Garrison Brooks Ruled Out vs Louisville Saturday as Tar Heels' Doomed Season Continues
By Jackson Thompson
For UNC, a loss to No. 11 Louisville on Saturday will tie the program's highest loss total since 2010, and a pair of injuries just pushed the Tar Heels that much closer to the wrong side of history.
Junior forward Garrison Brooks has been ruled out of Saturday's game against the Cardinals with an illness. Graduate senior forward Justin Pierce will also sit out with a sprained left ankle.
Garrison Brooks (illness) and Justin Pierce (sprained left ankle) will not play today vs Louisville.#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/2P9ZN3HBj0
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 22, 2020
The decimation of the UNC front court, just in time for a critical game against a top opponent, is only the latest disaster for head coach Roy Williams this season. With Brooks out, the team loses its breakout performer, as well as one of very few links to the Heels' more successful recent seasons.
GAMEDAY ? Louisville
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) February 22, 2020
?: 4:00 PM ET
?: ESPN
?: WatchESPN ➡ https://t.co/fjspzkQegO
?: 97.9 FM / @tunein app
?: https://t.co/hTGHejq2Cr#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/2VF9nnnTgS
The Cardinals already started the day as a nine-point favorite over UNC, and that number hasn't even yet been adjusted for the Tar Heels' injuries. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN, which means the entire country could be witness to a steep low point for the UNC program.