Boom! 9 in a ROW!

Thanks to the man- Mr. Jerry "Raindrops" Smith. Sorry for the lack of posts the last couple days (computers suck sometimes). They will be coming full force again soon. For now, enjoy this victory and the fact that we have a chance to beat the #1 team in the country for the second time in 2 weeks. Bring on the Huskies - Big Monday - ESPN - 7PM - in a place where the beer flows like wine and beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. A little place called Freedom Hall. Cards 69 'Neers 63

Cup O' Jones : Starting 5

The wrap-up about USF is about all I have to say about the world of sports as it associates with the Cards, but for the people out there that just can't get enough of it here are some links to get you through this Thursday....

The Starting 5

1. SportsByBrooks - Ex-Buc Rice Rips "Scumbag" Gruden (I don't care how bad you were in you prime Simeon - we have problems if you're calling UofL's next coach a "scumbag". However, maybe this is a sign that Gruden has burned his bridges in the NFL and will now turn to resurrecting a football program (hint-hint). I'm not giving up on this by the way.)

2. Dan Collins - Winston-Salem Journal - Finding Redemption (Wake Forest is the real deal and they proved it by outlasting Duke last night in what was a great finish. Here's what the local papers had to say about the team John Renshaw says is going to win the title)

3. Eamonn Brennan - Yahoo's the Dagger - Gary Williams in vicious deathmatch with Maryland officials (Looks like this is going to be the swan song for Mr. Williams who is looking like a dead-man-walking after this tussle with the AD office over who released 2 key recruits)

4. Rick Chandler - Deadspin - Not-so Secret Orgin of Bud Bowl, Including Surprise Alternate Ending (I always liked the Bud Bowl - sometimes more than the actual game. it needs to be brought back immediately)

5. Andrew Carter - Orlando Sentinel - Steelers DB William Gay persevered from tough Tallahassee youth, and even his old coach isn't quite sure how (I hope he doesn't jump offsides trying to block a game-winning Super Bowl kick that misses - I don't think the Pittsburgh fans would be as understanding as us)

Thoughts on USF Beatdown

Although they left something to be desired in the first half, nobody could ask for much more from the Cards after that. They led USF by only one at halftime and went on to win by 26 - Cards 80 Bulls 54.

- I don't think it was as much Louisville playing poorly as it was USF getting all the bounces and 50/50 plays. The Cards shot 44% from the field and 50 from three. Dominique Jones had fresh legs and was getting his shot off well enough to score 15 first half points. He only scored 4 in the second half and I'm sure fatigue had a lot to do with it. Our games are like prize fights where one guy seems to be throwing all the punches early trying to get the knock-out only to get strategically broke-down and beaten in the latter part of the fight. A team can hit us with good runs, but the Cards can take the blow and slowly break the spirit of the opposition over the course of the game.

- Speaking of runs - I think I've found something about the Cards that might rival the play of their defense. It's their "spurtability". A word made up by Clark Kellogg for a team's tendency to go on runs fits the Cards perfectly. A friend of mine told me the Cards had to be leading the NCAA in 8-0 runs and I have to agree with him. How well the defense is playing being coupled with unselfishness leads to these game-changing runs. Last night the Cards went on a 20-3 run the first 9 minutes of the second half and never looked back. Against PITT they were down 20-7 to start and took the lead before you could say a word. Those are just two examples of many times it has happened all year.

- How would you like to be a guard trying to bring the ball up the floor and see Andre McGee and Preston Knowles in your face the entire attempt? It's like a UPS guy trying to get a package to a doorstep with two rabid pitbulls in his path. Like Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez trying to pickle the killer dog in The Sandlot. Not a very good time and it takes greatness to succeed. They are all over the other team's guards like ugly on a UK fan. The intensity and ferociousness of those two in-particular is very impressive.

- As for the other guards - Sosa played very well scoring 16 points on 4 threes, but he did get out of control and had a few turnovers in the first half (even though the stats say 1). I love the way he is paying right now - very unselfish yet extremely confident. Even his defense has stepped up tremendously over the past few games. Jerry Smith is the consummate team player this year by trading in stats for wins. The thought would be he is having a bad year by looking on paper, but Smith does what we need him to do - keep the defense honest and play courageous, hard-nosed D on the other end. Who would Jerry take shots away from? Why does he even need to look for his shot?

- Mardo went 7-8 from the field for 14 and I think about 5 came on Shaq Diesel-style dunks. My biggest pet peeve with him is protecting the basket on out-of-bounds plays on the baseline. It's nit-picking, but watch closely the next few and you will see it needs improvement. Mardo is now coming into his own not because he has drastically improved, but because the team around him is playing so well that he doesn't get as much attention. Due to that, Samuels has become a lot better passer from the post and is slowly-but-surely making quicker decisions with the basketball.

- OK. I guess I have to mention the T-Will between the legs pass when the Cards were only up by 6. It was definitely awesome, "SportsCenter Top 10 plays" worthy, but if he does that against UCONN or Providence I might crap my pants. I know T-Will knows better than that, but there's a fine line between cocky/confident and stupid/dumb. After I saw Earl Clark finish the pass with an And-1 dunk, I was cool with it. I guess that's the risk you take when T-Will is being T-Will.

- My man George Goode is back in action after missing the last 5 games due to a stress fracture in his foot and the solid play of Terrence Jennings. Coach Pitino said Goode had his best day in practice as a Cardinal onTuesday and added that he is very pleased with the way the three-headed monster of Mardo/TJ/Goode are playing right now. You can never have enough front-court depth and it is fortunate that the team didn't lose a step during Goode's injury.

- Are the Cards going to give ole Coach Huggins a taste of his own medicine this week? Not bourbon and car keys, but defense and toughness. Remember when Huggy Bear's UC teams would come down here, play overly physical and look like a prison ward as opposed to a ball squad? The Cards need to do that to a West Virginia team who know likes to slow the game down and get threes. i don't think the Cards are going to allow that, but it will be fun to see what Huggins has in store.

- Congratulations to Will Scott who was accepted to Oxford University - a very prestigious school in England that takes only 15 students every year. I'm not expecting anyone who is reading something written by me to know anything about the school, but the effort necessary to float both such high grades in school and fulfill obligations to practice and travel with the team is truly incredible. Plus, after going 0 for '09, he hit a three after receiving a standing ovation from both the crowd and his proud teammates. Give 'em hell Will.

- West Virginia coming up on Saturday. Another dreaded hangover game at NOON. At least I don't live in LA or my Friday and Saturday nights would be ruined by these start times. Stay tuned for TC writing about his love affair with the team he has liked for close to 58 years - the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ask him to tell you the story about him, Bradshaw and Swann at the Golden Nugget. I'm sure you're on the edge of your seat.

Show Me My Opponent - South Florida Bulls

Location - Tampa, Florida

Arena - Sun Dome (10,411 capacity)

Head Coach - Stan Heath (first season)

Record 7-12 overall (1-5 Big East)

Versus the Cards - 3-22 overall (Last meeting Cards won 74-60)

History of the Program - South Florida doesn't have anywhere near the tradition of Louisville's last opponent but the Bulls are improving. They may not be making the huge strides like their football though. USF has only been playing College Basketball since 1971 , with only two NCAA Tournament appearance's to brag about. The two schools have met twenty-four times, with Louisville winning twenty-one of them, including the last eight.

Notable Alumni - Terry Bollea (better known as Hulk Hogan) - Everyone's favorite player of Jimi Hendrix air guitar.

Leo Gallagher - Comedian who finds drenching people in watermelon funny...not my thing.

Lauren Hutton - Actress/model from such masterpieces like Once Bitten (Jim Carey's first movie) and My Father the Hero.

Tony La Russa - Current Manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, one of only two managers to win a World Series in both the American and National Leagues.

Chucky Atkins - Current NBA point guard, has his jersey retired by South Florida

Solomon Jones - Current NBA center

Anthony Henry - Current NFL defensive back

Andre Hall - Current NFL running back

Starting Lineup...

- Guard - Jesus Verdejo - 6'4 205 Senior #23

The Arizona transfer can put up points and isn't afraid to shoot the ball. He went 0-6 in last season's meeting but did contribute 6 assists. A member of Puerto Rican national team that finished seventh at the 2005 FIBA Under-21 World Championships for Men.

- Guard - Dominique Jones (pictured) - 6'4 210 Sophomore #20

Leads the team in scoring, putting up over 30 points twice this season. Was 6-10 from the field with 17 points last meeting against the Cards.

- Guard - Justin Leemow - 6'1 175 Freshman #10

Has moved into the starting lineup over the last couple games but will split minutes with Junior guard Chris Howard

- Forward - Augustus Gilchrist - 6'10 235 Freshman #24

Has become USF's second option after making his debut against UL in Tampa. Can play inside and also stroke the trifecta.

- Forward - Eladio Espinosa - 6'7 220 Freshman #1

Rotates heavily with 6'10 fellow Freshman Augustus Gilchrist. He puts up a threatening 2.5 points and 3.4 rebounds a game.

This is no Bull - South Florida has no inside game, they run a three guard rotation at you and will no hesitate to let it rip from beyond the arc. Two of those guards (Verdejo and Jones) are in the top 15 in scoring in the Big East , with Jones leading the team in scoring at 17 points a game and Verdejo at 15 a game. Unfortunately for for Head Coach Stan Heath , the Bulls are pretty thin after those two. South Florida is last in the Big East in scoring (61.3 ppg) , in fact they are basically in the bottom 5 in all major categories in the Big East. Then again they are 5-8 going into this game with early season losses to Niagara (Don't think Calvin Murphy played) and Wright State. South Florida's last win over Louisville did come in Tampa (2001) with the Bulls winning 73-67 but the Cards have won three straight all by an average margin of 30 points a game.

Needs to be done - Louisville will need to be aware of there shooters on the court because they will put 3 or even 4 of them out there at one time. The Cards can not allow South Florida to get second shots, offensive rebounds usually produce the best looks from outside. Louisville's half court defense against Kentucky was suffocating but they still fall asleep in transition defense and if the Bulls get hot Louisville can find themselves in a challenge. If the Cards cut down their turnovers from the last game, this game in the Big East might just be their easiest.

Prediction - While I feel every home game this season may be a pleasant adventure, win or lose, I think this game might be the definition of that. The Cards are deeper, bigger, stronger, faster and just plain more talented then South Florida (You can put that on your billboard Bulls). I think Earl (Clark) will have a game similar to his performance against Ole Miss (25 points 16 rebounds), while Louisville's guards will make the Bulls ball handlers life a living hell. Knowles and McGee struggle with bigger guards but each of them should have nice bounce back games. Watch for Jennings and Goode (Less Goode then Jennings) to get descent minutes, allowing Samuels to not be overworked, with a smaller USF team this is a good game to get them some playing time in a Big East home game.

Cards - 77

USF - 61

Game On!

In case you were getting nervous, this from the C-J:

The University of Louisville's men's basketball game against the University of South Florida will be played as scheduled tonight at 7 p.m. in Freedom Hall, the school announced.Despite the severe weather conditions and widespread power outages, Freedom Hall does have power and the South Florida players and the game officials are in town.Big East Conference policy states that, "if both teams and at least two of the three game officials are present and there is severe inclement weather, the game shall be played." USF arrived in Louisville Tuesday afternoon, all three game officials are in town. Freedom Hall is prepared to host the event, including clearing parking lots for those fans who choose to attend the sold-out game.

Television veiwers will not be restricted to listening to Dick Vitale professing his adoration for Kyle Singler and all things ACC tonight.

Ice Wednesday Louisville

Sooooo, you’re snowed in, I’m snowed in. Once you run through Rob’s Starting 5 and you’re still bored, here’s some Wednesday reading. We’ll call it “TC’s Off The Bench.” What’s that you say? Clever? Why, thank you.

They’re not snowed in Tampa. In fact it’s about 75 degrees and sunny. And down there – probably not soaking up rays on the beach – is Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, the mastermind behind the greatest defense in recent NFL history.

Tired of the laptop and want to watch some tube? Rick Bozich’s got ‘cha covered.
NOTE: The L Yes! Report does not condone you folks missing the Cards game to watch the Pu, er, Duke-Wake Forest game, limitless ESPN promotions and absurd volume of Dick Vitale’s commercials urging you to do so notwithstanding.

