North Carolina Returns Home To Host Louisville
On Saturday twelfth ranked North Carolina will host Louisville.
North Carolina comes into the game with a record of 12-3 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference while Louisville comes into the game with a record of 10-5 1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
As for North Carolina’s previous game, they topped NC State in North Carolina’s state capital earlier in the week.
Luke Maye scored 21 points to help No. 12 North Carolina hold off No. 15 North Carolina State 90-82 on Tuesday night in the longtime rivals' latest meeting. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/8/mens-basketball-tar-heels-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
Freshman Coby White added 19 points for the Tar Heels (12-3, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), who scored the game's first 12 points and never trailed. But UNC had to turn away a series of pushes from the Wolfpack, who twice tied the game after halftime but never managed to push in front. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/8/mens-basketball-tar-heels-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
The Tar Heels went 6-for-6 at the line in the final 32.1 seconds to seal the win, their sixth straight in Raleigh. UNC also won despite playing the last 12-plus minutes without leading scorer Cameron Johnson, who exited with leg cramps. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/8/mens-basketball-tar-heels-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
Braxton Beverly scored 21 points to lead N.C. State (13-2, 1-1), which had won seven straight games. “according to https://goheels.com/news/2019/1/8/mens-basketball-tar-heels-at-nc-state.aspx?path=mbball
Unlike North Carolina, who won their previous game in the Atlantic Coast Conference Louisville lost at Pittsburgh in overtime their previous game.
Trey McGowens set a school record for a freshman by pouring in 33 points, fellow freshman Xavier Johnson added 21 points and 10 assists and Pittsburgh held off Louisville 89-86 in overtime on Wednesday night for the program's first Atlantic Coast Conference victory in nearly two years. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
The Panthers (11-4, 1-1) rode their freshmen backcourt hard to snap a 23-game losing streak in ACC regular season play dating back to a win over Florida State on Feb. 18, 2017. McGowens scored 20 points in the first half as the Panthers built an early lead and hit a twisting layup in overtime with 38 seconds to go in overtime that put Pitt ahead to stay. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
Johnson shook off early foul trouble to score 17 after the break, including a 3-pointer early in the extra session to answer a 3-pointer by Louisville's Ryan McMahon. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
The Cardinals missed their final six shots over the last 90 seconds, including a desperation heave by Steven Enoch that clanged off the backboard. Christen Cunningham led the Cardinals (10-5, 1-1) with 23 points and Enoch chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds, but Louisville saw its 12-game winning streak over Pitt come to a screeching half. Leading scorer Jordan Nwora finished with just eight points on 2-of-14 shooting. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
Still, the Cardinals had a chance. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
Dwayne Sutton hit a runner with 26 seconds left to go in regulation to cap a 17-4 run and draw Louisville even for the first time since midway through the first half. Pitt coach Jeff Capel opted not to call timeout, but the Panthers were unable to get a shot off in the final seconds of regulation as McGowens lost the handle just before time expired. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
No matter, Pitt survived despite making just 16 of 33 free throws by forcing 18 Louisville turnovers and maintaining its composure when things got tight. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
The Panthers were outclassed during a 25-point loss to North Carolina last Saturday in Capel's ACC debut, one that offered a glimpse of the long road that lies ahead. Still, he reiterated his team is headed in the right direction, and the Panthers proved it against a program in the middle of a rebuilding process of its own. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
Louisville rallied from a halftime deficit to surge past Miami in first-year coach Chris Mack's conference opener but the Cardinals struggled to get into any rhythm against the Panthers. While Xavier Johnson has been the most consistent of Capel's three freshmen, it was McGowens who flourished after Johnson picked up his third foul with 6:52 left in the first half. Slashing to the basket relentlessly, McGowens keyed a 16-4 run to give the Panthers something they've rarely had in conference play for the last two years: breathing room. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
Just not quite enough. Though Pitt responded to a Louisville surge that brought the Cardinals within 63-60 by going on a 12-3 burst of their own, Louisville kept attacking, eventually tying it on Sutton's bucket. “according to https://gocards.com/news/2019/1/9/mens-basketball-cards-fall-to-pitt-in-overtime-89-86.aspx
Tip-off is set for 12:00pm from the Dean E. Smith Center. The game will be televised on ESPN.