LOUISVILLE SHORT-HANDED AGAINST TOUGHER OOC SCHEDULE

August 22, 2006


Louisville head coach Rick Pitino says an improved Louisville squad for 2006-2007 leads to a More Challenging Schedule for Cards (Louisville Courier-Journal). With a highly anticipated freshmen class and Pitino's excitement over the improvement of sophomores Andre McGee and Jonathan Huffman, along with junior Terrance Farley, the schedule is purposely meant to push this team a little more. The Cards will meet Arizona in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden (a house of horrors for UL last year) and also have dates lined up with Dayton and UMass as well as what is supposed to be a challenging exempt tournament that Louisville will host.

The bad news for Louisville, however, is U of L's Jenkins Breaks Leg (Louisville Courier-Journal) in a pick-up game. Senior Brandon Jenkins suffered a fractured fibula and sever high ankle sprain which will keep him out of action AT LEAST three months. At that time a decision will be made whether to play or redshirt. Pitino wants to avoid the situation that occurred last year when Juan Palacios suffered a similar pre-season injury and was forced to play much of the season on, essentially, one leg.

To me, this is not the news Louisville needs at all. Jenkins is a senior and has the experience in Pitino's system and in the Big East. The freshmen are talented, but learning the key roles of defense and rebounding and good decisions at this level will no doubt take some time. It will force Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith and Earl Clark to grow up fast, though.