LOUISVILLE LOOKS FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE ELITE 8

March 27, 2009


The master of the Sweet 16, Rick Pitino, takes his Louisville Cardinals into Lucas Oil Stadium for 2009 NCAA Tournament match-up with Arizona with a berth in the Elite 8 on the line.

Arizona was hardly expected to make the tournament going into selection Sunday, let alone be playing after the first weekend. The Wildcats, let by interim head coach Russ Pennell, beat Utah, the 5th seed in round one and knocked off Cleveland State in the second round, 71-57.

The Selection Sunday inclusion of Arizona drew the ire of TV commentators following the release of the brackets. The Wildcats had lost five of their last six, finishing 9-9 in the Pac 10 and 19-13 overall. But, non-conference wins over Gonzaga and Kansas seemed to carry a lot of weight with the committee.

On Friday night, the Wildcats face their steepest challenge to date with a match-up against the overall #1 seed in Louisville, the regular season and conference tournament champions of the Big East.

Playing Louisville means playing against pressure and the depth of the guards. Arizona prefers a fast paced game, so they should be comfortable in the speed, but the press will keep coming at them in waves.

"I think it's that it's so relentless," coach Pennell said of the UL press. "They have so many guys they can put in there. They really get into the basketball and make it difficult. Then once those guys get tired, they put in a new wave. And they can just keep coming at you."

Arizona does not have the depth to keep rotating players in against the Louisville onslaught, so preventing the Cards from making a patented run will be a major key.

"The thing you have to be careful about, you can handle it (pressure) for a little while, then all of a sudden they hit you with one of those big runs," said Pennell. "That's, to me, what makes them so dangerous. All the games that we have watched, there's that one moment in the game where they've been able to really explode. You try to keep that from happening. It's easier said than done."

Arizona could be compared somewhat to a Duke-type team, preferring to have a free flowing game while Louisville will try to disrupt your offensive in a similar fashion as Villanova, attacking the guards on the perimeter and preventing you from running your offense in the manner you are comforable in.

Rick Pitino will work his team hard on the defensive end because there is some top-heavy talent on the Arizona club.

"They have outstanding talent," said Pitino. "We know that. Now they understand what their coaches are teaching them concept wise offensively and defensively. They're a very dangerous opponent."

While that is true, Louisville should not have much trouble getting through the Arizona press and while in turn, pressing the Wildcats none stop, the depth of Louisville should take hold and lead to a big lead as the game heads toward the stretch.

It is looking like another record-settting Round in the Elite 8 for the Big East.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 79
Arizona 64

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LOUISVILLE NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES

March 25, 2009


There is a Historic Path Open for Rick Pitino (Kentucky.com), head coach at Louisville. With the Midwest Region seeing their share of upsets, the path of the Cardinals has become a bit easier than the other top seeds face. Rick Pitino is on a quest to become the 13th college basketball head coach with multiple NCAA Tournament championships, but he is vying to be the first to do it with two different schools. And, the irony, it would be with two schools that are bitter rivals in Kentucky and Louisville.

The odds are very good that a Pitino-coached team will reach the Elite 8 if they advance through the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Pitino is an Elite 8-0 in Sweet 16 (Courier-Journal) in his coaching career. Arizona, the region's 12th-seed, will test that mark next.

The Evening Bulletin breaks down the remaining field of 16, naming Louisville Still the Favorite as Pitino Can 'Smell the Final Four (Kentucky.com) as he readies his Cards for Arizona, a team quite similar in makeup to his own.

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LOUISVILLE (T-)WILL(ED) TO SWEET 16

March 23, 2009

Louisville has the T-Will to win this season. T-Will as in Terrence Williams!

"Four assists, 24 points, 15 rebounds, 4 for 6 from the 3. That's gigantic," Rick Pitino said of William's performance against Siena. "Big time performance. I'm real proud of him. He's a special young man."

Louisville needed every bit of that T-Will performance to get past Siena and move into the Sweet 16, 79-72.

After trailing by as many as 14 in the first half, Siena cut the Cardinal leads to five at the half and had the Dayton Arena a buzz after a 23-7 run gave the Saints a 63-57 lead with 7:52 left.

Louisville then went on a 9-0 run, ignited by a T-Will putback basket and three-pointer and capped by another T-Will basket to take a 66-63 lead.