In the legal community, there’s an expression that’s indicative of how effortless it is for the state to get an indictment for criminal offenses: “You can indict a ham sandwich.” Well, welcome to Lexington, where it’s apparently not so easy to prosecute those suspected of burglary, theft, and disorderly conduct – if their crimes are in the name of blatant racism.

Finally, there’s no such thing as a dumb question. That is, unless your offensive firepower has been shut down the whole first half, you can’t defend a team missing 3 of its best 4 players, and you feel like you’re playing 1 on 5 on offense. Just in: Billy Clyde isn’t very nice.

Could you imagine how short he’d be with you if you pulled him over after he crossed the center line late one Friday night?

NOTE: The L Yes! Report finds it interesting that when his boy goes “oh-fer” in the first half, you’re not allowed to bring it up, but when he gets off for 54, ‘ol Billy stands ready, willing and able to tell you and the rest of the country all about it, all googly-eyed.

Go Cards tonight. Last home game I tested them by not rocking the usual Unseld throwback, and, if you haven’t heard, they proved up to the challenge. But fear not – no. 31 will be out tonight. You can keep me away from work for two days, ice and snow, but you can’t keep me from the Hall during battle!

Cup O' Jones : Snow Day Edition

- Ok, I know we have a game tonight against So. Florida, but I have to touch on what transpired in Oxford last night. UK got dropped by a team we beat by 9. I thought they were supposed to go undefeated in the SEC. What happened? Jody Meeks finally went cold and Danny Huertas gave UK a taste of their own medicine with a Meeks-like 19 in the second half. On top of that, one of the best college basketball writers in America - Jeff Goodman - came on the Freak Show last night and completely dogged the SEC and UK simply by telling the truth. Can anyone out there tell me one thing he says that is wrong?



- On to bigger and better things - those Cards. Pitino seemed to think in the press conference that this team is pretty much incapable of overlooking opponents regardless of their strength. South Florida has won only 2 games in conference, both being to 0-7 DePaul. Plus, the crowd hasn't seen this team in 11 days and now they get to start a crucial 3 game home stretch with WVU and UCONN to follow. This team is focused and ready to go. If I were a betting man, I'd take the Cards with the 18 points. But that's why I'm not a betting man anymore.

- The Bulls remind me of a poor man's Kentucky - a good inside player in Gus Gilchrist and a sharp-shooting guard in Dominique Jones with not a whole lot else surrounding them. The Cards defense will not allow either to have what they want which will force USF to depend on players who seldom score for buckets. The only way I see this game being close is if the Cards shoot less than 30-35% from the field or the Bulls just get red hot from long range.

- Guys I think need to get major clock tonight for experience purposes are Jared Swopshire, Kyle Kuric, Reginald Delk and Terrence Jennings. Swopshire has his excellent spurts, but it seems like he has never totally gotten into the flow of the game. Kuric and Delk are T-Will's back-ups, so hopefully they don't see much of the floor. Just in case, I would like to see them get a little clock. TJ just needs to keep playing quality minutes like he has. He could even stand to get 25 minutes as opposed to 18-20. Maybe even get him in there at the 5 with Samardo playing the 4 - his natural position. This is all presuming the Cards take care of business. If the game is close, these guys (sans TJ) can wait.

- Nothing new from me on the football front other than the fact it makes me want to crack-open a beer every time I think about it - which would be fun for a while then become extremely unhealthy. We've had more coordinators/coaches leave for equal or lesser jobs at equal or lesser schools than can be imagined possible. ATTN TJ : Bite the bullet, FIRE KRAG, give John Gruden 2 mil a year paid for by all the seats you're going to fill in the stadium expansion (which will then be back on schedule). Don't pretend like this couldn't happen. I always revert back to all the people that said Pitino wouldn't come to Louisville - not that the football team is equally as desirable of a job, but Jurich pulled a miracle with Pitino to save the basketball program and now he needs to repeat that and do something about this football team.

Starting 5
1. Lance Pugmire- LA Times - Investigation of Margarito's hand wraps underway (I'm on this huge boxing kick right now and if you get a chance to see this Mosley/Margarito fight you won't be disappointed. It's a slobber-knocker. Before the fight they found a strange substance inside Margarito's gloves. I don't know who else still likes boxing, but check it out)
2. The Big Lead - Syracuse, Syracuse! might steal one of the best recruits in the country from Lane Kiffin (and guess who it is....none other than the #1 all-purpose back in the country who had his list narrowed to UL and UT before last year - David Oku. I wonder how we could be replaced by Syracuse? Will someone please refresh my memory)
3. Jody Demling - C-J Blog -UofL lands Florida commitment (Krag got a commit from he 99th RB - 5'10 185lb Jeremy Wright. He chose Louisville over powerhouses such as Troy and Florida International.)
4. Jerry Tipton - Lexington Herald-Leader - Ole Miss stifles Meeks, top Cats 85-80 (I think Jerry Tipton's favorite thing to write about is a UK loss - which is one of my favorite things to read about)
5. Gene Wojciechowski - ESPN.com - Rooney Rule helps reward namesake (Hopefully a little L Yes! karma for TC's Steelers. Plus, I think Mike Tomlin is a bad man)
5.

Simms to El Camino

According to the C-J's Jody Demling.

It's a junior college in Los Angeles County, stadium capacity about 12,000, and site of the filming of the movie The Longest Yard.

Best of luck to you young man.

Pitino: Cards Focused for USF

In his weekly presser this afternoon, Coach P maintained that the Cards aren't in for a trap game against the 7-12 Bulls from South Florida tomorrow night at Freedom Hall.

“They can beat us,” Pitino said. “But I know it won’t be because of our guys not giving great effort. Our guys are totally tuned into every team they play and respect every team they play."

You'll recall Louisville beat the Bulls down in Tampa 71-57 to kick off their perfect conference start.


ESPN's Pat Forde gives the Cards another shout out in his Forde Minutes. He's apparently impressed with the defense.

Speaking of Tampa - and defense - the Pittsburgh Steelers and the other team down there enjoyed Super Bowl Media Day this morning and afternoon. Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward: "The knee feels good."

Look out, you Arizona fans.

Krag to Call Plays?

From Rivals:

Some sources say Louisville offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm may be forced out, with Cardinals coach Steve Kragthorpe assuming play-calling duties. Brohm could stay on board as a position coach. He also could land as offensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic, which needs a coordinator after Gary Nord left for the same post at Purdue. Brohm played quarterback for FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger at Louisville.

The "forcing Jeff Brohm out" rumors are nothing new, but this is the first speculation I've heard about Krag assuming full-time play-calling duties. The way he turns over defensive coordinators, he may have to assume the role of calling the sets on the other side of the ball also.

Scary stuff. I may just resort to full-time Owls fan if Jeff goes to Florida Atlantic to join Howie.

Cup O' Jones : A-Fraud Edition

- I know you're wondering what the hell is up with this picture, but examine a little closer and you'll find the one and only A-FRAUD (bottom right) with a girl who looks like she has braces and snuck out of her parents house to get "crunk" with the baseball team. Pretty funny. Now to things that are more along our subject line....

- Hope you got to check out the new FREAK SHOW w/ JOHN RENSHAW on the CW last night and - if you haven't already - set that series recording on your DVR. The best in the biz - Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com - will join the Freak tonight to talk some college hoops and definitely make fun of the Kentucky basketball program and their fans. Also, I know Goodman is high on the Cards, but he also knows how to point out the most glaring weaknesses on good teams. it will be interesting to see/hear what he has to say. Oh, and if you call the damn show, turn down your TV. Amateurs. You're making me look bad. Freak Show - 11:30PM right after Oprah on Louisville's CW (Ch. 7 Insight). Make sure you check out LouisvilleSportsBuzz.com as well

- The Lady Cards dropped a heartbreaker to #1 UCONN by 28 last night. Ridiculous is and understatement when talking about the Husky women (haha). In the past week or so, they have beaten two top 6 teams (#2 UNC, #7 UL) by almost 60 points combined. Maya Moore (supposed POY candidate) had 27 and 11 for UCONN and our girl Angel had 24 and 13, a valiant effort. Not much difference there. The Cards held their own for a little bit in the first half, leading at one point 32-31 then the Husky women went on a huge run and never looked back. Like Moore said after the game, "Just another day at the office" for UCONN. B*%&#

- The Cards were looking good on ESPN.com yesterday. A #2 seed in Joe Lunardi's Bracketology in the Indianapolis region with Duke as the #1 seed. I have no problem playing the Devils as opposed to say Carolina or Wake. We could rattle their guards easily and they don't match up with us down low. Also, the man with the weirdest hairdo in television next to Chris Berman - Andy Katz - wrote an article about the Cards with some good quotes from Terrence Williams. My favorite being..."What we did is listen to our Hall of Fame coach instead of our own agendas, we're thinking of we now, not our own agendas.'' That's what I'm talking about. Awesome that the Cards are getting back into that national spotlight - huge for NCAA seeding and recruiting.

- Bad news is Pitino said on his radio show that Earl Clark hyper-extended his knee late in the game against Syracue and missed practice. Very scary. However, E5 will return to practice tomorrow and play Wednesday against South Florida. Hopefully this is something that won't bug him for the rest of the year and cause him to lose his explosiveness. But we all saw how much it hampered T-Will, so I expect Earl to be fine as well after only missing 1 day.

- Pitino has a presser today at 2. If anyone can go and get some audio just tell Kenny Klien I sent you. Not really, but the audio should be on the Courier or UofLSports.com website in the late afternoon. I'll get a link up as soon as it's posted

- Sorry for the shortness of this column (that's what he said). I'm Tired. More to come later.

Starting 5
1. SportsbyBrooks - Is Tony Romo turning Jess into Jabba the Hut? ( For all you Romo haters out there - Sweeney/Trevor - the worst thing that can happen to a man besides castration ( no offense ladies) has stricken him. Maybe she fell in love with Baconators. I still thinks she's smokin' though. Check it out for yourself)
2. James Rees - NCAA Outsider - NCAA Great Debates: Who is the Hottest of the Hot? (This guy compares Louisville to some other top-notch teams in a debate style piece)
3. The Big Lead - It's Good to Be: A College Football Assistant Coach (unless you work under Krag or your name is Claude Bassett)
4. Jeff Goodman - FoxSports - Gottfried out at Alabama (Is Tubby an option? Goodman seems to think so. Interesting tidbit on Ronald Steele as well)
5. Brian Bennett - ESPN Blogger Nation - Where BIG EAST recruits come from, Parts 1 and 2 (Ours says Florida - it should be more like Desperation Island or any JuCo in America - what a disgrace)

Freak Show Back Tonight on CW-Louisville

You knew they weren't going to keep him down and out for long.

The man, the myth, the legend Johnny "The Freak" Renshaw will make his television debut in Louisville tonight on the CW Louisville (WBKI 34 - Insight Ch. 7) from 11:30-12:30 PM. The show will air every weeknight and as usual, the Freak will bring it with a no BS approach. Rapid Fire is back and the I'm sure there will be excitement everywhere you turn. The show will be simulcasted on LouisvilleSportsBuzz.com. The site was established by a group from the now defunct 93.9 the Ticket and will have blogs and other interactive stuff for you to mess around with. Hell, I might even write something on there.

So do us a favor and check out the show. If it's too late - DVR does wonderful things these days. Tell all your friends and make sure they tell their friends and we can make this thing work. The sports scene - talent-wise - is crap in this town (for lack of a better word) and Renshaw is a breath of fresh air. Guys like Jeff Goodman of FoxSports, Michael Bradley of the Sporting News, and radio personality Arnie Spanier will join the Freak on a weekly basis. Should be fun. The best part about it is I get to work side-by-side with Renshaw as a producer - never a dull moment.

FREAK SHOW w/ JOHNNY RENSHAW - 11:30-12:20 PM - CW LOUISVILLE - BE THERE!!

Cards 7th in Coaches' Poll

How exciting! Up five spots from last week's No. 12 ranking. Total count: Big East 8 teams, SEC 0, again. Stay tuned to see where we jump to in the AP.

