Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

North Carolina

Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

By Tim Hall

Nov 9, 2009

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The last time Isiah Thomas took part in a college basketball game, he was cutting down the nets as a member of the 1981 national champions. Indiana beat North Carolina 63-50 in Philadelphia and Thomas was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four. North Carolina coach Roy Williams was an assistant in that game.

Now 28 years later, Thomas is back in the college game as the head coach of Florida International. His opponent - North Carolina.

This season opening contest between the Golden Panthers and the Tar Heels came under the microscope in August when FIU threatened to pull out of the 2K Sports Classic tournament because it had expected to play Ohio State instead of the defending national champions.

Athletics director Pete Garcia claimed that his school was under the impression it was playing the Buckeyes up until the Tar Heels' schedule came out in a press release. But the president of The Gazelle Group, the organization running the tournament, said he had a contract signed by Garcia agreeing to play Ohio State or North Carolina. After a week of bickering about the game at hand, FIU agreed to play UNC and has since taken a positive approach.

"We want to teach our students and our student-athletes that it’s not always going to be an easy walk. Sometimes you have to take some painful steps," Thomas said.

North Carolina saw its first game action on Friday night in a 107-59 exhibition win over Belmont Abbey. Deon Thompson scored 23 points on 11 of 12 shooting. Tyler Zeller scored 17 points off the bench while Ed Davis added 13.

FIU went 13-20 a year ago and returns just one starter in senior forward Nickola Gacesa. He's the leading returning scorer to a team that last its top four scoring threats. Junior college transfers Marvin Roberts and Phil Gary both scored 15 points in an exhibition loss to Northwood University. The NAIA school coached by Rollie Massimino beat FIU 71-61 last week.

This weekend it was uncertain if Thomas would make it to Chapel Hill for his debut after his 86-year-old mother suffered a heart attack on Saturday. Thomas spent Sunday in Chicago with his mother but he is expected to be coaching tonight.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

Well at Least for UNC there will be something else with no class in the Dean Dome other then its players, coaches, and its fans......Isiah Thomas. So you got that going for you tonight!!

RE: Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

I am a heels fan & i do have a grasp on the defending stuff. However, as a heels fan i also know that last season is history & this years team is talented but young. With that being said, tonite is a chance to quiet the cry baby Thomas. Go Heels!!

RE: Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

Mmmmmm it's about freakin time college basketball!! Let's pound the HEEL out of Thomas and his FIU ninnys.

GO HEELS!

RE: Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

Seriously, can you two try not to sniff K's jock for 5 seconds?! While we're all discussing tonight's game between our defending champs and FIU---BDF and OBD want to point out Coach K's preferred verbiage and motivational techniques.

I swear if it we're a story about Ed Davis' return to Virginia, they'd find a way to post something about winning the gold medal.
- Posted by cutclifferules

This has nothing to do with Coach K. Although, he was one of the first coaches to point out the poor use of the word "defending" with respect to college basketball titles.

Seriously, if Roy had said it first you guys would be on board. And I would agree with Roy.

RE: Isiah Thomas visits Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina

Seriously, can you two try not to sniff K's jock for 5 seconds?! While we're all discussing tonight's game between our defending champs and FIU---BDF and OBD want to point out Coach K's preferred verbiage and motivational techniques.

I swear if it we're a story about Ed Davis' return to Virginia, they'd find a way to post something about winning the gold medal.
- Posted by cutclifferules

This coming from the poster who loved Cutcliffe's quotes so much that you created a topic dedicated to them. Talk about sniffing...

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