"He definitely stepped up," Louisville junior forward Earl Clark said of T-Will's clutch performance. "I expect that from him. He's our leader and he's a great player, one of the best forwards in the country."

Freshman Samardo Samuels added 13 points and Earl Clark, along with Williams, had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the win.

As the #1 seed in the Midwest, Louisville heads to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on Arizona in the Regional Semifinals this week.

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NCAA TOURNAMENT PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE VS SIENA

March 22, 2009


Louisville shook off a pesky Morehead State after halftime for a 74-54 first round win on Friday. The Cards' defense stole the show, again, forcing MSU into several early second half turnovers as UL scored the first 10 points after intermission to turn a two-point lead into a 12-point bulge and they were never threatened again.

On Sunday in Dayton, the Midwest's top seed will meet the ninth seed Siena, who upset local favorite Ohio State, 74-72, in double OT. It was the second consecutive year Siena sprang an opening round upset as they ousted Vanderbilt in a romp last year in Round One.

"The whole team is really good and very deserving of the victory yesterday, and certainly it will be more of a neutral site now for both of us than it would have been if Ohio State would have won," Rick Pitino said of Siena's win over the Buckeyes.

When Louisville and Siena meet, defense will be played all over the court. The Cards will use their fullcourt press, which is the best edition of the press coach Pitino has had since coming to Louisville, according to him. Siena used a three-quarter court press in their win over Ohio State and it was very effective.

"It's certainly a very good pressing team and one that the key for us is to shoot a high percentage so we can get it on a number of times," Pitino said of his club.

While both teams will focus on guard play, it is the frontcourt that will separate Louisville the most from Siena. The Saints just do not have the size, athletic ability or depth to match up with Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels/Terrence Jennings, which could be a future NBA frontcourt.

While UL is loaded with talent, Rick Pitino is certainly saying all the right things to make sure his players respect the talent level of their opponent.

"Siena could go into the Big East right now and be in the middle of the pack of the
Big East and hold their own with any of us, obviously indicative of who they played," said Pitino as the Saints have played at Pitt and Kansas this season.

Still, if they are a 'middle of the pack' in the Big East, on Sunday, they get the top dog of the Big East. The emotional high of the two-OT win over Ohio State could be a slight drain on the Saints, anything put a top-level performance against this Cardinal defense, and you pay the price. The college basketball betting odds show Louisville as an 11 1/2-point favorite. While Siena is a nice story, their Cinderella hopes will end on Sunday in Dayton.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 79
Siena 68

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NO. 1 SEED LOUISVILLE ADVANCES IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

March 21, 2009


Another 16-seed looked poised to make live difficult for a one-seed as Morehead State went into halftime trailing Louisville by just two points, 35-33.

These two teams met back in November in the season opener for Louisville. After a sluggish first half, the Cards dominated, winning 79-41, the script on Friday looked mighty similar.

A 10-0 run in the first 3:18 of the second half with three Morehead State turnovers put the Cards on their way to a 74-54 opening round win.

“It all started from Andre [McGee on] defense, said Samardo Samuels. “As Coach said, his defense and everybody just followed behind him.”

Louisville forced Morehead State into 12 second-half turnovers and 20 in the game. Andre McGee set the pace with being credited with 5 steals.

“Andre McGee is the key times 10 to our basketball team,” said Louisville head coach Rick Pitino. “He gets everybody pressing, everybody playing defense, and he just does it for one reason. He's not trying to impress anybody. He just does it because he has a deep passion to win. I'm real proud of him, because what he does is tough to do.”

Samardo Samuels led UL with 15 points and Terrence Williams added 13 points and 9 rebounds while Earl Clark added 12 points and 5 assists.

Louisville will take on Siena, who knocked off Ohio State in double overtime, on Sunday right back in Dayton again.

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LOUISVILLE FACES FAMILIAR FOE

March 20, 2009


Louisville, the top overall seed of the 2009 NCAA Tournament will begin the NCAA Tournament the same way they began the 2008-2009 regular season, by playing Morehead State. The Cards dumped the Eagles 79-41 back on November 22nd in Freedom Hall. This time, the teams will meet in Dayton in a NCAA Tourney 1st round match-up.