1. Duke
2. UConn
3. Pitt
4. Wake Forest
5. Oklahoma
6. North Carolina
7. Louisville
8. Marquette
9. Michigan State
10. Xavier
11. Clemson
12. Texas
13. Butler
14. Arizona State
15. Syracuse
16. UCLA
17. Purdue
18. Saint Mary's
19. Memphis
20. Illinois
21. Villanova
22. Notre Dame
23. Georgetown
24. Minnesota
25. Gonzaga

UPDATE: (2:41 pm) Cards are also 7th in the AP Poll, jumping up from No. 9.

Lady Cards to Test No. 1 UConn on ESPN2

These Cardinal birds tend to fly a bit below the radar, in comparison with their men counterparts.

But tonight it’ll be the No. 10 ranked University of Louisville women’s basketball team that takes center stage when it heads to Connecticut to take on the undefeated and Number 1 ranked Huskies.

The game is at 7:30 and ESPN2 will provide the coverage.

UConn isn’t ranked number 1 by default. They’ve earned it. Last week they beat previously unbeaten and No. 2 North Carolina – at Chapel Hill – by 30.

Back in November the Huskies beat current No. 2 Oklahoma, 106 – 78. These girls are good, and they’ve been distancing themselves from the rest of the pack.

The Huskies average 88.6 points per game, best in the country. Their 53.7% field goal percentage is also nation’s best. Something has to give tonight, as the Cards are giving up less than 54 points per game. But so is UConn.

So besides getting a shot at the hands-down number 1 team in the land, what else is on the line for the Lady Cards tonight? For starters, Louisville and UConn are the only two teams in the Big East with zero conference losses. Louisville’s (19-1, 6-0) only blemish came way back in November when they were upset at Nevada. Since then, they’ve cruised, their only close game coming in a five-point win against 16th ranked Rutgers.

Can the Huskies be topped? That’s yet to be seen. The Cards will need – and expect – a stellar performance out of All-American Angel McCoughtry. She’s averaging 21.4 points per game, 8.7 boards, and an NCAA-leading 4.7 steals. Sophomore point guard Deseree Byrd will be called upon to handle UConn’s suffocating pressure defense.

Last season the Cards fell at UConn 65-59 in the Big East Tourney. The Huskies were ranked number one then also.

But the Cards travel today battle-tested and hungry. Can they escape the fate of the North Carolinas and Oklahomas and give the mighty Huskies a run? Or is UConn just on another level right now? Check it out tonight on the Deuce. And Go Cards.

Even Rush Limbaugh Thinks the Cards Are Good...

There are turning points to every season. By the way, I'm typing this while watching the Steve Wilkos Show. By the way, Wilkos is the guy who did security for the Springer Show...STEVE! Anyways, Steve is interviewing a girl who is 15 and was "too high" on marijuana hit her mom with a baseball bat. I'm pretty sure marijuana doesn't do that but if it does sign me up.

Ok, along to the game. Every season has a turning point. The point where you know your team is really that good or destined to lose in the Sweet 16. I would say Kentucky will have their turning point very soon. Louisville just had theirs on Sunday.

Honestly Louisville fans, did you ever think we'd pull this one out? On the road, on a sleepy Sunday afternoon, Big East road game, great coach, a stiffling zone, in the DOME where we'd never won. And then the game starts...we look quick, TWill knocking down shot after shot, and Syracuse is obviously sleepwalking. At some point all Louisville fans had to think Syracuse would wake up and start hitting shots. They did, finally, but it was too late and not near enough of them.

**Let me stop and say, in fact, I'm going to put this in caps just for emphasis. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS DEVENDORF MAY HAVE THE WORST TATTOOS IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL? Honestly, they are embarassing and need to be erased from his pasty white skin. He looks like Silas off the Da Vinci Code. I want to say so many bad things about the guy but I don't want Rob Jones to make me his bitch. But, I HATE DEVENDORF!**

Here's what we say in the rap community IS GOOD and IS BAD.

THE GOOD
* The ability for TWill to hit a shot or create his own shot (except for THE LAYUP). T Will's ability to create something for himself or others is amazing and has made this a legit Final 4 contender. He can step back, drive it left right or middle, or pass off to teammate. There's no way to defend Williams. Only a team with a ton of athleticism will have a chance, enter UNC, Wake, and we'll see about UConn. Finally, I want to personally say THANK YOU to TWill for his rebounding. It's fantastic, abosultely fantastic. I am in love with this ability to rebound.

* Earl Clark is our gang banger. He can bang down low all night and get some really big rebounds. His ability to get a good amount of junk points is fun to watch. He scores well inside but has now gotten much more touch on that 3 point shot, which helped in a major way against Syracuse. I love when E5 is mean. With TWill and Clark in the front court we present match up problems with almost every team in America.

*Terrence Jennings should be closer to starting than what most believe. Jennings saved our inside game and really covered up an extremely poor game by Samuels. I am over Samuels dropping passes and missing point blank lay ups but more on that later..I promise. Jennings is going to be a fun player to watch mature. He can throw down with the best of them. He can get inside and is a quality rebounder. He gets to lots of loose balls but more importantly he made layups. I love the way he's coming along. His potential is through the roof.

*This team has the CLUTCH FACTOR. You know that feeling you get that when your team is down or in a close one that they'll prevail. I've had that feeling 2 times in the last year or so with the Giants. I now am starting to get that with this team. They can score down the stretch no matter how they've done the previous ten minutes. They're hitting free throws and playing unimaginable D. This team is starting to look very patient and at ease with the tough competition in th Big East.

* The D travels well. It's very cliche but true and Louisville is a living example. In a game where shooting was a a premium, Louisville brought the D with them and it got the job done. This team is starting to finally get recognition for causing turnovers and smothering guards. This unit doesn't block the most shots but I believe alters many throughout the game.

*The Rebounding is so solid. We had it against Syracuse, especially on the O end. TWill and Clark can rebound for anywhere. Jennings and Samuels can keep lots of ball live. Plus, if Jerry Smith is in the game he gtes lots of boards. I can't wait to see how we stack up against UConn.

THE BAD

*Samuels.....his inability to catch a pass or make a point blank layup just baffles me. He MUST wake up. Jennings will start getting more minutes if we see many more games like Syracuse. Imagine what we could've done WITH Samuels playing regular minutes and dropping 15? Just imagine what these 2 could do inside together.

*Smith and Knowles....simply not shooting well. I will be interested to see what Pitino will do with Smith. He's a great defender but he's lost his shot. Plus, he gets ZERO clutch time minutes. Knowles has also lots his shot. But to both: keep playing that hard nosed D.

By the way, Louisville number 7 in the country now!

Cup O' Jones : Monday Edition

Hope everybody had a great weekend capped off by the Cards 7th straight victory - a 10-point win at the 'Cuse Sunday. Hopefully that will help you get over that case of the Mondays that hits every week. On to some thoughts about yesterday's victory...

- The Cards' defense is an absolute juggernaut right now, allowing only 57 points to a Syracuse team that averaged over 80 points a game coming into Sunday. The Orange were also held to a season low in FG% (35%). The Cards are the only team to hold the 'Cuse to less than 40% this year. Whether it be the press wearing the guards down or the spectacular play of Terrence Jennings and the other interior defenders - nobody is going to score at will against this stifling Louisville defense. Plus, the Cards have the luxury of getting away with playing poorly on offense. 67 isn't the point total you look and and think - "that team probably won". The Cards shot 25% from 3, 35% from the field and still won by 10 thanks to what is proving itself to be the best unit in the country - the Louisville defense.

- T-Will is the best player in the conference right now and is gaining steam game-by-game. I know Harangody leads the league in both scoring and rebounding, but if he has a good game (say 25 and 15 against UCONN) his team still has a good chance of losing. It is evident that if T-Will has a good game the Cards will most definitely win. In the Cards' 3 losses, T-Will hit only 13 of 44 shots (30%). He does all the little things well - passing and defense - on top of being the best pound-for-pound rebounder in the country who has to compete for boards with one of the BIG EAST's best in Earl Clark. T-Will is the best all-around player in the conference, his team is undefeated and he's a senior (something the writers might take into account). Therefore he should win the MOP/MVP/POY over the stat stuffer who plays on a worse team. 09 isn't the year of the Gody.

- T-Will and Clark have been playing great lately but the two guys who deserve a lot of credit for the turnaround are Edgar Sosa and Terrence Jennings. I hope Sosa keeps making me eat my words every game. Its now 2 games with ZERO turnovers for a guy who was pretty much a turnover-waiting-to-happen at the beginning of the year. I don't hold my breath anymore when he has the ball. I have the utmost confidence is Sosa right now. For example, there was one subtle play where Eddie had the ball driving towards the hoop solo against 3 Orange defenders. The old Sosa would have put his head down, bee-lined it to the hoop and hope to get either fouled of lucky. The new Sosa back the ball out and waited for his teammates to join him. As subtle as it was, that showed me more about Sosa's maturation as any shot or pass. Well maybe not the UK shot - that was awesome - but you get my point.

- Jennings is going to come up extremely big for us at a crucial point this postseason - I can feel it. He had his best statistical game of the year Sunday scoring 9 points blocking 2 shots and grabbing 4 offensive boards (5 total) in 18 minutes. After thinking he would never make it off the bench at one point early in the year, Jennings has now become a very important part of the team. There have been 10 games this year where Samardo has had 4 or more fouls. He's had less than 3 only 4 times. This means Jennings will likely have to play crunch-time in a lot of big games. He has answered the call so far and you can see steady improvement every game. I guess Pitino wasn't BS'n us when he said Jennings and Sosa would be the "keys" to the team this year.

- Yet another big road win to pad the NCAA resume. After thinking a #1 seed was a thing of the past after the early losses, the Cards now have a legitimate shot. By my calculations, the Cards have the chance of losing a maximum 5 games in conference (UCONN, @ND, @G'TOWN, @WVU and possibly another random game). That's MAXIMUM. Let's say the Cards lose only 3, that gives them a 24-6 record in the best conference college hoops has seen in recent memory. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but we can't get stuck with Carolina or Duke in the East region again this year. Rick Bozich agrees with me.

Other UofL News....
- The Lady Cards take on #1 UCONN tonight on national television. This is time for Miss McCoughtry to have her coming-out paty for the rest of the country. UCONN just beat the #2 team in the land, UNC, by 30, so saying it will be a test for the Lady Cards is an understatement. This might be the biggest regular season game in Louisville women's basketball history as the Cards bring a 17-1 record to Storrs to face a UCONN team that most women's experts will say is unbeatable. Check it out in spine-tingling HDTV at 7:30 on the deuce.

- Krag got 2 more recruits to commit Sunday. DT Tim High from El Camino CC via UNLV is a 6-3 310lb hoss who should compete for the starting job from the get-go. He chose UL over Washington St and Arizona among others. The second commit came from a KY All-Stater, Bryan Station DE Roy Philon. The 6-2 270lb Philon joins RB/DB Shernard Holton as the only in-state players in the current recruiting class in a year where D-1 talent was obviously up around the state. Philon chose Louisville over Miam (OH).

Starting 5
1. YouTube - Arizona's Chase Budinger gets a mouth full of sneaker from a Houston player
2. Ray Glier - NY Times - Brandon Jennings send home a warning from Europe
3. Brent Axe - The Axeman Blogeth - In-depth breakdown of UL/SU from 'Cuse perspective.
4. Bill Madden - NY Daily News - In book, Joe Torre rips A-Fraud, the Boss, and Cashman
5. Nate Davis - USA Today -The not-so-Super team: Best Players to never reach the Super Bowl

Gettin' It Done on the Road

T Will had 15, Earl had 16, and Sosa had 13 (and for second straight game, 0 turnovers) to keep the Cards unbeaten in Big East play at Syracuse, referee Jim Burr notwithstanding.

It's official: Louisville is legit.

Come back to the L Yes! Report later for Rob's breakdown on this big road win.

Breaking down Syracuse

Head Coach: Jim Boeheim (750-264 overall in 31 seasons)

Record: 17-3 overall, 5-2 in Big East

Last Game: Lost at Pittsburgh 78-60

Last Game versus Cards: Louisville won 61-50 on 2/18/08 in Freedom Hall

Starting Line up:

Jonny Flynn - guard - Sophomore - 6'0 185 #10
What can I say about Jonny Flynn that everyone doesn't already know. An explosive scorer, who can hurt you off the dribble as well as from the outside. Is an excellent ball handler and passer (6 assists a game, 3-1 assist to turnover ratio). Louisville will not face a better point guard this season and can not expect to shut Flynn completely down.

