North Carolila Returns To The Road To Take On Louisville
After beating Notre Dame at home North Carolina will now head to the bluegrass state to take on Louisville Saturday night.
North Carolina comes into their game with Louisville with a record of 20-7 and 9-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. "according to http://goheels.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball and is coming off a win over Notre Dame Monday night.
As for their previous game,
North Carolina beat its two biggest rivals, then pulled away late to beat Notre Dame to cap a demanding stretch."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
The 14th-ranked Tar Heels are tired. They also might have found a groove. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
Theo Pinson scored 14 of his 16 points after halftime to go with 10 rebounds, helping UNC pull away late to beat Notre Dame 83-66 on Monday night for its third win in five days."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
Things certainly look different from 10 days ago for the Tar Heels (20-7, 9-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), who were coming off their first three-game losing streak in four years and a win against a winless-in-the-ACC Pittsburgh team before the stretch. But they beat Duke at home on Thursday then won Saturday at North Carolina State in a pair of emotional rivalry games."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
This time, UNC needed a 13-0 burst in the final 5½ minutes to finally get some separation against a team that just kept hanging around."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
"You could tell we were out there and had a rhythm," Pinson said. "But at the same time, it's still tough recovering so fast, going from game to game. You want to celebrate one win and be like, 'Dang, that was a good win for us,' but you've got to get ready for the next game."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
"It was a big-time stretch for us." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
Martinas Geben and John Mooney each scored 18 points for the Fighting Irish (15-11, 5-8), with Mooney going 6 of 6 from 3-point range. But UNC — which shot 57 percent — later used its clinching run to turn a 67-63 margin into a 17-point bulge near the 2-minute mark. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
It didn't help the Irish that point guard Matt Farrell struggled; he scored nine points on 3-for-18 shooting, including 1 for 12 from 3-point range."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
"I loved how we fought," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said, "but they had about a three-minute stretch where they were unbelievable offensively. And we certainly couldn't absorb that." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
BIG PICTURE
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish have been just trying to stay afloat with preseason Associated Press All-American Bonzie Colson sidelined with a broken foot since late December. They had lost seven straight, but they had two high-scoring wins as Farrell returned to health from an ankle problem. Colson has another two weeks in his projected recovery time, which could have him back for the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn."according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
"If we can keep (the final schedule) around .500, if we can get to eight league wins and be 8-10, that's as good as it gets," Brey said. "And maybe we get Bonz back here ... and we go to Brooklyn with him healthy and see if we can play our way in (to the NCAA Tournament). That's our lot in life. We're very realistic about who we are.""according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
UNC: The Tar Heels have played compact schedules in the ACC Tournament or in the PK80 Invitational earlier this season, but this was the first time they were playing three regular-season league games in a five-day span since February 1991. Simply put, they can take a breath and regroup. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
QUIET NIGHT
UNC's top scorer Luke Maye struggled to just eight points on 3-for-11 shooting after going for 33 points — 27 after halftime — and 17 rebounds at N.C. State. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
"He's played a lot of minutes, a lot of basketball, beaten up himself with a lot of guys," coach Roy Williams said. "If I had to say one guy that needs a rest more than anybody, I'd probably say Luke." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
TOOTH TROUBLE
Sounds like Berry was nearly a late addition to the injury report — with a tooth problem, of all things. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
Berry said he developed a toothache developed in the afternoon, gave him a headache and ultimately sent him to the dentist for medication. He finished 8 of 15 from the floor while helping defend Farrell in his 33 minutes. "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
"I honestly think it's my wisdom teeth," the senior said. "I haven't gotten them out yet, so I think it's about time to get them out." "according to http://goheels.com/news/2018/2/12/mens-basketball-basketball-vs-notre-dame.aspx
Louisville meanwhile comes into their game with a record of 18-8 and 8-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and like North Carolina they're coming off a win their last game as they beat Pittsburgh.
Anas Mahmoud scored 14 points to lead Louisville to a 94-60 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
Mahmoud scored eight of his points in the first half, when he shot 4 of 6 from the floor and the Cardinals opened up a 26-point lead over the hapless Panthers, which fell to 0-13 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
V.J. King and Malik Wiliams also had 14 points, while Jordan Nwora (13) and Quentin Snider (11) joined them in double figures. Louisville shot 63 percent from the floor and 53 percent from beyond the 3-point line. The Cardinals had 23 assists on 34 field goals, led by Darius Perry's seven helpers. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
Pitt (8-18) was led by freshman Shamiel Stevenson with 15 points. Parker Stewart added 12 and Jared Wilson-Frame 11."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
The Cardinals (18-8, 8-5) have won 11 straight games in the series. They set the record for Pitt's largest margin of defeat at home last season by winning by 55 points. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
BIG PICTURE
Louisville: The Cardinals played their second straight game without Deng Adel, who is averaging 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He has a left ankle sprain. Offensively, Mahmoud has stepped in to fill the void. Averaging just over seven points per game in conference play, he scored 12 points against Georgia Tech last week in the first game Adel missed."according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
Pitt: The Panthers offensive struggles continue to mount. After scoring just 48 points at Clemson on Thursday, the Panthers followed it up with 60 points on 35 percent shooting against the Cardinals. Pitt has cracked the 60-point mark just four times in conference play. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
The Cardinals are 2-0 against the Tar Heels at the KFC Yum! Center since joining the ACC in 2014. "according to http://gocards.com/news/2018/2/11/mens-basketball-louisville-slams-pitt-94-60-on-sunday-afternoon.aspx?path=mbball
Tip-off is set for 8:00pm from the KFC Yum Center. The game will be televised on ESPN. "according to http://gocards.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball&