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

Read more!

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

Read more!

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

Read more!

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

Read more!

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

Read more!

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?

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

-


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

Read more!

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

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE @ GEORGETOWN

February 23, 2009


Big Monday is upon us once again and a match-up that looked like a big one a couple months ago now becomes possibly a last stand for one participant in the regular season for the NCAA Tournament chances of the Georgetown Hoyas. After starting the season with much-hype and expectations, which hit a crescendo after a conference-opening upset of UConn, Georgetown staggers into tonight's game with a 5-9 Big East mark. Georgetown has lost eight of their last 10 games, only beating lowly Rutgers and South Florida along the way.

Louisville is very much in the Big East title chase, just a half-game behind conference leader Connecticut, tied with Marquette and Pittsburgh. At 12-2 in the Big Eat and 21-5 overall, the Cards have their eyes on a high seed in the Big Dance and another win on the road will help that case.

Here are a few pregame stories and previews:

Cards in Third Long Weekend (Courier-Journal)
Hoyas Miss Finishing Touch (Washington Times)
With Little Time, Hoyas are Facing a Long Climb (Washington Post)


We keep waiting for Georgetown to snap out of their funk and play to their potential for a full game. They came close to knocking off Syracuse in the Dome recently let a chance for a quality win over Marquette slip away this past weekend. The Marquette-Louisville two-game swing, both at home, was a chance for the Hoyas to put themselves back on track, now they must have tonight's game for even a mathematical chance at reaching .500 in the Big East season.

The season has been a frustrating one and signs of frustrations boiling over have been seen as reports of a halftime confrontation between starting guards Jesse Sapp and Chris Wright during the loss to Duke had surfaced. Sapp, the lone scholarship senior on the roster, has seen his minutes dwindle more and more since that time, leaving the Hoyas nearly void of any upper-class leadership. Junior DaJuan Summers is their leading scorer, but has battled an injured ankle and inconsistency.

Wright, a sophomore, is in his first full season as the starting point guard after following in the shoes of Jonathan Wallace, who started four-straight years under John Thompson III. Wright is still learning the intricacies of leading an offense as complex as the one used by Georgetown and the continuity of the attack has not been the same. With a team very short on depth and experience, they have been hit hard by the depth of the Big East.

Louisville has been pretty much playing to their season expectation. While guard play is still a bit too inconsistent, their bread is buttered by senior Terrence Williams and junior Earl Clark. With freshman center Samardo Samuels, the Cards boast a nearly NBA-ready frontcourt in the college game. Williams was in a little of an offensive slump recently, mostly attributed to a sore elbow, but he has been 'on' the last two games, highlighted by his 20-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist and 3-steal performance Saturday in a 72-63 win at Cincinnati.

Louisvlle will look to press throughout the game against a Hoya team very limited in ball-handling options and look to test the decision making and feel of the offense of Chris Wright. Of course, being able to set up the press is dependent on scoring, so the UL guards will need to show the ability to convert buckets to get the press started.

Louisville is the deeper team and that depth should help Louisville, a 1 1/2-point favorite, press the Hoyas into another loss.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 69
Georgetown 62

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE @ CINCINNATI

February 21, 2009


Another game with big NCAA Tournament implications is taking place in Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon when the Bearcats will welcome in Rick Pitino and Louisville. Mick Cronin will face his former mentor in a game UC will look to steal to but their NCAA Tournament chances in much better light.

After starting conference play 0-3, UC has won seven of their last 10 to move to 7-6 in the Big East and 17-9 overall. The Bearcats own a pair of wins over Georgetown and a win over Notre Dame, but two losses to Providence put them in a precarious situation. They have an advantage over PC with out of conference wins against a decent UAB and Mississippi State, but a road win over UNLV might be their strongest argument to date for inclusion in the tournament. That being said, there next three games with UL, West Virginia and Syracuse will likely decide their fate. They must win won and not slip up in their last two (at USF, vs SHU) in order to head to the Big East Tournament with a chance at a bid to the Dance.

While Louisville is safely in the NCAA Tournament at this point in the season, Rick Pitino knows this game is very important to both teams.

“Obviously we’re fighting for a Big East championship and they’re fighting for a shot in the NCAA Tournament,” Pitino said in this week’s coaches conference call.