Andy Rautins - guard - Junior - 6'5 205 #1

Replaced Devendorf in the starting lineup after his (Devendorf) two game suspension and hasn't given it up since. Is a excellent shooter with a very quick release but does have the ability to put the ball on the floor, even though it isn't anywhere near his strongest part of the game. Averaging 3.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals a game. He does a little bit of everything.

Paul Harris - forward - Junior - 6'4 230 #11

He may listed at 6'4 but is 6'9 with his afro. Reminds me of former Metro Conference POY Clarence Weatherspoon (not as good of a post game though). Has put up six double doubles this season (13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds a game). Struggles putting the ball on the floor but has the ability to knock down a mid range jump shot.

Rick Jackson - forward - Sophomore -6'9 240 #00

A Hakeem Warrick style player who has been getting better as the season has gone on. Averaging 7.7 points a game, along with 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game.

Arinze Onuaku - center - 6'9 275 #21

Leading the Nation in field goal percentage (70%). It's hard to say a 6'9 275 beast of a man can fall between the cracks but it is true. Onuaku gets overlooked on a team with tons of talent. Putting up 12.5 points per game to go along with his 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Only once this season has he ended a game with no offensive rebounds.

Breakdown: Since Devendorf's suspension, he has scored in double figures five times (out of seven games). He's averaged 15.3 points despite not starting in that span. With that kind of weapon coming off your bench makes the Orangemen very dangerous but Syracuse is coming off a murderous row like stretch in their schedule (Georgetown, Notre Dame and Pitt) coming to an end with this game hosting the Cards. Syracuse boasts a front line as good as anyone in the country, getting 33.8 points, 22.4 rebounds and 4.2 blocks from their starting front court a game. None of them (Harris, Jackson, and Onuaku) are very strong ball handlers or passers, apposed to Devendorf and Flynn who are both excellent ball handlers. Kris Joseph (6'7 220 Freshman) and Kristof Ongenaet (6'8 215 Senior) join Devendorf off the bench. Joseph had 10 points on the road earlier this season against Florida and is averaging 1.2 steals a game but has been struggling, like most Freshman do, in Big East play.

Prediction: Louisville has never won in the Carrier Dome but that was then and this is now. Syracuse is putting up 80 points a game as a team and shooting 50% from the field (34% from behind the arc). The Cards must keep the ball out of Jonny Flynn's hands as much as possible. As a team Syracuse is turning the ball over 15 time a game and Louisville must not allow the 'Cuse to set up their defense because the Cards will struggle to score. I have been waiting for a breakout game for Jerry Smith and this could be it. If Louisville loses the battle of tempo, Smith (along with the other guards) will get good looks from the outside, it will be up to them to knock them down. Basis basketball 101 tell you that the way to beat a 2-3 zone is get the ball to the high post. Earl Clark will mostly have that responsibility. He (Clark) must play more like the guy who is mad at the world and not the guy who makes choices like a kid who used to ride the short bus to school. I know how well Terrence (Williams) has played but if Louisville is going to beat Syracuse then Clark will have to play well.

Cards: 61

'Cuse: 68

Jeremy Tyler Tease on ESPN2

We interrupt your regularly scheduled Friday afternoon websurfing and Syracuse Orange anticipation to bring you this.

He’s been called “a cross between Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard.”


You may have already heard, but Coach Pitino and Son, Inc. landed a good one last October when they got a verbal from 6-11, 250 pound PF Jeremy Tyler of the class of 2010.

Let’s get a glimpse at what the fuss is all about, shall we?

Tyler will be on featured on ESPN2 tonight when his San Diego High Cavers take on Fairfax (L.A.). Tip-off is at 9:30.

Tyler, who’s averaging only 30 points and 15 boards per game this season, will have a formidable opponent in Fairfax’s Renardo Sidney, Rivals’ number 3 power forward of the class of 2009.

Earlier this week local recruiting guru Jody Demling had a great story about Tyler’s development and maturity. You should go read it now.

It’s unknown whether the KG version, the Superman version, or the J.R. Rider version (see right, and recall the 1994 NBA dunk contest) will appear tonight. Tune in to find out.

You may now return to your regulary scheduled program.

Caracter finally finds a home

Louisville's favorite former Dunkin Donuts employee Derrick Caracter apparently has found someone who will let him play basketball and that place is UTEP. Texas El-Paso head coach Tony Barbee, a former assistant at Memphis, once recruited the 300 pound bust while a member of the Tigers staff. Caracter won't be on scholarship for the rest of this season and will pay his own way.

Read more about this on Jeff Goodman's blog, Good 'N Plenty

Show me my oppenent

Nickname: Orangemen

Location: Syracuse, New York

Mascot: Otto the Orange

Claim to Fame: Its hard not to pick Carmelo Anthony and the 2003 National Championship and it isn't easy not to pick Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone. When you think of Syracuse, it isn't them winning the programs only title or even the most basic zone defense made famous. No it is their Media program. Syracuse has produced more significant members to the media then anyone else. They produce sportscasters like USC produces football players. Oh yea....and Donovan McNabb went there.

First Season: 1899

Versus the Cards: Cards lead over series 8-4 but is 0-3 at the Carrier Dome.

History of the Program: Jim Boeheim in Syracuse basketball. The Hall of Fame coach has had a remarkable 31-year run as head coach at his alma mater. Boeheim has guided only winning teams in his tenure and has pushed the Orange into the postseason in all but one of his years. Syracuse has made 25 trips into the NCAA Tournament, including Final Four appearances in 1987, 1996 and 2003, and the NCAA championship in 2003. He was part of the staff (as assistant) that guided the Orange to the program’s first Final Four appearance in 1975. A year later he was appointed head coach. On February 24, 2002, the University named the Carrier Dome court “Jim Boeheim Court” in recognition of his many accomplishments.

Notable Alumni -

Steve Rubell - former Studio 54 club owner, was portrayed by Mike Myers in the movie about the former 70's disco club in New York.

Marv Albert - sportscaster and part time cross dressing, prostitute biting fetish lover.

Matthew Berry - Is a Fantasy football expert for ESPN, now there is a hard life.

Michael Cole - WWF (I will never call it WWE) Raw commentator. He is no Mean Gene though

Bob Costas - sportscaster, NBC. If I have to tell you who he is you have never seen a sporting event.

Ted Koppel - broadcast journalist, "Nightline"

Sean McDonough - sportscaster, ESPN

Dave Pasch - sportscaster, ESPN

Dave Ryan - sportscaster, ESPN

Jayson Stark - journalist/ sportscaster, ESPN

Dick Stockton – sportscaster

Mike Tirico - sportscaster, ABC/ESPN

Gary Anderson - former NFL kicker

Jim Brown - The greatest running back the NFL has ever seen.

Keith Bulluck - Current NFL line backer

Dave Bing – Former NBA guard, Hall of Fame inductee in 1990 and a member of the NBA's 50th anniversary team.

Derrick Coleman – Former NBA forward, was first pick in 1990 draft by New Jersey Nets. Could have been better if he wasn't so lazy.

Tom Coughlin - Head coach for the New York Giants

Larry Csonka - Former NFL running back and member of 1972 undefeated Dolphins. Is in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Donovin Darius - Current NFL safety

Al Davis - Owner of NFL Raiders (where ever they are located at time of this post)

Ernie Davis - First African- American to win the Heisman Trophy.

Dwight Freeney - Current NFL defensive linemen

Marvin Harrison - Current NFL wide receiver

Donovan McNabb - Current NFL quarterback and future multiple Super Bowl Champion, as well as future Hall of Famer.

Art Monk - Former NFL wide receiver

Rony Seikaly - Former NBA center and I am pretty sure he played "Meat" in the movie Porkys.

Dick Clark - Former host of "American Bandstand" and "Rocking New Years Eve"

Lexington Steele - adult film star, I have been known to do some stunt cock work for him.

Taye Diggs - actor, was in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" (Rob's favorite movie) and "The Wood".

Peter Falk - actor, was in "Murder, Inc." and "Pocketful of Miracles"

Aaron Sorkin - television writer and Creator of "Sport Night".....not the good one with me, Jody and Matt though.

Jerry Stiller - actor, who doesn't love Frank Costanza

Jennings stepping it up against the Big East

The Cards are 5-0 in Big East play and a huge part of that has been the play of Freshman center Terrence Jennings. He (Jennings) reminds me of another Terrence....Terrence Farley, as a Senior of course.

Jennings is still very raw offensively, averaging only 2.2 points a game this season but since Big East play has begun, Jennings has stepped up his game giving Fellow Freshman Samardo Samuels well deserved breaks. Through five conference games Jennings is averaging 15 minutes a game, a heavy increase from the 5.5 minutes he was averaging out of conference, including not even playing in four of those games.

Terrence has made the most of his extra time, averaging 3.4 blocks a game. With three blocks against Notre Dame, all of them against Big East POY Luke Harangody in the post one on one, came in the clutch. Unfortunately as good as he has developed defensively, offensively he is still has a long way to go.

One plus on his offensive is that he is willing to try to attack the rim with anger every chance he gets and runs the court well....but you get him in a half court and he is basically done. Luckily the Cards don't need that from him just yet.

Cards Beat Rutgers; 5-0 in BIG EAST

The Cards moved to 2-0 in BIG EAST road games with a 19-point victory over Rutgers Wednesday night. T-Will continued his blazing hot streak with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 5 thunderous dunks. My favorite of the bunch was the alley-oop where he switched to his left hand to finish. Williams is making his claim for BIG EAST Player of the Year and if the Cards win the regular season crown he's almost certain to capture it. However, Rutgers played awful due to both the pressure inflicted by the Cards and unforced errors. Cards 78 Knights 59

- I'm convinced Louisville has the best defensive team in the country. The pressure they lay on opponents every game is pretty absurd, starting with the in-your-face style Jerry, McGee and Knowles (even Sosa lately) put on the ball-handler from the time the inbounds pass is thrown. In this 6-game winning streak, the Cards are only allowing a shade over 63 ppg. The difficulty to get off a shot against that stifling defense leads easier opportunities on the offensive end for the Cards due to fatigue. At every position, Pitino is two-deep with solid defenders allowing him not to worry about foul trouble as much as your normal coach. The defense caused 16 turnovers, grabbed 8 steals and held the Knights under 40% shooting from the field.

- Rutgers center Hamady Ndiaye didn't impress me very much, but Samardo's dunk right in his face did show me something. He finally decided to start playing "above the rim" when needed. Samuels is great at getting under the defender in the post, making it sometimes unnecessary to jump high to be successful. That has gotten Mardo in trouble at times this season, but he played more "above the rim" than he has all year. Only 2 rebounds and a foul-out to go with 15 points for Samuels.

- This was one of those games where Earl Clark just seemed to be going with the flow, waiting for a possible time where he'd actually have to exert some energy. That time never came and Earl still had 15 points 7 boards. This is no knock on E5 by any means - more like a compliment. After he hit a shot from the top of the key at the halftime buzzer, he nonchalantly walked into the locker room like nothing happened. Almost as to say, "Ah, it's just Rutgers..That wasn't to beat the shot-clock and seal victory against the #1 team in the nation. Big deal"

- The team had 17 turnovers, which is a little high, but the 4-headed back court had only 2 combined. The most turnover prone of them all, Edgar Sosa, had ZERO and 4 assists in 26 minutes. The front court guys had a few too many miscues, led by T-Will's 6 (he's human), but the way the guards took care of the ball tonight should be commended.

- Back to T-Will. When is going to go between-the-legs and dunk? Would he get punished for it? Has he thought of it? We all know he could do it and I've watched a lot of basketball and never seen it done in an actual game. Couldn't T-Will be the first? I think he's settled in on the scissor-kick-windmill this season, which is perfectly fine. However, we only have about 15-20 games left to see T-Will and I've always wanted to see him attempt something crazy like that. I still haven't lost hope.

A few one-liners...