It is pretty surprising that Morehead State is playing in the Big Dance. After opening the season with six consecutive losses, the Eagles righted the ship and won 12 of their first 15 games in the Ohio Valley Conference. However, four consecutive losses just prior to the OVC Tournament had Morehead St. heading in the wrong direction, but the Eagles rebounded and captured the conference's automatic bid with a thrilling 67-65 double OT win at Austin Peay in the tournament finale.

Still, there was work ahead for Morehead State before they could get a rematch with Louisville, they were in the play-in game. Kenneth Faried led MSU with 14 points and 21 rebounds as the Eagles got past Alabama State Tuesday evening in Dayton, 58-43, improving to 20-16 on the season.

"These teams get there because they have talented basketball players," Rick Pitino said of lower NCAA Tournament seeds. "And we realize Morehead is a talented team and that if we don't take care of business it could be the same type of game (as Memphis had earlier)."

"So we have great respect for what they do, and if you don't, that's how you go home. If you don't have great respect for every little detail, you go home earlier than expected."

Louisville earned their lofty seed by winning the Big East regular season crown with a 16-2 record, although many were still pointing at the two teams directly behind them in the standings, Pitt and UConn, as the teams to beat in the Big Dance from the Big East. Louisville followed their regular season crown with a Big East Tournament championship in NYC last weekend, a tournament that the Panthers and Huskies failed to win a game in.

Rick Pitino points to better passing and the understanding of the players what are good shots. He can even look back at the opening game of the season and show how they perform when they are passing and when they are not.

"It was interesting, even in the Morehead State game, we took 9 challenge shots in the first half and shot 29 percent," said Pitino. "In the second half, we took 2 challenge shots and shot 67 percent. And that even though that was a long time ago, that's a true indicator of what we do well, and when things don't go our way it's due to poor passing and taking challenge shots. We're conscious of that and I think we've improved dramatically because of it."

So, an improved Louisville team getting a first round re-match against a team they blew out by 38 points already? Almost have to wonder why the college basketball betting line is 'only' 20 1/2. Is there a letdown for Louisville coming after the emotional high of capturing their first Big East title?

That could certainly happen, but the athletic ability of Terrence Williams and Earl Clark at the forward positions and an intense coach Pitino on the sideline demanding defensive pressure from start to finish, the UL energy level will be rising quickly at gametime.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 83
Morehead St. 58

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BET GAME PREVIEW: LOUISIVLLE VS VILLANOVA

March 13, 2009


After seeing conference co-favorites fall last night, Louisville is left standing in Friday's semifinal round of the 2009 Big East Tournament after getting past Providence, 73-55, in Thursday afternoon quarterfinal action. The Cards' defense was strong again, forcing 26 Friar turnovers and converting points inside with Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels leading the way.

Villanova looked like they were cruising into the semifinal match-up with the Cards by taking a 16-point halftime lead over Marquette. However, there was no easy way into the semi's as Marquette stormed back and took a late lead on the Wildcats. Villanova beat the buzzer with a Dwayne Anderson lay-up and broke the hearts of the Golden Eagles.

Here are some pregame stories and previews on tonight's match-up:

It's Villanova at the Buzzer (Philadelphia Inquirer)
After Surviving, Villanova Gets Louisville (Hartford Courant)
Cardinals Ward off Curse of the Garden (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Villanova and Louisville met once in the regular season with the Cards surviving a one-point win as the Wildcats missed several point-blank opportunities in the closing seconds to win. It is expected that tonight's clash could come down to a similar nail-biting finish.

Louisville's strength this season is forcing turnovers with their constant pressure. The wildcats might be one of the few teams they can rattle with the press as Villanova has an experienced guard corps that represent their strength of the team.

Junior Scottie Reynolds and sophomore Corey Fisher make an exciting backcourt pair that can play both ends of the court. Junior Reggie Redding is a defensive specialist that is quickly becoming one of the best 'glue' guys in the NCAA with his timely scoring and terrific passing. His dribble-drive and dish to senior Dwayne Anderson was the game winner on Thursday afternoon. Anderson, like on Thursday, is always in the right place at the right time and his classmates Shane Clark and Dante Cunningham, the league's most improved player, should hold their own against the Cards front line.

With guard play so key in the postseason, Villanova has the pieces to make things VERY interesting.

