BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: South Florida @ Louisville

February 11, 2006


I am still waiting for something from Louisville. I have not been quite sure of what, but as soon as I begin to think they might turn the corner in the Big East, they let one slip away, this time it came on the road against Cincinnati as the Bearcats definitely played as if they wanted it more in beating the Cards 74-68. The loss dropped Louisville to 3-7 in the conference. They hit a little soft spot in their schedule which should help get them to NYC, but dropping the Cincinnati game might have been the decesive blow to their NCAA Tournament hopes, barring a big upset or two down the stretch.

The South Florida Bulls are still finding life very difficult in the Big East and at 0-9 in the league, with 4 of their next 5 on the road before closing with Connecticut and Georgetown at home, chances for a conference win are disappearing rapidly.

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What has seemed to hamper the Cardinals all season is their inability to hit the 3-pt shot and get physical in the Big East. Juan Palacios and David Padgett did not look comfortable banging against the aggressive Bearcats on Monday and seemed to shrink from the challenge. Also, if a Rick Pitino team is not hitting from the 3-pt line, it is definitely cause for concern, as Pitino has designed a good portion of his offensive attack around using the arc as a weapon.

The Bulls, however, do not pose much of a threat inside to the Cardinals. With a depleted line-up, South Florida is running on fumes right now and I expect Louisville to turn up the pressure and the tempo and make this a game that is likely to be over with quickly and I look for Pitino to get his foot on the gas to try to awaken his team.

This one does not bode well for the Bulls, they have kept most of their games close, I do not think this is one they will be in for long.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 79 South Florida 58