Also, fresh in the minds of many Louisville players is the 58-57 loss the Cards suffered in the first game of the conference schedule last season, a loss they have certainly been reminded of this season.

It is a tough match-up for UC as the Cards will apply pressure all game long and could wear out UC star Deonta Vaughn. If Vaughn is unable to carry the load offensively, as well as the added ball-handling duties as the team’s point guard, it will be a long day for the Bearcats, even on their home floor.

The Louisville frontline also has a solid advantage with Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels, all strong NBA prospects. Look for that talent to overwhelm UC with the press and quick-strike scoring abaility.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 69
Cincinnati 62


Cards Prepping for Improved Cincinnati (SI.com)
Cards are Less Fashionable After Loss to Notre Dame (Courier-Journal)
Cronin: Losing is a Great Motivator (Courier-Journal)
A Nastier Gates Would be Pretty Nice for UC (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Playing in Reverse, Cards Move Forward (Courier-Journal)
Cards Wearing the No Frills Look Well (Courier-Journal)
Cincinnati’s Rebound Bears Cronin’s Stamp (Courier-Journal)

Read more!

PITINO LOOKS TO BEAST FORMER SCHOOL

February 18, 2009


One had to feel for DePaul over the weekend. Possibly the worst Big East team in recent memory was on the road facing a very angry Rick Pitino coached team and it was no contest as Louisville got well against the Blue Demons in a 99-54 drubbing in Freedom Hall. Louisville looks to remain in the 4-way deadlock of teams with two Big East losses when the Providence Friars come to Freedom Hall.

The Friars are an interesting dilemma for the NCAA Tournament committee. As of today, PC has an 8-5 Big East record. PC has two wins over Cincinnati and a victory over Syracuse, other than that, their best victory is over Rhode Island and they dropped every non-conference game of significance as well as their opener with Northeastern. In their last five games, PC has the Cards, as well as Notre Dame, Pitt and Villanova on the schedule. Assuming a win against Rutgers, PC would definitely have to win at least one of the four games against quality teams on the schedule for a chance at a tournament bid.

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

Pitino: Cards are Showing Purpose (Courier-Journal)
Crunch Time in Big East Has Arrived for Friars (Providence Journal)
PC at Louisville (Providence Journal)
Delk Out, Williams In When Cards Meet Providence (Louisville Courier-Journal)

Providence is a pretty good match-up for the Cards. PC is not a strong defensive team and they prefer a higher pace of a game. This should allow Louisville to score points and when they score, they can set-up their fullcourt pressure. Also, pressure is something that PC is susceptible to as they do tend to turn the ball over in bunches.

The Friars will rely on the three-point shooting ability of point guard Sharaud Curry and guards Jeff Xaiver and Brian McKenzie as well as the slashing skills of Weyinmi Efejuku and Marshon Brooks for much of their offensive output. Louisville's defense is designed to stop this kind of attack and matches up well.

On offense, the Cards should look to go inside to Samardo Samuels and use the inside/out abilities of Earl Clark. If Terrence Williams' wrist is close to 100% and he is an offensive threat, Louisville should cruise to victory as a 13 1/2-point favorite in this contest.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 82
Providence 67

Read more!

LOUISVILLE HOPES DEPAUL IS A CURE FOR WHAT AILS CARDS OFFENSE

February 15, 2009


Can it get much worse for DePaul? After being blasted on their home court by Seton Hall, 72-49, they now must head to Louisville to meet a very angry bunch of Cards in Freedom Hall. The Blue Demons are now 0-12 in the Big East and the winnable games on their schedule have pretty much dried up completely.

Louisville has been roughed up twice in their last three games, at home to No. 1 UConn and on the road against Notre Dame in their last game out. Having lost two of three after starting Big Easat play 8-0 is not sitting well with the Cards, whose offense has sputtered tremendously in the last three and a half games.

Here are some pregame stories and previews found today:

Cards Sick of Viewing Irish Tape (Courier-Journal)
DePaul’s Road Gets Tougher With Angry Louisville (Chicago Tribune)
Pitino: Team Moving on From Irish Drubbing (Courier-Journal)


DePaul has been a shaky ball-handling team and with Jabari Currie out for the season, their ball-handling is under tremendous pressure. The Louisville full court press will be a constant test of the young guards in the Blue Demon backcourt. However, the Louisville press can only set-up after they score, and that has been difficult lately.

