Louisville Cardinals at North Carolina Tar Heels

No. 3 North Carolina beats Louisville 83-70 in ACC quarters

The freshman point guard is learning to walk that fine line for third-ranked North Carolina.

"I'm trying to make the easy play," White said. "I'm trying not to force it."

White's controlled play has the second-seeded Tar Heels in line for a run at their second ACC Tournament championship in four years and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

"I get on him about his shots and I get on him about his turnovers," Williams said. "But he is making much better decisions. It's attack, attack, attack. That's what we talk about all the time. We want to attack like crazy and be under control."

Dwayne Sutton had 14 points for Louisville (20-13).

North Carolina had no trouble in the rubber match between the teams.

Louisville coach Chris Mack called North Carolina's transition game "phenomenal."

"They are as fast as any team I've coached against," Mack said. "And you talk about it, you talk about it, but talking doesn't prepare you sometimes. And you give those guys credit, they were shot out of a cannon, that ball was up the floor and in such a hurry and got to the rim."

WILLIAMS SHOULD BE FINE

Kenny Williams had a rough outing physically, injuring his shoulder while colliding in the first half and then taking a finger to the eye late in the second. However, Williams said he expects his senior guard will be fine for Friday night joking that "he's just a little soft."

AVENGING LOSS

Maye, who grew up in the Charlotte suburb of Huntersville, was excited to get a win in his return home especially after the Tar Heels lost here in the second round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas A&M.

"I love coming back to Charlotte and this was a big win for us," Maye said.

WELL PREPARED

Mack believes the Cardinals are well prepared for the NCAA Tournament after competing in the ACC with three teams ranked in the top five in the country.

"I told these guys in the locker room that we have played the best teams in the country," Mack said. "I mean there's a reason that y'all are talking about a possibility, not saying it's going to happen, a possibility of three No. 1 seeds. That's incredible. ... It's the best conference in the country, in my opinion."

BIG PICTURE

Louisville: Despite the loss, the Cardinals appear to have a good chance to get an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament as a 20-win team in a tough conference.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels arrived in Charlotte chasing a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and if they continue to play like this over the next two days they'll be a lock to get one.

UP NEXT

Louisville: Will await word on an NCAA Tournament bid.

North Carolina: Will face the winner Duke-Syracuse winner in the semifinals Friday night.

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• TV Channel: Louisville at North Carolina 2021 College Basketball, week 19, is broadcasted on ESPN.
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