- Andre McGee's technical was deserved as he overreacted on what was obviously a foul on his part. That was the first "T" given to a Louisville player in a long time.
- Terrence Jennings continued to give good minutes off the bench. I'd love to see him get the ball a little more to tryout his post moves
- Looked like the Cards only took 1 or 2 contested shots and were rewarded by shooting just under 60%. Made shots lead to the press, which leads to fatigue, which leads to victory.
- Why Pitino puts Will Scott in for last-second shots baffles me. In his blog, Pitino wrote Scott is "waiting to make the big shot". I just don't see how a guy plays 10 seconds a game and is expected to take a potential season-changing shot ice cold.
- Jerry Smith is fine. He doesn't need to score a lot to help this team.

Show Me My Opponent - Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Nickname: Scarlet Knights

Location: New Brunswick & Piscataway New Jersey

Mascot: Scarlet Knight

First Season: 1896

Claim to Fame: Finishing 1976 regular season undefeated, reaching the Final Four before losing to Michigan in semifinals

Versus the Cards: Louisville leads all-time series 6-1, including winning last season 87-50

History of the program: Rutgers is one of the oldest basketball programs in the county, entering their 102nd season this year. Having nice runs through the 1970's with star players such as Roy Hinson and "fast" Eddie Jordan, topped of with a Final Four team in 1976, finishing that season ranked 4th in the nation.

Notable Alumni:

Joanne Angel - You always have to be proud when your alumni grow up to be porn stars....I would be.

Bill Bellamy - Stand up comic, was noticed on Def Comedy Jam but has since starred in the movies. Boomerang, How to be a player and Buying the Cow to name a few.

Asia Carrera - One porn star alum is cool but two...I might have to go to Rutgers

Kristen Davis - Actress know best for her role as Charlotte on Sex in the City (Andy Sweeney's favorite show)

James Gandolfini - Actor made famous as Tony Soprano

Samuel Blackman - First reporter to break the Lindbergh kidnapping story

John Battle - Former NBA forward

Quincy Douby - Current NBA guard (Kings)

Roy Hinson - Former NBA guard

Eddie Jordan - Former NBA guard and head coach

David Stern - NBA commissioner

Jim Valvano - Led North Carolina State to 1983 title and founded the Jimmy V foundation

Gary Brackett - Current NFL linebacker

Eric Foster - Current NFL defensive tackle

L.J. Smith - Current NFL tight end

Breaking Down the Scaret Knights

Head Coach - Fred Hill Jr (3rd season, 30-48 overall)

Record - 9-9 overall (0-5 Big East)

Last Game - Lost 71-59 at Cincinnati
Last meeting w/ Cards - U of L 87, Rutgers 50 (Feb. 2, 2008 in Freedom Hall)

Location - Rutgers Athletic Center (aka the "RAC")
Time - 7:02 PM tip
Announcers - Dan McLaughlin & Mike Kelley (ESPNU)

Starting Lineup:

Mike Rosario - Guard - Freshman - 6'3 180 #3

The first McDonald's All-American to ever come to Rutgers, the explosive scoring guard has been an impact from day one. Leading the Scarlet Knights in scoring (17.1) but is only averaging 1.3 assists a game and is shooting less the 30% from behind the arc. He put up 26 points in a loss at North Carolina and 22 in another loss against Marquette. While Rosario can hurt you in many ways, he has struggled heavily against pressure this season, turning the ball over 44 times this year (2.4 a game) and when he gets frustrated he begins firing forcing long range shots. He is 25-94 over his last five games. A great first step though ables him to get into the lane but does have trouble going strong to his left.

Anthony Farmer - Guard - Senior - 6'1 180 #2

Famer is the closest thing to a point guard Rutgers really has. Leads the team in assists per game (2.5) and is second in scoring (10.1 points a game). Not a threat from farther then 15 feet out but can score if ignored, putting up 17 (Syracuse) and 12 (Cincinnati) in his last two games, while also dropping 20 in a loss to Pittsburgh.

Corey Chandler - Guard - Sophomore - 6'2 180 #1

While his numbers are down from last seasons solid Freshman season (1st team All-Big East Freshman), Chandler is still improving and having a good year. Came alive with 19 points and 7 rebounds against Marquette earlier this month and despite his size does a good job of rebounding (3.8 a game). Is the Scarlet Knights better on ball defender, swiping 1.3 steals a game this season.

Greg Echenique - Forward - Freshman - 6'9 260 #0

A teammates of Louisville Freshman Samardo Samuels last year. Averaging 9.2 points and 8.8 rebounds a game, has the ability to face you up from 15 feet and either knock down the jumper or put the ball on the floor. Is very raw with his back to the basket and is still lacking a good low block move. Echenique has recorded four double doubles this season and will be a pivotal piece against the Cards 2-3 zone.

Hamady Ndiaye - Forward - Junior - 6'11 235 #5

A native of Sengal has only been playing basketball for five years now. Is fourth in the country in blocked shots a game (3.2) and is averaging 6.8 rebounds a game but is as raw a talent as they come. Despite his numbers blocking shots, Ndiaye is still soft in the post defensively and has a bad tendency to fall a sleep. He had 3 blocks in the Marquette game but overall has not been very impressive against Big East teams, collecting only 7 blocks in 5 games.

Breakdown - Rutgers has lost 5 in a row (all conference games) and have fallen to the powerful programs of Lehigh, St. Bonaventure, and my favorite Binghamton (all at home). So this might sound crazy but this is a very dangerous team and road game for the Cards. For starters Louisville is 1-1 all-time at the "RAC" , while Rutgers nearly beat both Pitt (78-72 loss) and Marquette (81-76 loss). They like many teams the Cards will face are not very deep and go basically seven men. Their lack of depth and experience has hurt them most of this season, just running out of gas despite hanging in all their games until at least around the eleven minute mark of the second half comes around. Only two upperclassmen contribute minutes (Farmer and reserve J.R. Inman), while their two best players are true Freshman (Rosario and Echenique). That kind of team is bound to make head coach Fed Hill lose what little hair he has left. Rutgers is turning the ball over an average of 15.3 times a game, while only shooting 28% from three point land. Not good stats for a team that doesn't have a real threat as a low post scorer.

Prediction- Rutgers is very soft in the post defensively, even though they do average 7.2 blocks a game as a team. This would be a good game to feed Samuels on the post as much as possible early. Louisville must control the tempo as always and speed up Rosario and Farmer with every chance they get, if they do so, Rutgers will turn the ball over. This could be a Williams game that shows a stat line of 4 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists, while Clark is set to have another monster game. Echenique and Ndiaye are not quick enough to go out and guard Clark one on one. Also with what should be a good game for the Cards on the inside, this would be a great time for Jerry Smith to wake up. Rutgers will have to double team anyone we feed in the post, allowing great shot opportunities for all of Louisville's guards from the perimeter. This game might stay close until the second half but don't get scared Cards fans.....

Cards - 82

Knights - 68

Cup O' Jones : Rutgers Gameday

- A team that doesn't get nearly as much publicity on this site as they should, the #7 Louisville women's team, extended their BIG EAST record to 6-0 and overall record to an amazing 19-1. Ms. Angel McCoughtry, the greatest womens player in school history, had a T-Will kind of game in last night's 66-50 win against Cincinnati. 23 points, 9 boards, and 8 steals for Angel, who is bound to be a first team All-American. Jeff Walz has done wonders with this program and has some top notch recruits coming in to keep the ball rolling. The Cards go to Storrs to battle #1 UCONN on Monday. The Huskies just beat the #2 team in the country, UNC, by 30.

- Coach Pitino updated his official website (RickPitino.com) yesterday and had a few golden nuggets of information for us. For starters, this will be Steve Masiello's last year on the staff as he is ready to take on a head coaching job like Willard, Theus, Cronin, ect. before him. Pitino also said T-Will is "playing like an All-American" and "recruiting continues to go extremely well. Every recruit that visits Freedom Hall wants to be part of this special happening. Our fans make the difference, thank you." He breaks down every player (except Mr. Goode for some reason) here.

- Pitino had a press confence yesterday with Earl Clark. The audio can be found on the official UofL site (UofLSports.com).

- Rutgers big man Hamady N'Diaye is one of the premier shot blockers in the country. This could become an issue with Samardo Samuels having a propensity to get his shot blocked inside. Over the past couple games, Samuels has been stronger with his attempts, but if you look down the line, the Cards haven't faced a decent shot blocker over that time-frame. It will be interesting to see if Mardo has truly turned the corner or if he just feasts on people his size or smaller. This will be a good test for our prized freshman.

- This might be the definition of a "trap game" for the men's team tonight in New Jersey. Sandwiched in between games against top 10 teams, the Scarlet Knights could catch the Cards looking ahead. I remember a few years back going into Rutgers and coming away with a loss to a Quincy Douby led squad. With the attitude the Louisville team has seemed to develop, I don't really see that happening, but I wouldn't put it past them. I predict Cards by 15 with a few rough spots along the way.

- L Yes! Report favorite Eric Wood is doing a diary for the Cincinnati Bengals official website chronicling his week at the Senior Bowl. I know for a fact, Wood would love to be a Bengal and he says so much in his first entry. Like I've said before, Wood will be a Pro Bowler one day and should have his #77 honored at some point by UofL. I personally hope he lands with my Chicago Bears. that way he could learn behind the best, Olin Kruetz, for a couple years before replacing him.

The Starting 5

1. Jason Logan, Covers.com - What's in the Cards (outlook on basketball squad from Vegas perspective)
2. Scott Howard-Cooper, SacBee.com/Kings Blog - Francisco Garcia to PG?? (Why do the Kings have to keep the man down? Give it to Cisco and let him create!)
3. Barker Davis, Washington Times/FoxSports.com - New 3-point line is far from cosmetic change (wow, it really has effected percentages)
4. Pat Forde, ESPN.com - Forde Minutes (calls Cards premier defensive team in the country and cites KenPom's defensive efficiency statistic)
5. Fred Mitchell, Chicago Tribune - Another Football team in town? (Chicago's mayor seem to think Chicago needs another pro football team. Like Wilbon said on PTI- there's only one team in Chicago - Da Bears)

Cup O' Jones : Inauguration Day Edition

Congratulations to Mr. Barack Obama, who will be inaugurated as 44th president of the United States in ceremonies held later on today. In this picture, President Obama is shown in his early balling days. What are the odds he led this team in scoring? Jodie Foster (to his right) did this team a favor by leaving the girls team to help young Barry Obama lead his Punahou squad. 60 Minutes should bring all the guys in this picture back together. How can we make that happen?

- Coach Pitino has a press conference today to preview Wednesday's game with Rutgers. He is usually joined by a player, my guess is it will be Samardo, but I could be wrong. We will have an audio link and/or summary as soon as possible. The audio will also be available on UofLSports.com sometime in the early evening.

- T-Will and Samardo Samuels swept the BIG EAST individual honors this week. Williams took the player of the week award and Samuels to freshman of the week. T-Will won it just with his 24-16-8 performance against ND and Mardo averaged 14 points and 6 boards in the Cards two wins over top 15 teams. I expect both to receive this award a couple more times before the season is over.

- Rutgers has two of the top newcomers in the BIG EAST in PG Mike Rosario and F/C Greg Echinique. Rosario might be the best freshman PG in the country averaging 17 points a game. He plays off the ball a good amount as well and can shoot well from the outside. Echinique was Samardo Samuels front-court mate at St. Benedict's in high school. He was only a junior in high school last year, but was granted early eligibility from the NCAA because he had taken all the core courses. It will be interesting to see how the Venezulean (Echenique) plays against the Jamaican tomorrow night. My guess is that Mardo took him to school back then and will continue to do so Wednesday.

- RB coach Tony Alford leaving for South Bend is no surprise as the mass exodus continues. I just hope this doesn't effect the status of Victor Anderson, Bilal Powell, Darius Ashley, and all the other running backs we have on the roster. However, if this is the "bombshell" that's been expected from the Schnellenberger complex then it was anti-climactic. I'm sure Alford is taking a pay raise and going to a school where a loss to Syracuse will only happen once before something is done.

