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