BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: St. John's @ Louisville

February 21, 2007


The red-hot Louisville Cardinals look to strenghten their hold on one of the four Big East Conference Tournament byes when they welcome the St. John's Redstorm to Freedom Hall for a game telecast by ESPN2.

The Cardinals have won three in a row, including road wins over Pittsburgh and Marquette, and return home with a national ranking and a 9-4 Big East mark. The Cards have a favorable schedule down the stretch with a trip to Connecticut and a home game with Seton Hall to close out the Big East slate.

St. John's has put themselves in solid shape to make the Big East Tournament, holding a 3-win lead in the standings over South Florida, Rutgers and Seton Hall. After tonight, the 'Storm host Duke this weekend before wrapping up conference play with Providence on March 4th.

Here are a few pregame articles found on the internet this morning:

Cards Expected to Go Without Palacios (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Cards Get the Message: Slump is Over (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Pitino Wary of Johnnies (NY Post)


It has not been an easy transition for Louisville from Conference USA to the Big East. Last season the Cardinals barely qualified for the Big East tournament and a series of injuries had Rick Pitino's squad off to another slow start this year. However, in the last month, Louisville has won seven of their last nine games as they have rounded back into shape after getting everyone healthier. Also, their highly regarded freshman class has matured on and off the floor, meaning minutes for Derrick Caracter, more minutes for Earl Clark and more consistent play out of Jerry Smith (Saturday's hero) and Edgar Sosa.

St. John's got off to a slow start in the Big East, losing four of their first five games. However back-to-back home wins over Syracuse and Notre Dame gave the Redstorm some life and since then they have beaten the teams they were supposed to (Cincinnati, USF & Rutgers). In Norm Roberts third season, it was the year they were supposed to take a step forward as a program. It looks like they have, maybe not as big of a step as hoped, but they have shown progress.

Tonight, Louisville is a 12.5-p favorite at home. They are a deep team, even though they are likely without Juan Palacios in this game. They are also a versatile team with athletic and long wings to match with St. John's strength. The Redstorm have a bit of a tendency to lose big on the road to quality teams, that could be a trend that continues tonight.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Louisville 68 St. John's 54

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Louisville @ Marquette

February 17, 2007


For the second time in conference play, the Marquette Golden Eagles are facing a two-game losing streak. After starting conference play 0-2, Marquette rattled off eight straight wins. Now, they have dropped two games in a row again and have to face a rejuvinated Louisville Cardinal club on Saturday night in Milwaukee.

I am having a little trouble getting a solid handle on Marquette. They play at the fastest pace in the conference, but their offense just does not seem to be very effective when they are playing that quickly. They seem to be better when they are slowing it down and letting their guards create the offense, instead of forcing the offense. However, the seem to be determined to play at a fast pace this year, and they definitely have the tools to do it with Dominic James, Wesley Mathews and Jerel McNeal.

Louisville looks to be performing at the level expected in the preseason. They are coming off a win at Pittsburgh which was their first REAL quality win of the season. However, for the first time, they have their full team available. Juan Palacios, Brandon Jenkins, Andre McGee and David Padgett are healthy. Derrick Caracter and Earl Clark seem to have bought what Rick Pitino has been trying to sell and Terrence Williams is not trying to to everything on each possession for Louisville. This team is loaded with talent and athletic ability, it is finally starting to come to the forefront.

Marquette has the athletic advantage in the backcourt and an experience edge, too. However, Louisville is not too shabby there either and with Jenkins and McGee getting back to health and Jerry Smith and Edgar Sosa gaining more experience, Louisville could very well be ready to match-up in the backcourt with Marquette. The key for me is the match-up of Jerel McNeal and Terrence Williams. In their first meeting Williams shot 4-16. McNeal was in some foul trouble, but added 7 assists and 15 pts in 28 minutes.