- I'm going to throw it out there because it would be awesome and I think it could just maybe grow some legs: Jon Gruden as Louisville's next football coach. Yea I said it. Why not? His brother, Jay, was a record-setting quarterback for Coach Schnellenberger in the late 80's so I'm sure Jon is familiar with the program. He has expressed interest in joining the college game and we've expressed interest in having a quality coach. Gruden's family from Ohio - not far. There would be expectations here - but not that of a Tennesse or Michigan. It is very conceive able, but we are stuck with Krag so this is just another opportunity wasted.

- Krag and the Cards did get a commitment from a guy who looks to be bigger than former tackle Breno Giacomini. Mr. Demling reported JuCo OT Joe Evinger, a 6-7 340 monster, gave the coaching staff a verbal committment over the weekend. Like incoming QB Adam Froman, Evinger was also named a junior college All-American out of Santa Clarita College of the Canyons (CA). The manchild chose the Cards over Arizona, Arizona St. UCLA and some bottom feeding SEC team that wears blue.

- Demling went and saw 2010 Louisville recruit Jeremy Tyler play in Dayton over the weekend and JT did not disappoint scoring 27 points, grabbing 19 boards and blocking 6 shots in front of Coach Pitino and Walter McCarty. Tyler cited McCarty as one of the main reason he chose the Cards. I know this is overused, but Tyler has the possibility to be Pitino's best recruit ever. If there wasn't an age rule, he'd be NBA bound, no doubt.

Starting FIVE ( new 5 random links of the day - stolen from John Renshaw- email me @ robjones.lyes@gmail.com with anything you want me to add)

1. Luke Winn, SI.com - Things We Learned This Week (very heavy on Louisville - very insightful for a national guy)
2. Joe Lunardi, ESPN - Bracketology (Cards #2 seed in South)
3. Eric Crawford, C-J - Cardinals are playing hot off the press (talking about the Pitino press' impact on games)
4. Rick Chandler, Deadspin.com - Top Ten Ways Sports Can Improve over the Next 4 years (in honor of presidential inauguration)
5. Joan Fleischman, Miami Herald - D-Wade divorce takes tawdry turn (you have to see this)

Still Droppin' Like Flies

Part of my responsibility as a journalist is reporting the bad news. (Haha. "Journalist." In honor of MLK Day, I too have a dream. Apologies to all you real journalists out there.)

Bad news is synonymous with University of Louisville football.

Which is why it comes as little surprise that there is another departure. This time it's RB coach Tony Alford. Alford, who was instrumental in the development of Big East Freshman of the Year Victor Anderson, is off to Notre Dame to serve in the same capacity.

But we're clicking on the hardwood, the Steelers are in the Super Bowl, and tomorrow George Bush is no longer the leader of the free world. So I'm hangin' in there.

Cards Rise to No. 12 in Coaches' Poll

Happy Martin Luther King Day.

Louisville jumped 8 spots in the latest coaches' poll. Deservingly so, I should add.

But of course we all know the only rankings that matter come at the end of the season.

Pitt fell to number 4 after taking the L at the Hall and Wake Forest took over the number one spot. Other teams of interest: (3) UConn, (8) Syracuse, (10) Marquette, (14) Georgetown, (19) Notre Dame, (21) Villanova.

If my math serves me correctly, that's 8 teams from the Big East in the Top 25, which is 8 more than the Soft, er, South Eastern Conference.

Now get back to celebrating MLK Day. Or celebrating George-Walker-Bush-is-no-longer-President-of-the-United-States Eve. (Yes, it's its own holiday. )

UPDATE (3:06 pm): The Cards' rise in the AP poll was even more dramatic, as they bounced all the way back into the top 10 at number 9. Looks like E5 got his birthday wish.

Defense Leads to Cards Win

Admit it. You knew the Cards were going to beat PITT all week. You just didn't want to get too cocky before a game with the #1 team in the land. It was apparent the Cards had turned the corner after Monday night's OT period where Louisville blitzed Notre Dame 16-2. PITT is an outstanding team, but the Cards defense and depth was just too much for the Panthers to overcome. PITT is handed their first loss of the season and the Cards sit atop the BIG EAST with rival Marquette. Cards 69 PITT 63

- Pitino might have the best defensive team in the country. The way the pressure rattles the opponents into making mistakes and wears them down is awesome to say the least. On the ball, I think we possibly the two best defensive guards in the country in Jerry Smith and Andre McGee with Knowles a very close third. They make life a living hell for the oppositions back-court and tire them out over the course of the game. The was evident last night as PITT started the game on absolute fire - jumping out to an early 20-7 lead. At the end of the game, the Panthers only made 1 of their last 16 shots. Our defense shadows the fact that our offense really hasn't started clicking on all cylinders yet. The Cards forced the "heady"PITT point-guard Lavance Fields to cough it up 6 times and the panthers were committing fouls on the defensive end because they were tired.

- I'll have to admit I was scared after PITT's blazing start that put them up 13 early. The defense buckled down and the team showed a ton of intestinal fortitude chipping away at the lead. How the Cards shot 10-34 (29%) and still came back to trail only 2 at halftime is amazing and a testament to how good the defense really is. PITT coach Jamie Dixon said his team played well, so it's not like we caught them on an off-night. Very impressed with the heart the Cards showed to stay in the game after the early deficit and finally put one away at the end

- What can you say about T-Will that NBA analysts aren't going to say over the next 10-12 years? He did his usual thing - hit open shots, took over if the offense was stagnant, and grabbed timely rebounds. 20-7-4 for Mr. Williams. I can't believe the Cards out-rebounded the Panthers 42-38 and T-Will only had 7 (ha..only 7). That is proof the team as a whole has improved drastically on the glass. The behind-the-back-okie-doke-to-a-layup-and-one down the middle of the lane was his highlight of the night. Or possibly the weird yet hilarious trend he is starting of giving the ESPN crew daps immediately following the horn - almost like he's lobbying for the postgame interview. Just T-Will being T-Will.

- A lot of UofL fans, including a couple who write for this blog are "T-Will Guys" - meaning they'll stick with him regardless of what happens. Me - I'm an "Earl Clark Guy". And that's no slight to #1, I just think E5's game is very, very special. For every pass he throws away or bad shot he takes, Clark comes back with a facial dunk or shot-clock beating jumper. He had one rebound where it looked like everyone was just watching in admiration as E5 leaped and grabbed a one-handed rebound. Whoever coined the phrase "Big time player, make big time plays in big time games" (I think PrimeTime?) must've had Earl Clark in mind.

- Pitino said it after the game and I said it before the game. Don't bite for Sam Young's shot-fake and good things will happen. Pitino said he worked all week with the guys watching film on the unorthodox move and told the to stand with their hands up "like a statue" when ever he went up. I think Young was getting frustrated because his shooting was off (6-20) and he got into foul trouble. Cards showed a lot of maturity not biting for the fake and it paid off. Oh, and don't act like you haven't seen that dunk Young did in the second half nearly 10 times from T-Will. Only T-Will adds in a scissor-kick.

- Samardo played 31 minutes and only committed 2 fouls which is remarkable considering how physical of a game it was. 10 points, 7 boards, and a perfect 4-4 from the line added with his best passing effort of the year equalled a great game for Mardo. He did an excellent job demanding the ball when Blair picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls and wasn't going to play his normal rough defense. Also, his finesse at the line is a tremendous attribute as he hit 2 huge free throws down the stretch.

- The question mark most-surrounding this team now is: How can Pitino find more playing time for Kyle Kuric? The frosh from Evansville just seems to make things happen every time he's given the chance. Kuric rarely makes mistakes, is deadly from beyond the arch, athletic and a terrific rebounder. In fact, Pitino said after the game last night that "outside of T-Will, minute-for-minute [Kuric] is the best rebounder on the team". It's hard, with the 4 vets we have in the back-court rotation right now, to let Kuric into the mix, but 5-10 spot minutes a game will do nothing but help the team.

- Of course, the 3 losses to lesser opponents hurts us, but I think the Cards are Top-10 (maybe even top-5) worthy again. Still, the only team that scares me is Carolina and we've seen get beaten twice by teams Louisville wouldn't have any trouble beating. It's going to take the pollsters a couple more weeks to get us back up there if we continue this hot streak, but currently the Pomeroy ratings have the Cards ranked #13, realtimerpi.com #15 and Jeff Sagarin had us ranked 24th before yesterday's win. Flying under the radar has really helped this team get better and stay humbled and it should continue to do so. Beating the #1 team in the country never hurts your NCAA resume.

- By all accounts, the crowd at Freedom Hall was as loud as it has been in a while, but you hear that after most big games. The fans were in their seats 10-15 minutes before the game started and the fans were fired-up and ready to go. on TV, you could see the cameras shaking like they do at Cameron Indoor at certain points of the game. In his postgame comments to ESPN, you could see Pitino kind of look around in awe of the atmosphere with a huge smile on his face. I'm excited about the new Denny Crum Arena, but I have serious doubts that it will be a better place to watch a top-notch game than the Hall.

- How is the most physical team in the conference, maybe even the country, going to feel screwed when the referees finally start calling fouls on them? The BIG EAST is a rough-and-tough conference not meant for the light at heart. 46 fouls were called and the difference was the Cards hit more from the charity stripe. The game was called equally despite what Jamie Dixon insinuated after the game by saying, "We obviously had to battle through some foul difficulties..when it got close, the biggest differential really is the free throws". Now I know that doesn't sound bad, but you could tell Dixon was rather frustrated that his studs (Young, DeJuan Blair) got into foul trouble somewhat early.

That's it for now . More to come later...

Pitino's Postgame Quotes

Here are some postgame quotes from Pitino, who seemed quite giddy talking to reporters after his Cards beat the #1 team in the country, PITT, last night 69-63. From UofLSports.com.


Opening Statement

"I would have been extremely proud of our guys if we didn't win the game because they showed unbelievable heart when things were not going well. We shot 29 percent, we pressed great, and in the second half, when started shooting well, things picked up. I thought our guys played with tremendous effort and it has been that way since the Kentucky game. I am really proud of our guys because they are a great basketball team and are very deserving of their ranking. Edgar Sosa making the charge on a crucial play of the game, that is unbelievable."

On Louisville's start

"Great defense on their (Pittsburgh) part and we gave up the three. During halftime, I told them don't be down.' When it is 21-3 from the three point line you are supposed to be down a good 15 points, but we played really good defense. We took good shots and we executed, but our press was the key to the game because we were able to wear people out."

On Earl Clark's last second shot

"He didn't know the time and I kept yelling shoot. The fans were yelling so loud he couldn't hear it. We made great plays. This is the fourth game in a row right now where we did really smart things going down the stretch."

On Louisville's mental toughness

"I think we have it because we are a defensive team. If you rely on your offense and you get down, then you will get down more because you cannot come back. We are so good on our defensive efforts we can come back and we believe in that."

On Louisville's recent achievements

"Once the effort got to the level we wanted it to be, I think we became a good basketball team. I think everybody picked it up, each and every one of them. Edgar's attitude turned, Earl's attitude turned, and practices have been great. Our practices have been competitive. We talked about the `what ifs' in the world and you cannot look back and say what if we would have done this. The time is now and our guys have picked it up and played well. They played very good basketball team tonight because of that."

On BIG EAST playing style

"It is called both ways the same, but in the BIG EAST, it is just called more than the other conferences. It's very difficult to officiate in the BIG EAST because if you stop the play on every play, then you have a boring product. On the other hand, you have to understand when we get into the NCAA they will make those calls. It is very tough to officiate in the BIG EAST. I wouldn't want the job. They were doing the best they could. I did not always agree with them, but they are good officials. It is very tough in this conference. It just doesn't stop."

On Louisville's maturity

"The only place we messed up tonight was underneath out-of-bounds plays. We lost a game in the Garden during the BIG EAST tournament because of underneath out-of-bounds plays. They do a great job of screening and moving. It is very tough to guard them underneath out-of-bounds plays. Preston (Knowles) gave away a three right before halftime which broke our momentum. Another play they got a layup on an underneath out-of-bounds play."

On Louisville's pressure on Blair

"Our strategy tonight was to go at him. When he plays defense he likes to swat the ball away in the low post. We were going to go at him and then we were going to pass opposite when they trapped. Our guys did a good job on that."

