Rick Pitino has to be restrained after exchanging words with a North Carolina fan

As Louisville Coach Rick Pitino headed to the locker room with his team trailing North Carolina, 33-30, Wednesday night in Chapel Hill, N.C., a fan at Dean Smith Center yelled in his direction.

Pitino quickly responded. He did not take kindly to what ESPN’s Maria Taylor later reported was the phrase “Pitino, you suck!”

He spun and yelled back at the fan.

The Cardinals’ coaching staff tried to guide Pitino toward the locker room, but he turned and vehemently yelled in the fan’s direction while being restrained. He was led into the tunnel by Louisville staff members.

While Pitino tried to rally his team with a halftime speech, the fan was ejected, according to a North Carolina team spokesman. The Tar Heels dominated the second half, expanding their lead to as many as 16 points before winning, 74-63.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.