CHAPEL HILL– Carolina basketball will try to rebound from its disappointing 83-80 loss to Belmont when it faces Richmond Saturday in the Hall of Fame Tipoff Semifinals.

The 2-1 Tar Heels own the 14-2 all-time series lead over the 3-1 Spiders, but Head Coach Roy Williams says the fact that Richmond took down the team that upset his own squad in Chapel Hill just a week ago should keep the Tar Heels extra focused.

“It should get our guys’ attention that the team that beat us lost to the guys we’re getting ready to play next. Chris [Richmond coach] does a really nice job with his team, he always has. They play more of a half-court game,” Coach Williams says.

Coach Williams attended the Medal of Freedom ceremony on behalf of Dean Smith Wednesday. He says to this day, a lot of his coaching methods down to how he conducts day-to-day practice, can be traced back to the influence of Coach Smith, his mentor. Well, except their workout routines that is.

“I’d have to start out by leaving out my workouts and my jogging. I don’t take that from him. I’m still waiting on him. I’d always say I’m going to run at so-and-so, and he’d say ‘I’ll meet you there.’ I’m still waiting on him,” Coach Williams says.

Coach Williams says he was content with the way the Tar Heels played on offense against Belmont last Sunday. It was the defense that he says just didn’t show up.

“I was pleased, not satisfied by any means, but I was pleased with what we did on the offensive end of the floor. The defensive end of the floor was 180 degrees away. I was not pleased at all. I looked at the tape, and it was even worse,” Coach Williams says.

The tip-off between the Tar Heels and the Spiders is set for noon and can be viewed online via ESPN3 or heard on 97.9 FM, WCHL following the Tar Heel football game.

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