By R.L. Bynum
Louisville presents a potentially dangerous combination considering the vulnerabilities of North Carolina’s defense this season.
Given that as many Carolina opponents have scored at least 10 3-pointers as many times as last season (7), it’s alarming for the Tar Heels that Louisville has double-digit 3s in eight games.
While 53.5% of the Cardinals’ shots come from outside the arc, they are making only 29.9% coming into their 6 p.m. Wednesday game (ACC Network) at the KFC Yum! Center against Carolina (8–5, 1–0 ACC; NET ranking of 39).
Louisville (8–5, 1–1; NET ranking of 60) gets many shots around the rim on drives under first-year Coach Pat Kelsey, a way many teams have burned UNC this season. It could be a long night if success on Cardinals drives combines with a hot perimeter shooting night.
Kelsey came to Louisville after going 75–27 in three seasons at the College of Charleston and has dramatically turned over the roster. The only returning player from last season’s 8–24 team, fifth-year guard Aidan McCool, has played only four minutes.
The Cardinals’ top three scorers and their best 3-point shooters are:
— 6–2, 190-pound senior guard Chucky Hepburn (Wisconsin transfer; 15.2 points per game, making 34.3% of his 3-point attempts; top photo)
— 6–6, 204-pound fifth-year wing Terrence Edwards Jr. (James Madison transfer; 14.7, 32.8%)
— 6–2, 190-pound senior Australian guard Reyne Smith (College of Charleston transfer; 13.1, 37.3%).
Louisville’s two other usual starters also attempt a good number of 3-pointers:
— 6–6, 215-pound fifth-year Colorado transfer J’Vonne Hadley (10.2 points, team-leading 8.0 rebounds; 8 of 30 on 3s)
— 6–11, 230-pound sixth-year BYU transfer Noah Waterman (20 of 72 for 27.8%).
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The Cardinals just got senior 6–5, 204-pound forward Aboubacar Traore back after missing 10 games with a broken left arm. The Long Beach State transfer played five scoreless minutes in Saturday’s 78–76 home win over 6–7 Eastern Kentucky. It took a Waterman layup with 1.2 seconds left for Louisville to escape an upset.
The Cardinals’ schedule has been challenging (21st-toughest, according to KenPom.com, compared to UNC’s, which is 7th-toughest).
“Like us, they played one of the toughest schedules in the country,” Kelsey said. “Each one of their losses was very close, and against very good teams. Listen, they’re one of the most talented teams in the country.”
Louisville is 1–4 in Quad 1 games, beating West Virginia 79–70 on Nov. 28 and losing to Oklahoma 69–64 on Nov 29 in the Bahamas, with home losses to No. 1 Tennessee 77–55 on Nov. 9 and No. 4 Duke 76–65 on Dec. 8. The Cardinals have Quad 2 wins on Nov. 27 over Indiana 89–61 in the Bahamas and on Dec. 21 at Florida State 90–76.
NOTES — This is the first of two Quad 1 opportunities for UNC in three games. After playing at Notre Dame (7–6, 1–1; 92 NET ranking) in a Quad 2 game at noon Saturday (CBS), the Tar Heels will host SMU (11–2, 2–0; 30 NET ranking) at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, (ACC Network) in another Quad 1 game. … UNC is 1–1 on the road, losing to then-No. 1 Kansas 92–89 on Nov. 8 and winning 87–69 on Nov. 22 at Hawai’i. … Carolina is 1–2 in New Year’s Day games, with losses to Butler in 1929 and Maryland in 1943 and a 2012 win over Monmouth in Hubert Davis’ first season as an assistant coach. … Carolina has won the last five meetings with Louisville by an average of 19 points, and is 20–7 in the series, including 4–5 in Louisville and 4–3 in the KFC Yum! Center. … Jay Alter and Debbie Antonelli will be on the ACC Network call. Patrick Antonelli, one of the color analyst’s three sons, is a fifth-year reserve Louisville guard who transferred from Emory & Henry.