Playing on a Saturday night in the Bradley Center gives Marquette a big advantage. Louisville will make this game much more difficult for the Golden Eagles than their first meeting, but I look for Dominic James to break out of his semi-slump of the last week or so and hit some big shots down the stretch to pull it out against a confidence Louisville club.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Marquette 69 Louisville 68

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Louisville @ Pittsburgh

February 12, 2007


Louisville travels to Pittsburgh for ESPN's Big Monday match-up tonight. The Cardinals are still looking for their first signature win of the season, home or away, and a win over Pittsburgh will certainly get the nation's attention. The Panthers fought off a pesky Providence ballclub on Saturday in a similar situation and they will look to stay ahead on the conference tonight against Louisville.

Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet:

U of L Hopes Williams Ends Bad Spell (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Cardinals Venture in the Pitt (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Cardinals Dance Card Needs Games (Herald-Leader)
Now Cards Need a Signature Win (Courier-Journal)
Louisville Making First Trip to Pitt (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Cook Breaks Slump in Time for Louisville (Beaver County Times)
Pitt's Reserves Look to Key Long Run (The Tribune Democrat)
Freshman Center Gives Louisville a Boost (Post-Gazette)





To read our brief preview of the game and to see the NBE Blogger's prediction on the outcome, click 'Read More' below.

Also, we'd love to see the reader's thoughts and predictions on the game in the comments, so feel free to add your toughts!



It is a big week ahead for Louisville as the Cardinals try to position themselves for one of the four Big East Tournament 1st-round byes and solidy their chances to gain entrance to the Big Dance in March. The Cardinals take to the road to meet Pittsburgh and Marquette in search of their first signature win, let along impressive road victory. To date, Louisville's most impressive win away from home was at DePaul, 59-50. Their only other two wins outside of Freedom Hall have come against Cincinnati and South Florida. They have already lost on their home floor to Marquette and Georgetown, so the Cardinals have not come close to proving they below in the top tier of the conference, but they still have a shot to at least prove worthy of the final bye and a spot in the NCAA Tournament, but at some point, they have to come up with a quality win.

Pittsburgh is playing for a regular season conference championship and high NCAA seed. The Panthers are definitely the hunted as each and every bubble team that comes up against Pitt knows how impressive a victory, especially on the road, will look to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. They will be taking the best shot from everyone here on out and have to avoid looking ahead to bigger things and take care of business on hand.

Louisville presents an interesting challenge to Pitt as the Cardinals will look to force tempo and pressure Pitt all over the floor. Louisville is an athletic group, especially in the backcourt where freshmen Jerry Smith Edgar Sosa, along with senior Brandon Jenkins and sophomore Andre McGee log most of the minutes. McGee and Jenkins have battled injuries all season long and have yet to hit their stride offensively, but Jenkins is one of the better defensive guards in the conference.

On the wing for Louisville is the explosive Terrence Williams. However, the sophomore is mired in a shooting slump, but it doe snot keep the sophomore from trying to shoot his way out of it. Freshman Earl Clark has been getting more and more time of late as he gets used to the system at Louisville and junior Juan Palacios still is at the other forward spot. Palacios always seems one big game away from taking off, but that take off continues to be something Louisville fans, and his coach Rick Pitino, is still waiting for.

When playing Pittsburgh the area of concentration is always in the paint where Pitt's Aaron Gray resides. On Saturday, Gray was the difference for the Panthers as he scored 22 pts in 25 minutes after sitting most of the 1st half with two fouls. Gray took a nasty fall after a two-hand shove in the back on a dunk attempt, but he practiced with the team yesterday. For Louisville, the Cards might not be as lucky as the oft-injured David Padgett missed most of the game against South Florida after injuring his ankle. However, freshan Derrick Caracter is back, once again, in the fold and in just 18 minutes against the Bulls he scored 16 pts and grabbed 10 rebounds. It remains to be seen what kind of game shape Caracter will be in with the short turnaround, but he will certainly be tested on the defensive end by Gray and the Panthers will likely test his decision-making on the offensive end with some double-teams.

