CHARLOTTE — Sometimes it takes a coach with a national title and five Final Fours in his backpocket to stand up to Roy Williams.

Enter Rick Pitino. The Louisville coach called Ol' Roy out on his multiple "Charlotte's not an advantage" statements on Friday.

Pitino, who's 0-3 vs. UNC, called Saturday's game in Charlotte, where UNC's 5-0 this season and 8-0 alltime in NCAA Tournament games, a road game.

"Tell Roy to get on a plane for the first time and let's play the game at Freedom Hall," Pitino said. "Or let's go to Lexington and play it at Rupp [Arena]."

[More:]

Then Pitino gave it his best New York City wiseguy impersonation, which had the gathered media chuckling (and saying, Amen.)

"I don't think it's a homecourt advantage," Pitino said. "I think those are mostly mannequins dressed in powder blue."

Pitino did qualify his comments.

"It's a very strong homecourt advantage but they deserve it because they're the No. 1-ranked team in the country," he said.

For the record, the RBC Center was louder last weekend than the indifferent Charlotte crowd on Thursday night. The biggest response from the pro-Tar Heel sections booed when the videoboard showed highlights of Duke's 1992 national title.

03/28/08 at 19:50
I am hoping that UNC will give Louisville a good old country rear end whipping. Rick Pitino is working these gas head sports reporters.

03/28/08 at 22:52
Pitino and his smug face lift just cracks me up.

I was relaxing today watching this press conference live and laughing! Rick you're 0-3 lifetime vs UNC and this is arguably the best UNC team you have faced and arguably the worse team you've put on the floor against us.

like Roy said, we'll play anyone in Siberia and we'll win if we play good.

funny, Texas isnt getting near the pub on their "home" games!?

03/29/08 at 18:33
If Louisville had been a little better during the year.. maybe they wouldn't be in this position. Go Heels. 3 games to infinite glory.