Credit Louisville, they smothered the UNC guards, and clogged the paint on the way to their 71-65 victory over the Tar Heels. Joel Berry and Marcus Paige would finish a combined 4-23 (17%) from the field in the loss; while Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks finished with 12 points between them.
Justin Jackson was able to find his midrange stroke as he finished 6-7 on 2 point field goals; however, the deep ball continued to evade him and his teammates.
UNC finished the evening 3-17 (17%) from deep while Louisville finished 5-14 (35%).
There was very little that was pretty offensively in this one. Louisville finished the night 26-60 (43.3%) from the floor thanks to a 17-32 (53.1%) second half. North Carolina shot a season low 20-58 (34.5%) from the floor, following up a 29% shooting first half with a 38% second half.
UNC who came in averaging a shade over 10 turnovers a game would turn the ball over 16 times in this one.
The Tar Heels, who have been known to dominate down low, were outscored by the Cardinals 36-28 in the paint; UNC missed some bunnies along the way, but credit has to be given to the Louisville defensive scheme and effort.
The paint was clogged, and when the ball came outside the UNC perimeter players were smothered.
Damion Lee led the way for Louisville with 24 points on 8-12 shooting including 4-7 deep. UNC had no answer defensively for the Louisville grad transfer from Drexel.
UNC saved themselves on the line; shooting 22-29, which enabled them to keep the contest close until the end. Brice Johnson did his part, finishing the night with 15 points on 4-6 shooting, and 11 rebounds. Even with those solid numbers, it seemed throughout the contest that he was uncomfortable with Louisville's ability to bang and smother him in the paint.
How well of a job did Louisville do slowing up the speedy UNC offense? North Carolina finished with 0 fast break points, pretty amazing considering they had plenty of opportunities off Louisville misses in the first half.
It's tough to say Louisville out game-planned and out-coached UNC, although many will point to Roy's substitution pattern and inability to solve the Cardinals zone defense as factors in the loss.
Here's the thing.
Roy has been substituting this same way for years now. The players on the roster are used to it. Does he make major in game adjustments? Rarely...about as often as he calls timeout.
There's nothing new here, this is UNC basketball. If you've watched enough, than you've grown accustomed to it. Roy usually leans towards starting upperclassmen, making head scratching substitutions and the game plan is the game plan.
Either the players execute it, or they don't.
If a couple of more shots dropped from deep everyone would be ignoring Roy's decisions, just as they have in most big UNC wins.
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