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That said, let's not be naive.
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This is an advantage by any measuring stick.
True story: Like always, the NCAA opened Wednesday's practices, and the entire lower level of the arena was filled. This was in the afternoon, mind you, when children are supposed to be in school learning. But the place was packed to the surprise of Todd Mastry, the man who runs FedExForum in Memphis and is here observing how the East Region is run because he'll be hosting the South Region next March. "I've never seen this many people at an open practice," Mastry said. My response: That's because you've never seen a North Carolina open practice in Charlotte.
Another true story: I went for a walk and happened upon a hot dog stand, and I stopped because I just love hot dogs (as long as they do not have ketchup on them). So I'm standing there getting a hot dog (with everything except ketchup), and while I waited I asked the guy running the stand how many people in Louisville shirts had he seen walking around.
"Some," he said.
Then I asked how many people in North Carolina shirts he had seen.
"A lot," he said.
So there you have it.
There are some Louisville fans and a lot of North Carolina fans walking the streets of Charlotte, and that's basically how it'll break down Saturday night inside the arena. Some vs. A lot. And for those who do not think it matters, I would invite you to explain how North Carolina is 24-1 (96 percent) in NCAA tournament games played inside the state of North Carolina and just 71-37 (66 percent) in NCAA tournament games played outside the state of North Carolina.
That's not a coincidence.
So again, don't blame the Tar Heels for having an advantage.
It's not their fault.
But make no mistake, they do have an advantage.
And anybody trying to tell you otherwise is full of, well, crap.
