Thomas, FIU face long odds in opener

By TIM REYNOLDS - The Associated Press

E-Mail

Print Reprint or license

Text Size:

tool goes here

MIAMI — Isiah Thomas was midway through a question-and-answer session with some FIU alumni last month when someone stood up and put the Hall of Fame player on the spot.

“So, how will you prepare for an opener against North Carolina?”

FIU’s new coach, to his credit, didn’t hesitate before giving the guy his answer.

CLICK FOR MORE PHOTOS

“Well, Cinderella doesn’t have to come in March. She can come in November,” Thomas said.

Everybody laughed.

Thomas laughed.

The event continued.

The reality is, there are long shots, and then there’s whatever FIU will be tonight when the Golden Panthers open the Thomas era in the 2K Sports Classic at No. 6 North Carolina. The Tar Heels are the defending national champion and a popular pick to win it all again this season.

Consider this stat: The Tar Heels won 34 games last season alone, while FIU has won 34 games in the last three seasons combined.

“We like being underdogs,” FIU guard Marvin Roberts said. “We’re going to be underdogs all year. And we’ll be the real underdogs on Monday, so we’ll just play like we have nothing to lose.”

Real underdogs, indeed: One Las Vegas line favors Carolina by 30.

The matchup, which seemed to be in jeopardy because FIU officials originally felt they agreed to play Ohio State in the opening round of the tournament, is tinged with obvious irony.

Thomas’ final college game was in 1981, when he led Indiana past North Carolina for the NCAA title.

Which makes it fitting, naturally, that his first college game as a coach comes against the Tar Heels.

“I don’t know him real well,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. “I was on the bench when he played his last college game and beat us in the national championship game in ‘81. Followed his career a great deal throughout his time in the NBA.”