The offensive problems that contributed to out of conference losses to Western Kentucky, Minnesota and UNLV have seemed to resurfaced for the Cards lately and Rick Pitino is in need of putting life back into their attack. DePaul should be a good a good elixir for what ails a team, so we will see if the Cards can get back on track this afternoon.

Dar Tucker and Mac Koshwal lead Jerry Wainwright’s attack, but they will certainly be facing an angry opponent today. Getting offensive production from Will Walker will be the key in keeping this game close, which might be all that DePaul can hope for.

Louisville needs their guards to pick up their play, a question that was under the microscope prior to the season and we are in mid-February and that question remains. Finding some form of consistency from Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Preston Knowles and Andre McGee is imperative as the stretch starts. You know what you will get, more than not, from Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and the freshman interior duo of Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings, now they need the same from their backcourt.

The Cards are a 21 ½-point home favorite. While it is no doubt that UL is a MUCH better tram than DePaul, that seems like a lot of points for a struggling offense.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 73
DePaul 55

Read more!

LOUISVILLE LOOKS TO EXTEND IRISH MISERY

February 12, 2009



It has now been more than a month since the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team has tasted victory. Their last win game at home on January 10th, 88-79 over Seton Hall. The losing streak started off normal enough, losing back-to-back road games at Louisville, which went into overtime, and at Syracuse. Then came back-to-back home losses, ending the 45-game Irish home win streak. Again, however, losing to arguably the nation's best team, Connecticut, and a surging Marquette squad in itself would not be something to sound an alarm on. The came out swinging against Pittsburgh on the road, but were run out of the building in the second half and the losing streak was suddenly at five games.

In the Big East, it is funny (well, not if your a coach, player or fan of a team in the conference) how a little snowflake can turn into a snowball and then start an avalanche. Losing at Louisville, in overtime, a game they had chances to win, probably did not knock the Irish down too much...but, it got the snowball headed down the hill.

Those five losses dropped the Irish to 3-6 in the Big East. Still, one could reason that more than 90% of Division 1-A college basketball teams would have gone 0-5 in that gauntlet, so Notre Dame headed to Cincinnati looking to re-start their season. Instead, they allowed 93 points and looked like a defeated team when they were run out of the building against UCLA on Saturday.

So, now ND has a seven-game losing streak. Overall record has dropped to 12-10 and the NCAA Tournament, which just a month ago seemed like a lock with a possible protected seed is now a long-shot. ND needs wins, they need big wins, but really, they need ANY win right now. It will not come easy hosting a Louisville team that is 9-1 in the Big East and 18-4 overall, but seeing that UL has really struggled offenisvely in their last 100 minutes of basketball, maybe there can be some life yet for the Irish.

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

Banged Up Louisville Visits Fighting Irish (Chicago Tribune)
Many Reasons for Notre Dame's Collapse (Chicago Tribune)
Formula Found to Fluster Fighting Irish (Journal-Gazette)
Cardinals' Samuels Banged Up, Fired Up (Courier-Journal)
Scary Talent Await Irish (South Bend Tribune)
Irish Attempt to Stop Bleeding Against Fifth-Ranked cards (Kentucky.com)

If your offense is struggling, there might not be a better site for a major conference college team on the horizon than a date with Notre Dame. After scoring 45 points in the opening 20 minutes in a 69-63 win over West Virginia almost two weeks ago, somebody turned the switch off on the UL 'O' and has forgot to turn it back on. Since that first half, UL scored 24 points in the second half against WVU, 51 in the entire game against UConn and then struggled, before hitting a plethora of late minute free throws, in a 60-47 win on Sunday over St. John's.

In their last three losses, ND has allowed nearly 92 points a game against teams that are not known for high offensive outputs (UCLA, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati). The free-flowing game that the Irish prefer is certainly to allow the Cards to find their comfort zone more easily and with buckets, Louisville will unleash their full court pressure, and area that the Cards should have excellent success with against the Irish.