Louisville will rely on their tremendous front line trio of Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels, all of whom could be 1st round NBA draft picks as early as this June. Williams and Clark are versatile stars that create tough match-ups on both ends of the court.

Where Louisville will need a strong performance is from their backcourt. Villanova will apply their own type of pressure, extending their defense in the halfcourt out into the perimeter to try and make passing into the post difficult in an order to negate the UL size advantage.

This game should be another tight one down to the wire. Going out on the limb, with Villanova a 4 1/2-point underdog according to the early odds, it could be another Big East upset.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Villanova 68
Louisville 66

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LOUISVILLE LOOKS TO EXTINGUISH FRIARS NCAA HOPES

March 12, 2009


Providence kept their NCAA Tournament hopes alove as a Late Friars Surge Holds Off DePaul and PC ends the Blue Demons' season with an 83-74 win.

Sharaud Curry led PC with 25 points and Weyinmi Efejuku added 23 in the win in a game that Keno Davis' squad could not afford to lose.

Their reward is a date with the 2009 Big East Tournament's No. 1 seed, Louisville, at high noon today at Madison Square. At stake for PC could be a bid to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Here are some pregame stories and previews on tonight's game:

Providence Friars Eye NCAA Tournament Bid (Hartford Courant)
Friars Survive Big Day for Two Blue Demons (Courier-Journal)
Pitno Denied the Honors He Deserves (Courier-Journal)
Cards: New York Not Neutral (Courier-Journal)
Friars Used Bye to their Advantage Against DePaul (Providence Journal)
After Win over DePaul, Providence Season Comes Down to Louisville Game (Providence-Journal)
Friars Hung in With Louisville in February - For Awhile (Providence Journal)


Despite a 10-8 Big East regular season, earning a bye as the 8th place team in a conference once thought of as a 10-bid league, it is likely that Providence will need a win over Louisville in the Big East Tournamant quarterfinals to secure a spot in the 'Big Dance' when the selections are announced on Sunday. That is an awfully tall order for the Friars, who lost at Louisville back on February 18th, 94-76.

While the 18-point difference seems daunting, there are a few facts to keep in mind about the previous meeting. The Friars shot 50% from the floor in enemy territory and out-rebounded the Cards. However, the difference in the game was turnovers. PC turned the ball over 22 times (while just forcing UL to turn it over 9 times) as the UL press took its toll.

The Friars need to do a better job against the pressure, and there is no reason to believe they will not. They have the experience of going through it once and the game tape to improve on their mistakes. They have a veteran back court with redshirt junior Sharaud Curry along with four senior starters in Weyinmi Efejuku, Jeff Xavier, Geoff McDermott and Jonathan Kale. This group has pulled together before, in a stirring upset of Pittsburgh, and they can definitely do it once again.

In order to do so, they will have to prevent Terrence Williams and Earl Clark from turning their defensive pressure into quick strike points the other way. The Friars have to defend the perimeter in earnest, not allowing Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith and Preston Knowles to find comfort shooting from the perimeter. PC showed they could rebound and score against UL, now they need to show they can handle the ball.

Louisville will be the test case for the double-bye as they will be playing their first game in the Big East Tournament. All the favorites won on Wednesday, as expected, but there definitely seems to be a severe drop from the top 7 (or eight if PC can prove themselves worthy) and the rest of the league. These next three days should be awfully fun!! With their defensive pressure, the Cards should be able to wear down PC and that is likely to make the difference for, according to the morning college basketball odds the favorite in the contest.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 75
Providence 68

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LOUISVILLE HUNTS BIG EAST TITLE IN MORGANTOWN

March 7 2009


By Zach Smart

No longer regarded as a team front-loaded with sharpshooters, analysts have enjoyed watching the development of the youth movement at West Virginia.

Though WVU coach Bobby Huggins typically dreads playing freshman immediately and does his best to get them acclimated to his sophisticated defense, he took a different route this year.

The triumvirate of Kevin Jones, Devin Ebanks, and Darryl "Truck" Bryant have grown by leaps and bounds in one season in Morgantown. They've helped complement the 1-2 punch of Da'Sean Butler and Alex Ruoff. Butler, who erupted for a wowing 43-point showing during a significant victory over Villanova, is averaging a team-high 17 ppg, Ruoff 16.