UNC season statistics
Louisville season statistics
KenPom comparison
| Category | UNC | Louisville |
| Overall ranking | 29 | 59 |
| Offensive efficiency | 119.1 (18) | 114.3 (51) |
| Defensive efficiency | 99.5 (57) | 100.7 (78) |
| Effective FG% | 53.7 (81) | 50.8 (170) |
| Turnover % | 14.6 (34) | 17.4 (158) |
| Offensive rebound % | 28.9 (216) | 35.3 (39) |
| FTA/FGA | 39.2 (58) | 37.1 (86) |
| Strength of schedule | 7 | 21 |
Series: UNC 20, Louisville 7
| Team | League | Overall | NET* | WAB* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Duke | 17–1 | 29–2 | 1 | 2 |
| No. 10 Virginia | 15–3 | 27–4 | 13 | 11 |
| Miami | 13–5 | 24–7 | 32 | 28 |
| No. 19 North Carolina | 12–6 | 24–7 | 23 | 19 |
| Clemson | 12–6 | 22–9 | 36 | 33 |
| No. 24 Louisville | 11–7 | 22–9 | 14 | 25 |
| N.C. State | 10–8 | 19–12 | 35 | 45 |
| Florida State | 10–8 | 17–14 | 69 | 74 |
| California | 9–9 | 21–10 | 65 | 49 |
| Stanford | 9–9 | 20–11 | 59 | 51 |
| SMU | 8–10 | 19–12 | 39 | 50 |
| Virginia Tech | 8–10 | 19–12 | 53 | 52 |
| Wake Forest | 7–11 | 16–15 | 64 | 81 |
| Syracuse | 6–12 | 15–16 | 83 | 92 |
| Pittsburgh | 5–13 | 12–19 | 109 | 146 |
| Notre Dame | 4–14 | 13–18 | 93 | 121 |
| Boston College | 4–14 | 11–20 | 159 | 217 |
| Georgia Tech | 2–16 | 11–20 | 167 | 210 |
* — Through Sunday games
Saturday’s results
No. 1 Duke 76, No. 19 North Carolina 61
Boston College 77, Notre Dame 69
Clemson 79, Georgia Tech 76
No. 24 Louisville 92, Miami 89
Florida State 92, SMU 78
Stanford 85, N.C. State 84
Wake Forest 80, California 73
Pittsburgh 71, Syracuse 69, OT
END OF REGULAR SEASON
ACC tournament
Spectrum Center | Charlotte
Tuesday through Saturday
UNC schedule
| Date | Month/day | Opponent/event (final ranks) |
|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |
| 9 | 7 p.m. Friday, ACCN | vs. USC in Greensboro |
| 18 | 5 p.m. Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis |
| 27 | 7:30 Tuesday, ACCN Extra | vs. Charlotte |
| November | Regular season | |
| 2 | Monday | vs. Western Carolina |
| 6 | Friday | vs. Wofford |
| 10 | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming |
| 13 | Friday | vs. Georgia |
| 20 | Friday | vs. Marshall |
| 23 | Monday | vs. Monmouth |
| 27 | Friday, 7 p.m. | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte |
| December | ||
| 1 | Tuesday, 7:30, ESPN2 | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 13 Arkansas |
| 6 | Sunday | vs. Butler |
| 12 | Saturday afternoon | at Georgetown |
| 15 | 7 p.m. Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro |
| 19 | 2:30 Saturday, CBS | CBS Sports Classic vs. Kentucky in New York |
| 21 | Monday | vs. The Citadel |
| 30 | Wednesday | vs. California |
| January | ||
| 2 | Saturday | at Boston College |
| 5 | 7 p.m. Tuesday | at Louisville |
| 9 | Saturday | vs. N.C. State |
| 13 | Wednesday | at Florida State |
| 16 | Saturday | vs. Stanford |
| 19 | Tuesday | vs. No. 17 Virginia |
| 23 | Saturday | at Syracuse |
| 26 | Tuesday | vs. SMU |
| 30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 5 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. |
| February | ||
| 2 | Tuesday | at Notre Dame |
| 6 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech |
| 8 | Monday, 7 p.m, ESPN | vs. Louisville |
| 13 | Saturday | at No. 4 Duke |
| 20 | Saturday | at Wake Forest |
| 22 | Monday, 7 p.m, ESPN | vs. No. 24 Miami |
| 27 | Saturday | at Virginia Tech |
| March | ||
| 2 | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh |
| 6 | Saturday | vs. No. 4 Duke |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