I keep waiting for the Irish to come out on fire and knocking down three's at a high rate. Well, they did do that against Pitt, making 11 in the first half alone, but this team seems so allergic to playing defense that any success almost seems like foos gold as once the game gets into a grind, they do not have the willpower or confidence to overcome any adversity. Louisville is a team that thrives in putting the opposition through adversity, can Notre Dame respond?

Louisville is a 3 1/2-point favorite on the road. The proof in this one is all on the Irish to compete, you know Rick Pitino will have his team defending and rebounding. Look for their offense to return and earn the road win.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 77
Notre Dame 70

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE @ ST. JOHN'S

February 8, 2009

Since joining the Big East, Madison Square Garden has not been a friendly place for the Louisville men’s basketball team. However, this year’s Cards have risen into the top five of the national rankings with an 8-1 Big East record and a 17-4 mark overall. This afternoon, they take on the Redstorm of St. John’s in the world’s most famous arena.

St. John’s has battled injuries and youth and sit at 3-7 in the Big East and 12-10 overall. While injuries have left them short-handed all season, this is as healthy as they will be the rest of the season with Malik Boothe and Rob Thomas returning to the line-up in the last week or so.

Cards Tweak Where They’re Weak (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Line-up is Pressing Issue for Cards (Courier-Journal)


The college basketball lines list Louisville as a 10 ½ point favorite on the road. A healthy number, but the Cards are coming off a 68-51 loss at home to No. 1 UConn in a much-hyped game. The result has seemed to leave Rick Pitino reeling a bit as line-up changes with Preston Knowles and Terrence Jennings possibly seeing increased time, if not starting roles, to fix the areas Pitino is not happy with. He is looking for more of a pressing and offensively attacking line-up and these players have been showing him the most improvement.

St. John’s could be very vulnerable to this attacking defense as their ballhandling is shaky, at best. The return of Boothe allows most player to return to their natural positions, improving their ballhandling as a team, but they are still a young team prone to mistakes under pressure.

St. John’s can also be very hot and cold with their offense, as can Louisville, so expect this game to be on the low-scoring end of things.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 67
St. John’s 57

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: CONNECTICUT @ LOUISVILLE

February 2, 2009


As long as the voters in the ESPN Coaches Poll and the AP Writers Poll do the expected, the Louisville Cardinals will be welcoming in the second No. 1 team to Freedom Hall in less than a month. Connecticut, on the strength of a 94-61 demolision of Providence, and a loss by Duke earlier in the week, is poised to make the move from #2 in the country to the top spot when the polls are released today.

Pittsburgh saw their reign as the country's No. 1 team come to an end with a 69-63 loss at Louisville back in January. Now, the Cards and a frenzied Freedom Hall crowd will look for a second #1 team to knock off as Big Monday commences with a battle of the two preseason Big East favorites.

UConn may be #1 in the country when these teams hit the floor tonight, but they are still looking up at Louisville in the Big East standings. The oddsmakers do not believe the latest run at No. 1 will last long either, pegging the Cards as 3 1/2-point favorites:

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

Now They've Got to Prove It (TheDay.com)
Pitino's Cards Primed for Late Push (Plain Dealer)
Just Another Big Game for Louisville (Courier-Journal)
Huskies Face Formidable Challenge (Rep-Am)
UConn Preview Capsule (Norwich Bulletin)
UConn Plays for Big East Lead (Norwich Bulletin)
Huskies Atop Basketball World - Again (Norwich Bulletin)
UConn set for Big Match-up with Louisville (Register Citizen)
History of UConn as #1 Team (Register Citizen)

This match-up starts right away in one area, the frontcourt. Each team has a starting frontline that could see all six players in the NBE within the next year or two. Louisville starts senior Terrence Williams, junior Earl Clark and freshman Samardo Samuels while UConn counters with junior Stanley Robinson, senior Jeff Adrien and junior Hasheem Thabeet. The UConn trio was instrumental in the thrashing of Providence over the weekend with Robinson playing his best game since returning to the program in December from a semester-long hiatus, finishing with 18 points and 7 rebounds in 27 minutes. Thabeet dominated the paint with a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocks. Adrien, who came into the PC game with six concesutive double-doubles of points and rebounds, scored 14 points and added 6 rebounds. As a team, UConn blocked 17 shots and outscored the Friars 56-27 after halftime.

