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Louisville basketball: Three bold predictions vs. North Carolina

By Presley Meyer

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 25: Steven Enoch #23, Jordan Nwora #33, Darius Perry #2 and Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals take the floor in the second half of a game against the Clemson Tigers at KFC YUM! Center on January 25, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Clemson 80-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 25: Steven Enoch #23, Jordan Nwora #33, Darius Perry #2 and Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals take the floor in the second half of a game against the Clemson Tigers at KFC YUM! Center on January 25, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Clemson 80-62. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 19: Quincy Guerrier #1 and Elijah Hughes #33 of the Syracuse Orange defend against Steven Enoch #23 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half of a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – FEBRUARY 19: Quincy Guerrier #1 and Elijah Hughes #33 of the Syracuse Orange defend against Steven Enoch #23 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half of a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Louisville’s bigs have a dominant game

When you face veteran coaches, they become known for their signature style of play. Rick Pitino and Bob Huggins are known for quick guards and 94 feet of pressure, Jim Boeheim runs the 2-3 zone, Leonard Hamilton is known to have teams with size and length, etc.

Roy Williams has become synonymous with getting out quickly off of rebounds and grabbing easy points in transition.

North Carolina has killed Louisville in years past employing this strategy, and Williams loves to get easy points when he can simply by having better athletes than you and executing with confidence.

This season is no different. North Carolina plays at a frenetic pace and, at this juncture, the Tar Heels have nothing to lose by pushing things.

Louisville basketball, on the other hand, plays at a pretty moderate pace. Mack’s team rarely gets out on the fast break and employs a strategy of shooting well, pounding the ball inside when given the opportunity, and playing stout defense.

The Cardinals are going to have to either dictate the way the game is played or win in an up-tempo battle.

Regardless of the way the game goes, Louisville is comfortable winning in a track meet or in a slow-it-down match-up. The leg up that the Cards have is their ability to create issues with bigs Steven Enoch and Malik Williams.

North Carolina has had moderate success with its freshman center, Armando Bacot, down low along with forward Garrison Brooks. However, neither player has had to match up in the same game with a 1-2 punch similar to the one that Louisville brings.

If the Heels find themselves in a game with a lot more halfcourt sets than usual, Enoch may be a better option given his low post game. On the other hand, a frenetic pace could lead to a big game for Williams, who can get up and down the floor well and has a solid outside game.

Louisville can win in so many ways, and this game feels like it is a prime opportunity for the Cardinals to exploit UNC down low.

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