Steven Enoch gives Louisville basketball an unflinching post presence

Courier Journal

CHAPEL HILL, N.C – Kenny Williams rolled around a screen, turned the corner and looked spooked. The Louisville men’s basketball team already had a 57-43 lead with 13 minutes left against No. 12 North Carolina.

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Williams finally found some open space around the basket — and there stood Steven Enoch, at 6-foot-10, 260 pounds. Williams thought better of his decision. He picked up his dribble, turned and flung the ball back to the perimeter.

“Steve’s a big body, and he can block shots around the rim,” Louisville forward Dwayne Sutton said. “When he’s down there, if you do get beat, I feel like he has a good chance of blocking the shot, or just standing in place, walling up and making a smaller guy like Kenny Williams miss it sometimes.”

The Cardinals’ 83-62 rout of North Carolina on Saturday proved that Enoch’s presence in front of the basket could be critical. There’s no substitute for his physical frame. He made it difficult for even the Tar Heels, who feast on offensive rebounds and inside baskets, to get to the basket.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams made that point in his postgame press conference, crediting Enoch — “I hope that’s the way to pronounce his name,” he said, and Enoch made sure everyone in the building knew by the end of the day.

“He was a load for us, to say the least,” Roy Williams said.

The result was Enoch’s first career double-double, 17 points and 11 rebounds against one of the nation’s best rebounding teams. That came three days after Enoch finished with 14 points and seven rebounds (four offensive) Wednesday at Pittsburgh.

Before the Pittsburgh game, Malik Williams replaced Enoch in the starting lineup, and in 51 minutes over the past two games, Enoch has shot 13-for-22 and provided energy off the bench.

More:Louisville rolls from wire to wire, upsets North Carolina in Chapel Hill

“Today was a buildup (from) Wednesday, me realizing how effective I can be on the offensive side and me being aggressive,” Enoch said Saturday. “I feel like I took advantage of that today.”

With Enoch controlling the low post, Louisville earned an unlikely victory in the paint against the strong, physical Tar Heels. The Cards had more points in the paint, 32-26, and outrebounded North Carolina, 40-31.

“I’m amazed at (Enoch’s) physical presence, his athleticism,” Louisville coach Chris Mack said. “At times, he’s a step slow, because he hasn’t played the game since he’s been in third or fourth grade. He has the measurements that I think a lot of guys in the world would love to have. He’s got an NBA body. He’s got a vertical. He’s got a soft touch, so if you foul him, he’s going to capitalize on his free throws.”

Enoch can remain such a force for Louisville if he stays out of foul trouble. He committed three fouls in the first half Wednesday, limiting his ability to be aggressive around the basket. Three days later, he didn’t have the same problem, which was important as foul concerns kept Malik Williams to 12 minutes.

In recent weeks, Enoch said he improved at keeping his touches closer to the basket, so he’s in better position to score and doesn’t have to risk a charge foul as he bullies his way to the interior. At the other end, too, he was in better spots to avoid fouls.

Giving up points on the offensive glass is a good way to give away a double-digit lead against North Carolina. But Enoch never let that happen. The way he talked after the game, that was a turning point.

“I just never stop believing in myself,” Enoch said, “no matter how my year is going, how things are going.”

Jake Lourim: 502-582-4168; jlourim@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @jakelourim. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jakel.