Louisville had their own dominate half on Saturday, the first half, as the Cards blitzed West Virginia for a 45-25 lead at the half before putting the game on cruise control and winning 69-63. Jerry Smith hit seven of eight shots to finish with 20 points and freshman Terrence Jennings had a career-high 13 in the win.

Back on January 17th, Louisville played then-No. 1 Pittsburgh and knocked off the Panthers, 69-63, behind 20 points from Terrence Williams and an Earl Clark double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Cards pressure forced 20 Panther turnovers and limited DeJuan Blair to just 20 minutes because of foul trouble. A 19-3 run turned a 10 point deficit into a 6-point lead in the closing minutes and the Cards were victorious.

Tonight, UL will hope that pressure gets to the experienced UConn backcourt that features senior AJ Price, junior Jerome Dyson and senior Craig Austrie and frosh Kemba Walker off the bench. Price has been playing very well of late, averaging just over 19 points a game in the last five and connecting on 50% of this three-point attempts (13-26) in the span after a slow start to the season. Price getting back to form has UConn looking like the national title contender they were exected to be in the preseason as they have won nine in a row.

The Cards have been keyed by their (T-)will to win, as in Terrence Williams. The senior small forward does a little of everything in order to win. He plays defense (team leader in steals at 2.4/game), passes the ball (team leader in assists at 4.7/game), rebounds (team leader with 9.3/game) and scored at nearly a 13-point a game clip. In the last seven games, Williams is averaging 15 points, 11 rebounds, nearly 5 assists and over 2 steals a game.

The senior duo of Williams and Price will take center stage and it will be really interesting to see which one can lead his team to a victory. In the preseason, NBE selected Louisville as the league favorite with an ever so slight nod over UConn (mostly due to UConn's uncertainty with Ater Majok, Nate Miles and Stanley Robinson at the time). Both teams are on exceptional hot streaks and the Cards definitely have a favorable schedule here on out to take the conference crown. On this night, we expect a great game, going either way down the stretch, but the UConn experience and their more productive backcourt will prevail.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Connecticut 73
Louisville 68

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: CARDS LOOK TO EXTEND STREAK VS WVU

January 31, 2009


Louisville looks for their ninth consecutive win on Saturday afternoon when they host the Mountaineers of West Virginia. Bob Huggins’ club is 4-3 in conference play and 15-5 overall heading into the noon showdown at Freedom Hall.

After a slow start to the season, the Cards have been rolling since conference play began and are tied with Marquette atop the Big East at 7-0 in conference play. UL has to resist the urge to look ahead as they have a date with UConn looming on Monday night.

Here are some pregame stories and previews:

WVU at Home on the Road (Courier-Journal)
WVU Looking to Snap Louisville’s Streak (Register-Herald)
Louisville Shows Impressive Size, Depth (Charleston Gazette)
Cards Can Defend With Man or Zone (Daily Mail)
Freedom Riders (Charleston Gazette)
Looking for Big Win (Times West Virginian)

Louisville has been impressive since the beginning of conference play, impressing the pollsters as they have climbed to No. 7 in the latest rankings. They have also left an impression on WVU head coach Bob Huggins, and he is impressed.

“They’re good,” Huggins told media members this week during the coach’s conference call when addressing Louisville. “I think they’re the deepest team in the league…I think Rick [Pitino] does as good a job as anybody in our game of defining rolls and making sure everybody knows what they have to do. And then they just have incredible size. They stretch from one end of the floor in that 2-3 zone to the other.”

While the veteran WVU coach is saying all the right things publicly how impressed he is with Louisville, he is feeding his players motivation to try and steal a road win on Saturday. The Mountaineers certainly have an impressive stable of athletes that are also long and will get after it defensively, which is important in trying to win on the road.

This is likely a game where WVU misses a veteran guard handling the ball. Freshman Darryl ‘Truck’ Bryant is going to be under constant pressure, much like he was against Marquette. WVU will hope he took the game against the Golden Eagles as a learning experience to be applied in this one, because he will need to be smart with the ball and not get WVU out of their offense.