Both teams are deep and the Cardinals have a tendency to rotate players in and out, which might have had a cause in their offense not being able to find a rhythm this season. The talent is there, but they just seem to be coming up short in putting it all together. They are young and several injuries have limited their ability to become an effecient team. Pittsburgh starts three seniors and is one of the best (percentage-wise) three-point shooting teams in the country. So, if you try and limit Gray inside, he is experienced enough to find the open man and the Panthers move the ball very unselfishly to find the best shot, and, they knock them down.

Louisville will play Pittsburgh tough as, in terms of their season, the Cards have a lot riding on it. However, they have yet to show the offensively consistency to win a game of this magnitude, especially on the road...so, as they say in Missouri, they have to Show Me first.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Pittsburgh 68 Louisville 61

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: South Florida @ Louisville

February 10, 2007


Earlier this season, Louisville used a big 2nd half run to demolish South Florida 81-55 in the Sun Dome. Now these two teams meet again, this time up in Louisville on Saturday for a Big East conference showdown.

The Bulls have improved quite a bit since their first meeting. A month ago, Chris Howard and Kentrell Gransberry were still working their way into shape with the club. Recently, they have been playing much better and have a couple areas they could be able to explot the Cards in, especially in the frontcourt with Gransberry and McHugh Mattis, who has also been playing well of late.

Still, Louisville should be a little fired up in this one. After being dominated by the frontline of Georgetown, Juan Palacios and David Padgett have a lot to prove in this Big East match-up. Also, Terrence Williams is unlikely to shoot 3-17 again.

The Bulls have improved, but they are still looking for that initial Big East road win in their short history, I just don't see it coming at Freedom Hall this weekend.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Louisville 70 South Florida 57

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Georgetown @ Louisville

February 7, 2007


The Georgetown Hoyas try to keep pace with the leaders as they travel to Louisville to meet Rick Pitino and the Cardinals. Louisville is also trying to stay among the league leaders and position themselves for a Big East Tournament bye. On a night that the court at Freedom Hall will be renamed for Denny Crum, it should be a great atmosphere for an upper-division Big East showdown.


Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet this morning:

Cold Cards Seek Shooting (Lexington Herald-Leader)
Pitino, Hoyas Go Way Back (Lexington Herald-Leader)
For U of L Fans, One Day Brings Two Big Events (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Finally Healthy, Louisville Feeling Better About Itself (Washington Post)
At Peace in His Father's Shadow (Washington Times)
Clark Finding His Comfort Zone (Louisville Courier-Journal)
'Denny Crum Court' Ceremony Tonight (Courier-Journal)


Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

READ REST OF PREVIEW...CLICK "Read More" BELOW



It should be an emotionally charged Louisville crowd tonight as they rename the court at storied Freedom Hall in honor of former head coach Denny Crum. Denny Crum Court will be unveiled this evening as the Cardinals welcome in the Georgetown Hoyas in a Big East conference match-up. Both teams have a 1st round bye in he Big East conference tournament firmly in their sites and a win tonight with each having a date with Pittsburgh in the near future could set them up to challenge for Big East supremecy. There is a lot riding on this game.

The oddsmakers have made this a 'pick-em' game and the Pomeroy Computer rankings give a slight edge to the Hoyas. Louisville has been playing an aggressive style of extended defense that has given Georgetown trouble at times this year. Villanova used a similar defense to stymie the Georgetown attack for a victory. The Hoyas are thin in the backcourt and if you force them to take 10-15 seconds to get set in their offense you take away a lot of the effectiveness of the Princeton-style offense Georgetown will utilize.

