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No, there was nothing wrong with your television. The game featured the debut of North Carolina's throwback uniforms, meant to commemorate the 1957 national championship team. The unis featured a red-and-white vertical striped waistband and crimson-and-blue piping around the collar.
Unlike in '57, however, the Tar Heels did not wear short shorts.
New FIU coach Isiah Thomas coached the game after his 86-year-old mother, Mary, had heart surgery Monday in Chicago.
"My mom raised me to basically fight, just as I'm trying to put it into our team," said Thomas, who spent Sunday with her, then arrived in Chapel Hill on Monday morning. He was to return to Chicago today.
"Last night, when I was speaking to her, she just said she doesn't want to die, and she's going to fight to live. She told me to go to work and fight for our team. My mom put a lot of fight in me, and she's fighting for her life, and I appreciate everyone saying a prayer."
Two of Florida International's players played high school ball at N.C. prep schools. Guard Antoine Watson went to Laurinburg Institute and Raleigh's Milestone Prep, and forward Marvin Roberts also went to Milestone Prep. They were junior college teammates last season in Oklahoma.
North Carolina's crowd wasn't late-arriving, it just wasn't arriving. Little more than half of the Smith Center was filled, even by halftime. Yes, the game was televised (ESPNU), and yes, there's a bad economy, but you would expect a few more fans to show up for the debut of the reigning national champions.