The other area of concern for WVU is in the middle where they do not have the size or bulk to slow down Samardo Samuels if Louisville dedicates themselves to going inside. The Mountaineers match-up elsewhere pretty well, but unless Alex Ruoff and Da’Sean Butler are both in the 20’s, the Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Samuels front line should be able to pull this one out. The Cards are 6 1/2 –point favorites.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisiville 67
West Virginia 61

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: CARDS LOOK TO CONTINUE STREAK VS USF

January 28, 2009


Red-hot Louisville will host South Florida in Freedom Hall this evening in a Big East conference match-up. The Cards are 6-0 in the Big East and have already won in South Florida earlier this month.

USF is 2-5 in Big East play with both wins coming against lowly DePaul. The Bulls have been dealing with injuries and distractions (arrests of Mike Mercer and Anthony Crater) and are likely in line for a long second half of the conference schedule.

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

Pitino: Bulls are Improved (Courier-Journal)
T-Will Figures it out in Fourth Year (Kentucky.com)
Jones Has a Shot at Bradley’s USF Records (Tampa Tribune)
Cards Set for South Florida (Courier-Journal)

The way things are setting up, Louisville might have the inside track at the regular season Big East championship. The home and home match-ups for the Cards include the Bulls, whom they have already beaten, Notre Dame, who is struggling mightily and West Virginia. No game is a gimme, and they can not afford to give one up in a spot like this.

With a frontline of Samardo Samuels, Earl Clark and Terrence Williams, the Cards have the firepower to overwhelm the Bulls. The Cards will unleash their full court pressure against a thin USF club that, even though their strength is in their backcourt, has trouble taking care of the ball.

Look for Louisville to rush out of the gate and then keep Dominique Jones and company at bay with their defense. Sometimes the UL offense might stall, so the NCAA basketball odds showing UL as a 17 ½-point favorite seems high, but these Cards are rolling along…

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 75
South Florida 57

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE HOPES DOME IS HOUSE OF CARDS

January 25, 2009


Big East action tips off with a highly anticipated showdown at noon in the Carrier Dome when Syracuse welcomes in Louisville. The Cards are riding high at 5-0 in the conference and out their six-game win streak on the line against the Orange.

SU has lost two of three after beginning conference play with four straight wins. The schedule has gotten tougher and now the Orange look to get back into the win column before the losses begin to pile up.

Orange Scouting Report: Louisville vs. Syracuse (Post-Standard)
Louisville Wary Heading into Syracuse (Kentucky.com)
Technical Issues Plague SU (Post-Standard)
Louisville’s Smith Scoring not up to Par (Courier-Journal)
Cards Aim to Impose T-Will (Post-Standard)
Cards Know Dome Can Spell Doom (Courier-Journal)

This game might act as a little bit of a moment of truth for the Orange. As they got off to their 15-1 start, 4-0 in the Big East, they were moving up in the eyes of many as a possible title contender in the Big East. After being thoroughly beaten by Georgetown and Pitt on the road, they have a crucial home game with red-hot Louisville.

SU has relied on Jonny Flynn heavily, but he will be facing pressure all game long against the Cards which will test his decision-making for 40 minutes. As a whole, decision making seems to be one area the SU team can improve upon.

The Cards have been getting great leadership from Terrence Williams and the front court duo of Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels could be lottery picks come June if they both declare.

SU will no doubt be energized by a large home crowd in the Dome. That will help with their intensity on the boards and defensively. I still think the Louisville guards are a notch below the level to carry them in this spot, but it should be a very good game that will come down to the end. If Andy Rautins is hitting some shots for the Orange, they will be in good shape to hold off the Cards.

The latest college basketball odds has the Orange listed as a 2 ½-point favorite on their home floor.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 73
Louisville 70

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE @ RUTGERS

January 21, 2009


Louisville will hope to extend their 4-0 start in Big East play while preventing Rutgers (0-5) from earning their first conference of the year.

The Cards come in hot after beating Notre Dame and knocking Pittsburgh from their top-ranked perch last week. Now, ahead of a date in the Carrier Dome against Syracuse this weekend, Louisville travels to take on Rutgers at the RAC.

