Louisville Basketball: Keys to Beat UNC in ACC Showdown

The Louisville Cardinals will look to avenge one of their three losses from earlier in the season Saturday when they play host to the North Carolina Tar Heels. 

Rick Pitino's team was beaten by a Marcus Paige game-winner in Chapel Hill January 10, and since then the Tar Heels have not lost a game. 

A win by the Cardinals would also hand the team a perfect momentum boost heading into a difficult stretch that features road trips to Miami (FL) and Virginia. 

Below is a look at three keys that are crucial to Louisville's success at the KFC Yum! Center Saturday.

Montrezl Harrell's Offensive Performance

In the 72-71 loss to UNC at the Smith Center earlier this month, Louisville big man Montrezl Harrell was limited to nine points and five rebounds. 

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Harrell went 4-of-10 from the field in 38 minutes on the court, which is a bit of a rarity for one of the top big men in the nation. 

In two of his other three games against ranked opposition this season, Harrell was held to nine points by Kentucky and 10 in the loss to Duke. 

With those average performances in the back of his mind, Harrell should use them as motivation and explode on the offensive side of the court Saturday.

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North Carolina's big men enter the ACC clash in good form on offense, but Harrell's physical nature may be too much for Kennedy Meeks and Brice Johnson. 

If the Louisville guards can find an open Harrell in the paint early on, he will be able to improve his confidence by nailing a few quick buckets. 

If Harrell gets going on offense early, it should spark his defensive play as well. If that is the case, he could be the best player on the court Saturday. 

Don't Get Into a Shootout with Marcus Paige 

The one X-factor the Tar Heels carry with them into Kentucky Saturday is Marcus Paige's clutch gene. 

The Cardinals witnessed that firsthand in the first game between the two sides when Paige delivered on his team's final shot of the game. 

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For Louisville to not experience a heartbreaking loss at the hands of Paige again, it must keep a hand in the junior's face for the entire game. 

If the backcourt pair of Terry Rozier and Chris Jones is unable to keep Paige under control, the guards could be forced into a shootout with the North Carolina guard. 

While Rozier and Jones are fully capable of putting up big numbers in the point department, they could give Paige the fuel he needs to win the game by himself. 

If Paige is silenced for 40 minutes, the Cardinals should have no problem earning their sixth conference win of the season. 

Get "Big Game Wayne" To Show Up 

Wayne Blackshear carries a ton of experience with him into every big game, but his performances against some of the nation's top teams have been lackluster at best over the past two years. 

The senior guard did deliver a quality performance against Ohio State on December 2, but he has lacked a flair for the dramatic against Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke. 

With the days winding down on his collegiate career, Blackshear is in need of another breakout performance in a major game. 

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Saturday presents yet another perfect opportunity for Blackshear, who is often criticized for his struggles in major contests, to shred the critics and power the Cardinals to a big victory. 

One thing going in his favor heading into Saturday's matchup is the focus on Rozier and Jones, who thrived against the North Carolina defense in Chapel Hill. 

Since the Tar Heels will put more concern into guarding Rozier and Jones, Blackshear should be able to get a few open looks on the perimeter. 

If he is able to shine in front of the home crowd, he will gain a ton of confidence, and he might be able to replicate his potential standout performance further down the road for Louisville. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.