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