Rutgers continues to sputter in the third year of the Fred Hill era. There was some new excitement around the program heading into the season as the Scarlet Knights added McDonalds All-American Mike Rosario and highly toured Greg Echenique to a line-up that had some solid returning players. However, much like the first two years under Hill, wins have been hard to come by in the Big East. Hill is now just 5-34 in Big East games as a head coach. With a new athletic director soon to be coming on board, the pressure on Hill and his staff to find some wins is sure to mount.

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

Rutgers Game Not a Trap Game to Cardinals (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Pitino Talks About Rutgers Match-up (Courier-Journal)
It's Apparent Cards Possess a T-Will to Win (Courier-Journal)
Pitino Pep Talk Charged Cards After Tough Loss (Kentucky.com)
Former St. Benedict's Stars Echenique and Samuels to Face Off Tonight (Star-Ledger)
Echenique, Samuels Meet Again (Asbury Park Press)

Although Louisville is saying all the right things, it is only natural to have a letdown tonight. That does not mean Rutgers is an 'upset' alert or the Cards will not win handily, but after the two tough games at home last week, overtime win over Notre Dame and stirring comeback against Pitt, the Cards probably need to take a breath and come up for air...and, with SU looming ahead this weekend, they might be taking that breath tonight.

On the flip side, and this makes this conference SOOOO tough, Rutgers is desperate for a win, playing at home against a hot opponent with a lofty national ranking, Rutgers will come out firing on all cylinders.

However, when the game gets settled down, Louisville's talent will take over. Senior Terrence Williams has assumed command of the UL ship and is coming off an MVP-worthy week where he compiled 24 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals against ND and then followed it up with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists in the win over Pittsburgh. Rutgers' Corey Chandler will have his hands full on both ends of the floor with T-Will.

Rutgers put a scare into Pitt and Marquette on their home floor and will look to do so against Louisville tonight. Mike Rosario scored 22 against both Pitt and MU, but in the other three conference losses, the former McDonald's AA is shooting just 12-50 (24%) from the floor overall and 5-28 (18%) from three-point range. He has totalled 36 points on those 50 shot-attempts.

Rosario certainly has the confidence to make 'the next one' and the green light to do so, but often times it looks to be at the expense of getting the ball inside. In those very same three losses, Greg Echenique, Hamady N'Diaye and JR Inman have combined for 51 field goal attempts (one more than Rosario) and 75 points. So, where should the RU coaching staff be trying to get more scoring opportunities from?

In the end, Louisville will have the better game plan and their constant defensive pressure should prey on the Rutgers backcourt that is prone to make poor decisions and force shots when panicked. The oddsmakers have pegged Louisville as a 10 1/2 point favorite on the road. At times I think RU will make a few runs to make it somewhat interesting, but the Cards will turn it on when they need to in order to get the win, but a little closer than expected at the end.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 70
Rutgers 60

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE HOSTS NO. 1 PITT

January 17, 2009


The Big East has marquee match-ups nearly every single night it puts action on the court. Saturday is no exception as the 6 PM match-up in Freedom Hall between Pittsburgh and Louisville will certainly draw a lot of attention.

The Panthers once again will lace up their sneakers as the #1 ranked team in the country and be the most hunted team in the land. With that large target on their back, some believe Pitt has struggled a little with St. John’s and South Florida, but winning by an average of 18 points a game in two conference contests is a way more teams would like to ‘struggle.’


Panthers Like the View from the Top (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Louisville/Pitt Preview (Card Chronicle)
Pitino: Pitt Game Wont Be Pretty (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Cards Prepare to Host Top-Ranked Pitt (News Enterprise)
Ranked Teams Lined Up to Play Pitt (Post-Gazette)

Louisville seems to be finding their stride following the thrilling last-second win over rival Kentucky before entering conference play. The Cards have opened conference play with three consecutive wins, including a 61-60 escape against Villanova and the overtime win over Notre Dame in their last game.

Even with the 3-0 Big East start, this UL team seems to be missing something. The guard play still has not risen to the level needed to push the Cards to the top of this conference, but that was expected to an ongoing battle. Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Samardo Samuels is a front-line filled with NBA potential and will see a match-up that will test them fully as Pitt will counter with Sam Young, Tyrell Biggs and DeJuan Blair.

The match-up of Blair and Samuels in the paint should be a doozy. The young Samuels is coming off a game of battling Luke Harangody and now sees another bruising force in the paint. Samuels will need to be ready to hit the boards early and often.