While Louisville's defense has been a strength, it will definitely be challenged tonight as Georgetown has been the most effecient offense in Big East play. The hoyas have a mix of scoring from the perimeter and inside and they are perfectly comfortable playing a game in the high 50's because that is where their pace of play usually puts the game. With a frontline of Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green and DaJuan Summers they have the size to give Louisville trouble on the boards and matching up on defense. The Cardinals will look to rotate their four guards (Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Brandon Jenkins and Andre McGee) to keep the pressure on the Georgetown backcourt and hope to wear out Jonathan Wallace and Jesse Sapp.

Louisville needs to shoot better, it is plain and simple. Georgetown will shorten the game with long possessions on offense and tough defense, changing from man to man and match-up zone to give the Cards different looks. Louisville will have a hard time getting Juan Palacios and David Padgett established against the size of the Hoyas, but they will need to be persistent in attempting so they can open up the perimeter for their guards to get comfortable and for Terrence Williams to find lanes to the rim.

This should be an excellent game. Georgetown is on quite a run, winning their last five games, although none have come against teams .500 or better in the conference. Louisville has played themselves back into contention winning six of their last eight, with home wins over Providence and Syracuse the best of the bunch. So, both teams are looking for a win to hang their hat on.

I thinkg Georgetown is just a little tougher and has the better shooting touch as a team and gets it down, in a tight one, on the road.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Georgetown 64 Louisville 60

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Louisville @ Villanova

February 3, 2007


One of the things I am looking forward to most on Superbowl Weekend is seeing Louisville and Villanova hook up in Philadelphia. Louisville has thrust themselves back into the mix in the conference and for an NCAA tournament bid by winning four in a row and six of seven in Big East play after opening conference play with a loss at Notre Dame. They still need to improve some of their computer numbers, especially their RPI, and winning on the road against Villanova would help a lot.

Villanova is a strange team, although they are just 3-5 in the Big East, they possess some of the better computer and RPI numbers in the country. However, if they keep losing, their conference record might be the biggest black markon their tournament resume.

I do not think it has been any accident that Louisville has enjoyed a four-game winning streak since Andre McGee returned to the mix after a knee injury looked to wipe out his sophomore season. McGee has not put up great numbers since his return, but for a team that has struggled so mightily with injuries the last year and a half, having him and Brandon Jenkins in the backcourt to help freshmen Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith can not be overlooked. Another ingredient to their turnaround also might be the absence of Derrick Caracter. The continuing saga of their enigmatic freshman big man seemed to be a distraction since September for the club, but they seemed to have been moving on without him, although his return could come at anytime, as could another departure.

Villanova had a nice little run going with wins over Notre Dame, Texas and Providence. Although their best player Curtis Sumpter was limited in the majority of time in those games, not suiting up t all for Texas, the Wildcats came together and looked to be a team on the verge of making a run. However a tough loss on the road to Notre Dame and another one at home to Pittsburgh has Villanova taking another step back. Against Pittsburgh they did get 21 pts and 9 rebounds from Sumpter who definitely looked healthier, but in each game they let healthy 2nd half leads slip away.

Both teams like to get out and push tempo with defensive pressure. Sometimes neither of them will look very pretty in doing so as their games can become a little ragged, especially since Louisville is not one of the better shooting teams in the conference, but they both use their athletic ability to chase down loose balls and get rebounds.

The key for Villanova is to slow down Scottie Reynolds. That is right, slow down one of their own. Against Pittsburgh Reynolds seemed to be going too fast at all times that he went up for wild shots and turned the ball over, he looked nothing like the mature beyond his years point guard that we started to get used to seeing. With Sumpter getting healthier and a nice stream of front court players to match inside with David Padgett and Juan Palacios, this is a good match-up for Villanova if Reynolds makes proper decisions and Mike Nardi and Sumpter to be the senior leaders on their home floor they need.

For Louisville to get a road win against a similar team they need to shoot well. Terrence Williams, David Padgett and Juan Palacios need to make the most of their opportunities and score at a high effenciency rate as Villanova will look to pressure their young guards. I think this Louisville team is coming together very well, but they are running into a desperate team on the road in this one.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Villanova 67 Louisville 62

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