UNC fan ejected after exchange with Louisville coach Rick Pitino

A North Carolina team spokesman said a fan was ejected after a verbal exchange with Louisville coach Rick Pitino during Wednesday night's 74-63 Tar Heels win.

ESPN's Maria Taylor reported the fan in question yelled, "Pitino, you suck!"

UNC's Matt Bowers said the fan was ejected shortly after the incident, which occurred as Pitino was leaving the court for halftime.

"I've always said this is the classiest place in college basketball until I met a fan on the way out," Pitino said following the game. "It always reminded me of a class place, but they're getting just like some of the other places now."

Video showed an animated Pitino shouting toward the seats and being restrained by his coaching staff before being led into the tunnel.



"He just got in my face and said something I didn't like," Pitino said. "I take it from the students all the time, you expect it from the students. But from an adult? And then to turn his back on me like he's a coward?

"But North Carolina is a classy place and he doesn't speak for the rest of the people."

Said Tar Heels coach Roy Williams: "I don't like that; we're North Carolina, we don't have to be like everybody else. I hope that never happens again at North Carolina."

Williams said he apologized to Pitino for what was said.

ESPN and The Associated Press contributed to this report.