Pittsburgh, even against the extended Louisville pressure, will likely rely on a flawless floor game from Levance Fields. What Pitt will also need very much to come away with a road win is Sam Young to shake off a string of lackluster performances and be ‘on’, much like he was in Pitt’s Big East Tournament win over UL last season.

Winning in the road requires top notch rebounding and defense, Pitt is known for those traits and while many Pittsburghers are fixated on the NFL Odds of their beloved Steelers to make the Super Bowl, the city has a college basketball team that is mighty impressive, too.

If Louisville can find a way to get DeJuan Blair to pick up a couple early fouls, they should be able to establish the game in the style they would prefer. If Blair is able to stay on the floor and out of foul trouble, the defense and rebounding edge that Pitt brings to the table should have the Panthers grinding out another impressive win because of their consistency and acceptance of roles. I do not think the UL attack is geared to draw the cheap fouls on Blair and therefore he is on the floor enough to help control the game in Pitt’s favor.

Also, seeing that they are 2 ½-point underdogs should serve as more motivation for the Panthers, who despite the #1 ranking, believe they are still being disrespected by the nation.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Pittsburgh 71
Louisville 65

Read more!

BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: NOTRE DAME AT LOUISVILLE

January 12, 2009


To nobody's surprise, Big Monday on ESPN features another big conference match-up as Notre Dame travels to Freedom Hall to face Louisville for a 7 PM tip.

Notre Dame extended their home win streak to 45 games over the weekend with a win over Seton Hall. The high-scoring Irish are averaging 79.5 points a game in their 3-1 conference start. They are in the midst of a brutal stretch of games with five of their next seven on the road beginning tonight at Louisville. A road trip to Syracuse is ahead this weekend and then after their home-win streak is challenged by UConn and Miami, it is back on the road to battle Pitt, Cincinnati and a non-conference match-up with UCLA.

Louisville has started conference play with a pair of road wins against South Florida and Villanova. The win against the Wildcats over the weekend was a thrilling victory as 'Nova missed several golden opportunities in the final seconds to win the game. Louisville had led throughout, but needed a driving basket by Terrence Williams with seven seconds left to regain the lead and then held on as the buzzer sounded for a 61-60 win.

Here are some pregame stories and previews from the web this morning:

Irish Need a Better Start Against Cards (South Bend Tribune)
Cards Dive Right back into Long Week (Louisville Courier-Journal)
Irish Face Tough Stretch (Journal Gazette)
Irish Men Hope Maturity Helps Through Tough Stretch (WNDU)
Tory Jackson Has Starring Role as ND's Jump-Starter (chicago Tribune)
Pitino Speaks and More Irish Notes (Chicago Tribune)
Kuric Earning his Cardinal Wings (Courier-Press)


Notre Dame remained on the heels of the league leaders with their 88-79 win over Seton Hall on Saturday. As usual, Luke Harangody pointed the way for the Irish with 30 points and 16 rebounds, which came on the heels of his Big Monday performance last week in a win over Georgetown of 31 points and 11 rebounds.

After a very up and down pre-conference slate, Louisville has opened thei Big East with back-to-back wins with Earl Clark being the catalyst. The 6-foot-9 junior has averaged 18 points and 9.5 rebounds in early conference action.

Last season these teams played a wild affair in Freedom Hall, won by Louisville 90-85. Louisville watched a 20+ point lead dwindle as Luke Harangody was raining down three's as part of his 'gody-like 40 point explosion. Departed senior David padgett led the Cards with 26 points...they have definitely missed him this season.

To win on the road in the Big East you need to rebound and defend. Notre Dame did not do those things against St. John's and the Redstorm made them pay in a 71-65 upset. Have the Irish learned their lesson? Defending the versatile and athletic Cards will be another test of the Irish mettle and show if this is a different team that scored a lot of points in the regular season, only to be bounced early in the NCAA's the last two seasons.

Louisville is a 6 1/2 point home favorite tonight. The Cards will have a very tough time slowing Harangody inside, but look for coach Pitino to sell out stopping the rest of the Irish and come up with the win.


NBE Blogger Prediction:

Louisville 73
Notre Dame 65

Read more!