t expect us to have two bad games in a row.”
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