Ruoff, recruited by John Beilein as strictly a three-point sniper, has also undergone a great deal of player development. He barrels his way to the basket with ease now, as opposed to hanging out on the perimeter. He takes people off the dribble and bursts out a nice, step-back jumper. He's even gotten his elbows dirty and developed a nose for the ball, delivering put-backs and scoring on second chance opportunities. While this aspect of his game has panned out as of late, he's no Mike Gansey. Speaking of the 6-foot-4 freak with pogo stick hops, anyone know the white wonder of the world's whereabouts?

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Read More on today's game...Click 'Read More' Below!!!

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But this is Louisville, folks, a team with enough talent and depth and experience to pencil in as a potential final four team.

The Cardinals rolled away with a 69-63 victory last time the two teams met, albeit WVU fought valiantly. The Cardinals nearly surrendered a bulky 20-point edge but were able to group together and gut out the victory.

The Cardinals shot nearly 56 percent from the floor and got a major boost from their role players, who made up for pin-drop quiet nights from Terrence Williams and Earl Clark.

Jerry Smith scorched the nets to the tune of a season-high 20 points. He shot the rock at a 7-for-8 clip and the Mountaineers, once the team that bred shooters from the farm, had no answer.

They closed it to within four points with 2:16 remaining, but the Cardinals wouldn't falter.

Louisville has been on a tear, ripping off six consecutive victories after an embarrassing, 90-57 washout at Notre Dame. They've beaten opponents by a whopping 20.4 points during their recent win streak, showing no mercy. The streak is underscored by an 18-point victory over Georgetown and a tight, four-point victory that knocked Marquette out of the chase for conference supremacy.

Earl Clark, who will bolt for the NBA after this season, has been a big part of the team's success.

The 6-foot-9 New Jersey native who's received athletic gifts from God that GMs and agents brawl for had 27 points and 14 boards during the 95-78 win the Cardinals stamped on Seton Hall. Against Georgetown, Clark got to the charity stripe--where he was 9-for-13-- early and often.

Simply put, Clark is the reputable five-tool talent in basketball. He can shoot, distribute, handle the ball, bang, and play defense. Having Clark in uniform certainly helps Rick Pitino and Louisville's NCAA Odds.

Terrence Williams, who's sky-rocketed to stardom his senior year, has been just as efficient. He's averaging 12.6 points but like his teammate, he can provide balance in the stat sheet and his defense and strength could prove problematic.

West Virginia has had their fair share of eye-popping wins this year. A 30-point clubbing of Ohio State and the aforementioned victory over Villanova stand out for themselves.

Against a Louisville team that's starting to feel the mayhem that the month of March inevitably creates--and obviously, the Cardinals have ripped through the tail end of their conference schedule in shark-size bites--an upset seems unlikely.

Louisville Playing for Share of Big East Crown (SportingNews.com)
Alex Ruoff Ready to Enter WVU Record Books (Times West Virginian)
Can’t Turn it over vs. Cards (Charleston Gazette)
It’s All in the Cards (wvmetronews.com)
WVU Students Pumped for ESPN Gameday Visit (Charleston Gazette)
A Full Event of Memories Hits Morgantown in Finale (Wheeling Register)
Flowers Doing the Little Things (Wheeling Register)
Ready to Go (Times West Virginian)
A Lot on the Line for Cardinals (Louisville Courier-Journal)


NBE Blogger Prediction:

West Virginia 67
Louisville 65

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LOUISVILLE SENIORS GO OUT WITH A BANG OVER SHU

March 5, 2009


Louisville fans got to send out seniors Terrence Williams, Andre McGee and Will Scott, as well as junior Earl Clark, in style as the Cards Rock a Couple of Halls (Louisville Courier-Journal) with a 95-78 win over Seton Hall last night in Freedom Hall.

Earl Clark had a career-high 27 points and added 14 rebounds, Terrence Williams finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks and Williams surpassed the 500-assist mark in the game, making him the only player in U of L history to reach 1,400 points, 800 rebounds and 500 assists. Rounding out the night's honorees was Andre McGee added 11 and Will Scott chipping in two points.