On letting Twill play with three fouls in the second half

"We needed rebounding. Kyle Kuric , outside of T-Will, is probably minute for minute the best rebounder on the team. It did not bother me, we had to have rebounding. The thing that bothered me a little bit when he started the second half was that he wasn't playing defense, afraid to pick up the fourth. You can't play the number one team in the country and do that. It was a little risky but he is so smart I worry more offense with him in charge than I do defense."

Dethroned

Don't call it an upset.

The Cards knocked off #1 Pittsburgh tonight, 69-63, in front of a sold-out, jammin' Freedom Hall. T Will was at it again, with 20 points, 7 boards, and 4 assists. E5, after spending most of the first half asleep, lit up the final 20 minutes and finished with 16 and 11. It was his 21st birthday.

Samardo and Preston added 10 apiece.

It was the third time since 2003 U of L has beaten the number 1 ranked team in the country. But you folks that joined us from Kentucky Sports Radio probably already knew that.

At 4-0, Louisville is now one of only two teams in the Big East with zero conference losses. We go to Rutgers Wednesday.

More on this HUGE, thrilling win later.

Renewing My Disdain for All Things Pittsburgh

I'm sure you've heard it before. If not, GO HERE and read it from Rick Bozich. If you still don't understand go ahead and turn on your TV tomorrow and watch some Steeler coverage. This is where my disdain for all things Pittsburgh starts. For some unknown reason, the media has portrayed the city of Pittsburgh has hard working, grind it out, a city with a true blue collar approach to living. Could this possibly be any more bullsh#t? Is Pittsburgh the only city that possesses these hard working individulas. After all, no other city has people that work daily to support their family. The media has painted this picture perfectly. Every team from Pittsburgh has the same story and I'm bored and tired of it . We know, by now, they're all hard working, grind it out teams...save that story, please.

Here is my 2 MAIN keys to the game.

1. Guard play. When our guards played well (Notre Dame) look at the results. When we can shoot and protect the ball and set up our D then we're a tough team to play. Our athleticism and speed alone gave Notre Dame problems but it won't Pitt. Sosa and McGee must play solid. They must not turn the ball over but get it to the OPEN MAN.
Levance Fields is by no means a guy who should EVER blow by Sosa. BUT Fields doesn't turn the ball over a lot. Our ability to get in Fields' shorts and slow him down is important. If you defense can set up then we can apply the press, which is always a good thing.

2. Growing up is over BIGS. We finally saw some real good play from freshmen bigs Samuels and Jennings. Their ability to rebound and hold their own in the scoring department may ultimately be the game. If Blair is able to grab 15-20 boards then watch out. In other words, it's time to grow up and bang inside.

If nothing, I'm expecting a great game and a Louisville win 68-63.

And, why may I ask, with all the great games on today is ESPN parading at UNC today? They play Miami. That is a B rated match up compared to say, ND/Syracuse, UL/Pitt, Gtown/Duke, Wake Forrest/Clemson, Michigan/Ohio State, etc. Ah, the ACC. Go ahead and below name me 3 players from Miami, go ahead.

Show Me My Opponent - Pittsburgh Panthers

Established : 1787
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Enrollment: 27,020
Arena : Peterson Events Center (12,508)

Head Coach : Jamie Dixon (148-40 in 6th year)
Assistants : Pat Sandile, Brandin Knight, and Tom Herrion

Last Meeting: PITT defeated Louisville 76-69 in OT to eliminate the Cards from the BIG EAST tournament. It was the third year in a row PITT beat Louisville in postseason play. The Cards have an overall 2-4 record against the Panthers (1-1 at home, 2-0 in PITT, and 0-3 neutral).

Game Time/Channel - 6PM/ESPN
Commentators - Sean McDonough, Bill Raftery and (ugh) Fran Frischilla
Officials -Ed Hightower, Pat Driscoll, Brian O'Connell
Point Spread - PITT by 2.5 (MGM Grand)

Notable Non-Athletic Alumni -
David Delassandro - writer of the classic movie Snakes on a Plane
Gene Kelly - dancer and actor. Pitt or Clooney of back in the day
Fred Rogers - host of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Cardigan connoisseur
Ron Paul - doctor, libertarian, and former presidential candidate
Jonas Salk - developed vaccine for polio
Orrin Hatch - US Senator; former presidential candidate


Notable Sports Alumni-
Mark Cuban - renegade owner of Dallas Mavericks; billionaire
Mike Ditka - Hall of Fame player; coach of the greatest NFL team of all-time - 1985 Chicago Bears
Tony Dorsett- former Cowboys RB and Heisman trophy winner
Larry Fitzgerald - star WR for Arizona
Dan Marino - actor Ace Ventura: Pet Detective - I think he played QB as well
Jimmy Johnson - FOX analyst; won NCAA & NFL title as coach
Mark May - ESPN college football analyst; former Outland trophy winner
Marty Schottenheimer - former NFL coach (Chiefs, Chargers, Redskins, Browns)
Dave Wannstedt - current PITT football coach; best 'stache in the business

Notable Basketball Alumni-
Mark Blount - Almost went to Louisville; scrub NBA big guy
Jerome Lane - All-American; "Send it in Jerome!"
Charles Smith - member of NY Knicks in Jordan Era
Chris Taft - former NBA player
Vonteego Cummings - former NBA player
Eric Mobley - former NBA player
Aaron Gray - current NBA player; Chicago Bulls
Sean Miller- former player; current head coach of Xavier
Kevin Willard - former player at PITT, asst. at Louisville; current HC at Iona

10 Keys to Beating PITT

As I'm sure everybody knows now from the buzz surrounding Louisville and even nationally, the Cards face the #1 team in the country, PITT, tonight at 6 on ESPN. The Panthers have been the Cards' nemesis lately - eliminating UL in the BIG EAST tourney the last couple years in a row. The Cards will look to get revenge and keep clawing up the rankings. I have seen them anywhere from 1-3 point underdogs. On a day where the 1983 Final 4 team will be honored at halftime, here are 10 ways the Cards can take out the nation's best...




1. Limit Offensive Boards - Coach Pitino has said over the past few days when talking about PITT that they might be the premier offensive rebounding team in the country. It isn't a case of Coach trying to inflate an opponent this time. Their frontline of Tyrell Biggs, Sam Young and DeJuan Blair averages 10 offensive boards a game with Blair pulling down close to 5. Samardo Samuels has had trouble with bigger guys especially on the offensive glass, but if he can remember to putt his butt on somebody every time a shot goes up - the Cards should be successful.

2. Force Outside Shots - The Cards shouldn't have a problem doing this playing their extended zone. F Sam Young and G Levance Fields do most of the outside shooting and neither shoot over 40%. As a team, the Panthers shoot only 35% taking an average of 17 a game - making 6. I would feel a lot better seeing PITT launching trifectas all night instead of pounding it inside to Blair, Young and Biggs.

3. Don't Fall for Sam Young's Head-fake! - If you don't know what I'm talking about you will 2 minutes into the game. PITT coach Jamie Dixon and Young talk to the refs before every game to explain Young's alleged "head/shot fake". It looks like he's traveling (coming off his feet), but supposedly he's on his tip-toes. Seems pretty bogus to me, but Young uses it to his advantage and dominates the mid-range game because of it. I guess if you look like an old man, you have to have sleazy old man moves.

4. Keep Samardo Out of Foul Trouble - I know that's easier said than done going up against a beast in Blair and a turkey in official Ed Hightower, who like Tim Higgins just hates Pitino for some reason. Mardo should be more worried about Blair, as he almost makes Mardo look small. Samuels' biggest problems have been defense and rebounding. If either of those areas aren't up to par - Blair will have a field day

5. Run,Run, Run - Louisville's depth crushes PITT's and it needs to be exploited. The only way is to run the Panthers to death and force them to go a little deeper down the pine than usual. The Panthers have 2 solid bench players - G/F Gilbert Brown & G Jermaine Dixon. After that, there is a significant drop off. As we know, the Cards can go as much as 12-deep. The press needs to be tenacious and the Sosa/McGee combo must push the ball up the court to create the uptempo pace.

6. Make Shots - Pretty simple, but the stats don't lie. In their 3 losses, the Cards have shot 30.6% from the field. That percentage goes well over 40 in the 12 wins. Not only the fact that it adds to the score, but putting the ball in the hole is the only way Pitino can throw on a press. Our depth will become a wash if the team can't press-and-run nearly the whole game. As Pitino preaches relentlessly, the Cards need to limit their contested shots and make the extra pass. With that usually comes a high shooting percentage.

7. Don't Believe the Hype - This team seems to be at it's best when people are doubting them. After the 3 early losses, all the national prognosticators were wondering if the Cards were overrated. Now that they are back in the national spotlight, the squad needs to work hard to stay there. They can't let this 5-day build-up make them over think what they have done during this current 4 game winning streak. I'm not saying they shouldn't be confident - they just need to be humble as well.

8. Get Jerry Smith Involved - PITT could be an opportunity for Jerry to take a few more shots. He loves the Freedom Hall rims - hitting 6 of his last 7 threes at home. If PITT decides to collapse on UL inside, Smith will be open for the kick-out-three. Jerry is known for his crazy defense, but his shooting is just as good. with all the talent surrounding him, it's hard to get looks. Tonight may be the night he gets a few more cracks from deep.

9. Dr. Jekyll and E5 - Which Earl Clark is going to show up? Is it going to be the one that like putting SPALDING logos on All-Americans' foreheads or the TO machine from the end of the UK game? Clark is known for getting up for big games and this is about as big as it gets. If the Cards get the mature, intense, lottery-pick Clark things will work. If they get the immature, sloppy Earl - they won't.

10. That Freedom Hall Spirit - I have been to games where it seemed as the crowd gave the Cards 5-10 points. I've also been to games where things aren't going good and the socializing ensues until we make a run. If you're going to the game, continue cheering through the rough spots and keep the faith. There won't be many more opportunities (if any) to host the #1 team at the world's greatest arena to watch a game. The place should be electric as usual and the Saturday afternoon start gives the fans some time to have a couple cocktails to get ready for battle. worked last year against Georgetown, hopefully it will work again this year.

Keep it locked all day for more on the clash with #1...

Brent Guy Named DC

Former Utah State head coach Brent Guy was named Louisville's new defensive coordinator today. He'll be Kragthorpe's fourth at U of L since taking over 2 seasons ago.

In announcing the hiring, Krag cited Guy's "proven track record" and "great success."

Guy was canned after four years at Utah State, where he went 9-38.

More on the saga that is Louisville football later. In the mean time you people should stay focused.

John L. to the Hogs, Petrino

WHAS11 News has learned former University of Louisville head coach John L. Smith is joining his old protégé, Bobby Petrino, at Arkansas. Smith will be named a defensive assistant coach with the Razorbacks. A formal announcement is expected Friday during Petrino's 2:30 est press conference. It's unknown which role Smith will have with the Razorbacks.

Right now the Razorbacks are without a secondary coach after Lorenzo Wade departed to become defensive coordinator at South Carolina. Smith and Petrino, who was UofL head coach for four seasons, have a history with each other. Petrino was the Cards offensive coordinator in Smith’s first year at UofL.

This is almost too funny. Petrino leaves the program and just to jab it in 1 more time, hires a Louisville icon (I guess, probably not in reality) to coach.

I almost wish Petrino takes Kragthorpe and anybody else he wants on the staff and we keep John L. Guess not?

Eric Wood WILL Be Going Bowling

Eric Wood has been one of my favorites for a while now. He's got gut, never complains, and does all the right things on and off the field. And the man's got game.

So it came as no surprise when I saw his name as Todd McShay's number 2 projected center in the draft on Sports Center this morning. (Yes, I was watching Sports Center this morning. No, it won't happen again. Please, don't tell my boss.)

And now Rick Bozich is reporting that Wood will be gracing Mobile with his presence as he was invited to the 2009 Senior Bowl. (Official rosters haven't been released yet.)

Mad props and best of luck to E Wood from the LYes!Report. We miss you already.

Cup O' Jones: Undefeated Ed.

