UNC-C HANDS PITINO COACHED LOUISVILLE WORST HOME LOSS

The score certainly caught many people by surprise as Louisville suffered an 87-65 home loss to UNC-Charlotte. It was a tough night for the Cards as Charlotte Catches Cards With their Guards Down (Louisville Courier-Journal) in front of more than 19,000 fans in Freedom Hall.

Jerry Smith joined the UL wounded Thursday with a strained Achilles' tendon. Preston Knowles (thumb) and Peyton Siva (wrist) already were hurting and out of action once again, too. However, with their frontcourt intact and being outrebounded significantly by the 49ers on Saturday, Injuries Aren't All that Ails Louisville Basketball Team (Louisville Courier-Journal). Samardo Samuels played just 19 minutes, scoring 14 points and grabbing just four rebounds, watching Charlotte frosh Chris Braswell have his way inside scoring 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds as UNC-C dominated the glass with a 49-35 rebounding advantage.

UL has now lost two of three and will host Western Carolina this coming Saturday. The Cards expect Knowles to return to the line-up, it is unclear when Smith or Siva will be ready to play.