The win allows the Cards to keep pace with UConn for first place in the Big East and with a win Saturday night at West Virginia Louisville will finish with no worse than a tie for the Big East regular season crown depending on the outcome of the Huskies date with Pitt earlier in the afternoon.

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: SETON HALL @ LOUISVILLE

March 4, 2009



Louisville has (T-)willed themselves into position to claim the Big East regular season crown and there is going to be a lot of emotion in Freedom Hall tonight as the fans take the opportunity to bid farewell to the seniors on the UL roster. They will also get a chance to honor Earl Clark, a junior, who has made his intentions of heading to the NBA after this season very clear.

Terrence Williams, Andre McGee and Will Scott will be the trio of seniors playing their final game in Freedom Hall and the Louisville faithful will be very determined to help send them out on a high note with a win over visiting Seton Hall.

The Pirates also have something to play for as they hope to do enough in the regular season to have a shot at a bid to the NIT following the 2009 Big East Tournamant next week at Madison Square Garden. The Pirates are 15-13 overall, 6-10 in the Big East, so the odds are quite slim as a win over Louisville or Cincinnati, both road games, will likely be needed prior to NYC.

Here are some pregame stories and previews on tonight's game:

Farewell to four Who Fared Well (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Louisville’s Scott Closing in on MBA, Not NBA (SportingNews.com)
UL Senior Day: Feast for the Eyes, Ears (Courier-Journal)

Last season Seton Hall upset Louisville in the Prudential Center, a fact that Rick Pitino will likely use to help motivate his squad, who last season finished one-game behind Georgetown in the regular season standings. This season, Louisville can claim at least a share of the regular season crown by beating the Pirates and West Virginia this week to close out the regular season. So, with senior night and the regular season title on the line, not to mention the possibility of a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament as well, there is plenty at stake for the Cards.

Seton Hall seemed to unravel a bit against Pittsburgh in their final home game before a sell-out crown Saturday night at 'The Rock' in Newark (NJ). The Pirates lost 89-78, but Pitt led by as much as 19 before a surge in the final minute against the Panthers' walk-ons made the final a bit more cosmetically pleasing. Seton Hall was assessed three technical fouls in the game and their frantic team personality seems to wear on opponents, officials and, even in some cases, each other at times.

The Pirates will likely try and create a frantic pace against UL and turn Cardinal miscues into quick points, usually with Jeremy Hazell firing away from the three-point line. However, unlike most nights, SHU will see a team looking to press them as well, so while the pace of the game may be in the SHU comfort zone, UL just has more players, and more talented players, to make it work for them.

The college basketball betting odds list UL as a 16 1/2-point favorite in tonight's game. With the emotion and high stakes for the Cards, expect them to put forth a strong effort, especially on the defensive end of the court.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 85
Seton Hall 67

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LOUISVILLE REMAINS IN BIG EAST TITLE HUNT

March 2, 2009


Life after Dominic James began for Marquette on Sunday with an afternoon showdown in Freedom Hall against Louisville, a former Conference USA rival. The Golden Eagles put forth a good fight in a tough situation, but MU's Shooting Woes Contribute to Defeat (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) as the Cards pull out a 62-58 victory in the Big East conference showdown.

On Sunday afternoon, the impact of playing without James was evident as the Golden Eagles managed to shoot just 34% from the field and register just seven team assists. McNeal, possibly trying to put too much on his own shoulders, struggled through a miserable offensive afternoon by shooting 3-19 from the floor and finishing with 10 points.

Wesley Mathews led MU with 19 points and Lazar Hayward added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game.

Of course, Louisville had an impact on the MU shooting woes as the Cards' Defense Was Delightful Against Familiar Foe (Courier-Journal) and held the usually high-scoring Golden Eagles to 58 points, well below their season average.

In throwback uniforms and Rick Pitino breaking out the all-white suit for the Freedom Hall 'white-out', the Cardinals Dress to Thrill (Kentucky.com) and deliver as they move to 14-2 in the conference, keeping their regular season title hopes alive.

Andre McGee had a team-high 16 points and Terrence Williams added 14 points, 8 rebounds and seven assists, filling the stat sheet as usual. Earl Clark posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds to help the cause.

Louisville will close their home schedule on Wednesday night by hosting Seton Hall and then close the regular season in Morgantown Saturday night against West Virginia ahead of the 2009 Big East Tournament.

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