- PITT as we all should know is the #1 team in the country. The Cards square-off with the Panthers Saturday around dusk at the Hall. The Cards will have had 5 days to prepare. PITT only 2, as they defeated South Florida last night at home in their final tune-up, 75-62. The entire USF team and the officiating crew were late to the game due to weather problems, but it didn't seem to hamper the Bulls. They hung tough for the first 25-30 minutes then PITT pulled away. I don't like playing this game, but against USF, PITT wins by 12 at home after USF has flight problems . On the road, the Cards beat the Bulls by 14 after having flight trouble out of Louisville. It has to be a good sign. Right? Yesterday's win guaranteed PITT would come into town with an undefeated record.

- All indications are the Cards have had a couple good days of practice with hopefully a couple more to come before Saturday. The team looked as good as they have all year against ND, especially in OT. Terrence Jennings is now becoming that"key" to the team that Pitino preached in the preseason. Samardo is finally throwing his weight around. Both will be key against the man Jay Bilas calls the best offensive rebounder in the country - DeJuan Blair. I doubt both Mardo and TJ will stay out of foul-trouble, so it's going to have to take a collective effort to succeed in the paint.

- George Goode should be available on Saturday after resting a week or so to recover a stress fracture in his leg. The emergence of Jennings has softened the blow of losing Goode, but in the Beast that is the BIG EAST teams can never have enough front-court depth. Coach Pitino might have more answers at tomorrow's press conference.

- There is an extremely bad vibe coming from the Schnellenberger Complex right now. As Andy touched on yesterday, there are rumors flying around about coaches being forced out against there will, MAJOR MAJOR players thinking about leaving, and just an all-around negative atmosphere. I have heard from multiple people that there is a "bombshell" about the football team - not regarding Brohm - that is about to be dropped. I don't want to speculate as to what it is, but enough people have said that "something" is coming and I believe it to be true. As always, I'll keep my ear to the ground.

- Hey, the Cards got a commitment from the 101st rated safety in the country!! Plus, he has a pretty cool name - Richard "Champ" Lee. He runs a 4.5 40 (allegedly) and is the cousin of RB Bilal Powell. According to the Jody Demling, Lee chose the Cards over Ball St, Central Michigan, and West Virginia. Is this guy a diamond in the rough or is Krag to the point where he is asking players if they have any relatives with eligibility left? Some questions just don't get answered until the ball is snapped.

- Why can't Krag and Jurich have a damn heart and release Latarrius Thomas play for Eastern Michigan? The guy has already served his time here through all the injuries, coaching changes, good times and bad. He has 1 year left. If he feels it necessary to continue it somewhere else, so be it. But since when did we become the Big Bad Wolf? Thomas has seen Louisville football at it's best (Orange Bowl) and worst (Syracuse...twice!). He obviously doesn't like the direction it is going. LT has earned my respect, but obviously not that of Krag or General Jurich. Same conference or UK - I understand. I even somewhat understand Arkansas. But blocking someone from going to Eastern Michigan? Give me a break.

- A new website has been started by U of L to make the transition from Freedom Hall to Denny Crum Arena (I'm calling it that from now on regardless what they name it). UofLarenaseats.com gives you a live webcam, countdown, ticket request forms, and a seating chart. No word on the student section yet as the arena authority must work that out with the student government. I call for a lower level, on-the-floor section called the "Red Zone" or something to that effect. Knowing who is championing this operation, my guess is some blue-haired donors who could give a %$& less about the Cards will be occupying most of the lower-level. I, on the other hand, will be losing my voice in the nose-bleeds with the guy that whistles like a Cardinal bird and the true fans. $250 bucks - not bad.

Coming Up....10 Ways to Beat PITT & more on the debacle that is Cardinal football

Latarrius Thomas, NFL Playoffs

For those of you still interested, Scout.com is reporting Latarrius Thomas has decided to transfer to Eastern Michigan, U of L's promise not to release him notwithstanding. This means he'd have to sit out 2 years before seeing the playing field.

In other news, those of us still following the NFL Playoffs are anxiously awaiting Sweeney's conference championship outlook. What's that? The Giants-come-lately are all one and done? The mediocrity that is Eli Manning finally came to surface without Plaxico Burress?


Guess we'll be settling for watching teams whose "mediocre play gets them too much praise" this Sunday. Guess we'll all be watching those yellow towels waiving around again, no matter how sick of them some of you may be.

I'll take the Big Ben and that Steel Curtain D - featuring Louisville's own William Gay - by a touchdown. And that's just straight from my gut.

Keep Winning UK...and a Major Football HUNCH

Ah, I love when UK wins, especially now. Follow me UL fans. We've encountered 3 tough losses. I contest that if we beat WKU by 1 point we're a top 10 NOW! But UK winning could be very important to our post-season success. It's no secret that losses to WKU, UNLV, and Minnesota earlier in the season put us behind the 8 ball. With wins over UK, USF, Villanova, and now Notre Dame we're starting to even ourselves out. A win on Saturday and we're a top 7 team in the country, hands down. But let me get back to the point. UK winning big games, like UT last night, only help Louisville. We've already beat them. It's a win for us. To get a top seed you need big wins and all I could think about last night when watching Meeks drop 54 on the lame duck coach Bruce Pearle is that our win (74-71 - thanks for saving us SOSA) looks better and better each night. And when/if UK wins the SEC East or even finishes second, that win will be more fruitful.

Wait, doesn't it bother anybody that somehow UK is the prize of the SEC???? Isn't the SEC the speed conference with the biggest and best athletes. Don't ALL SEC fans ride on the coat tails of their conferences successful teams? Just a thought.

Now, let's get down to business. Louisville football. Rob just reported nothing new on the Brohm front. Let me tell you my HUNCH...let's see how this plays out.

I imagine that an unnamed AD will bring in an unnamed OC along with the HC to have a little pow-wow. Actually, I know they've already had this little pow-wow. Anyways, this AD will tell the OC that the university will need his resignation. You're not being fired Mr. OC, you're going on your on "will". Right. Anyways, go ahead and get them resignation to me, effective immediatly. See, we're trying to make this look like you're going on your own accord...we don't want to make it look like we hired the wrong coach, do we? (even though this OC isn't the wrong coach).

So basically I'm saying that yes, I think and have a hunch, that the AD and the HC are pushing the OC out the door. Great, maybe he can go coach at a university that knows something/anything about football.

Let's wait to see how it goes but does it bother anybody at all that when you "google search" Steve Kragthorpe pictures of him with a dunce hat, a sign that says "ineptitude", and a head shot of a cheerleader who has nude photos posted all over the internet are your results. Does this bother anyone?

Cup O' Jones : Hump Day Edition

Don't you have such a better day right after a big win like the Cards had on Monday night? I know I do...

- An Arizona Star article Tuesday suggested Coach Pitino could be one of the prime candidates to be the next coach of the team he lost to in the 1997 final game, Arizona. The people out in Tuscon basically think they can get whoever they want, kind of like the Mildcats did when they hired Gillispie. It's just not going to happen. Pitino is an East-Coast guy with his only job further west than Louisville being a brief stint with Hawaii in the 70's. Pitino's roots are here. I think this guy is just running out of ideas beyond Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who I think will be the next Arizona head man.

- The Cards, specifically Earl Clark and T-Will were featured in one of the best college basketball blogs besides the L Yes! yesterday. Yahoo! Sports' The Dagger posted the YouTube of E5 posterizing Frankengody for the whole nation to see. Oh, my fault, everybody already saw it because it was the #1 play on SportsCenter. Also, writer Eamonn Brennan posted a nightly breakdown with the headline 'Terrence Williams and the prettiest stat line ever'. Can't disagree with him one bit. good to see the Cards back in the national spotlight after losing some preseason hype with the early losses.

- It is a mute point because of the 16-2 whoop we laid on the Irish in OT, but it needs to be said that the Cards and T-Will had a legitimate beef at the end of regulation when they forced a steal and T-Will dunk as the clock expired. First off, Preston Knowles got absolutely trucked at halfcourt, which should have been 2 shots with about 2.5 seconds to go. After that, the questionable over-and-back was called when the whistle should have simply been left alone. Like in every other sport, a tie goes to the man with the advantage and the replay showed both Frankengody and T-Will meeting at the ball simultaneously. T-Will's potential game-winning dunk would have more than likely beat the clock. Like they say, "the ball don't lie", but if it did and the Cards somehow fell in OT, there would be some pretty irate Card fans.

- I like how Pitino has a whole week to prepare for #1 PITT. There is no doubt he will need it. This gives him the opportunity to incorporate a couple new offensive sets to get a post-man open or a wide open three. At least something that isn't on game film yet. The Cards' defense will have there hands full, especially inside where PITT might have the best front-court in the country. Having a couple plays that catch the Panthers off-guard or get us a needed bucket will be crucial to have in our back pocket Saturday night. Probably won't happen, but it's a definite possibility. We will be breaking down this game the rest of the week so stay tuned.

- A couple football notes... Nothing new on the Brohm front as a Tuesday night - no telling what is next, but of course if I hear anything I will let you know. 2009 LB Mike Privott is staying a Card and might be bringing a teammate with him. 6-2 210lb RB Boogie McCray is undecided on where he will attend college next year and may follow Privott to Louisville. McCray is from the football hot-bed of Hampton, VA that has produced guys like Mike Vick and Ronald Curry. We'll see how this transpires in the next couple weeks.

C.J. Peake to Return to Cards?

Safety C.J. Peake wants to return to Louisville, multiple sources are reporting.

Peake, a sophomore, bolted U of L for East Mississippi Junior College when his relationship with former defensive coordinator Ron English turned tumultuous. Now, with English gone, Peake has asked Kragthorpe to take him back.

Peake, from Trotwood H.S. (Madison, Ohio), was Scout's 6th best and Rival's 17th best ranked safety coming out of high school a couple years ago.

Good news from the gridiron? Now that's refreshing.

T-Will is Money

MONEY, I tell you.

24 points, 18 boards, 8 assists, 3 steals.

Terrence Williams is quickly rising to the top of all-time favorites of this blogger.

(Yes, I know I use the term “blogger” loosely.)

I’m talking top 5 favorites. Like DeJuan Wheat/Reece Gaines/LaBradford Smith/Francisco Garcia/Taquan Dean status. (Am I showing my age here?)

The man is the complete package. This season, T Will has showcased his ability to take over games when he’s needed.

At 6’6, he’s fifth in the Big East in rebounds, averaging 9.3 per game. The average height of the four dudes in front of him? Six feet ten inches.

T Will leads the team and is fifth in the conference in assists, averaging 5.0 per. That’s remarkable considering how poorly we’ve struggled at times getting the ball in the hoop. It’s also remarkable when you consider that T Will leads in this category over established guards known for their ability to create like Seton Hall’s Eugene Harvey, UConn’s A.J. Price, Villanova’s Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher, Marquette’s Jerel McNeal, ND’s Kyle McAlarney, and Syracuse’s Eric Devendorf. What’s that say about T Will’s unselfishness? About his court-awareness? About his ability to make his teammates better? (It’s a rhetorical question. Don’t answer.) And this isn’t something new. In 2007-08, T Will averaged 4.5 assists per game.

Critics say that we can’t be as good as we were last season without David Padgett because Padgett was our facilitator, our offense went through him. But Padgett averaged 1.3 assists last year, a far cry from T Will’s 4.5 or 5 per game. And not to take anything away from David Padgett, but T Will’s ability to create for his teammates extends beyond the high-low post; T Will draws double teams in the paint, he can lead a fast break, and he can find the open man on the wing and swing it to him as well as anybody in the country. I miss Padgett like a dear friend, but I’ll take an offense that’s run through Terrence Williams every day of the week and won’t lose any sleep at night.

His energy is limitless. He played 43 minutes last night and was still jumping out of the gym at the buzzer ending regulation, electrifying the crowd with another trademark T Will jam. This was two days after an exhilarating contest up in Philadelphia in which he was on the court for 35 minutes. He played 36 minutes against Kentucky and 40 against UNLV. We need him out there. And when he’s out there, he’s tireless.

Tenacious defense. Last night T Will had 3 steals against a well-coached, poised team that rarely turns the ball over. Oh, and by the way, he’s second in the conference in that category, averaging 2.4 per game. Better than Dominic James of Marquette. Better than DeJuan Blair of Pitt.

He’s in the top 25 in blocked shots in the conference. Ask Patrick Patterson about T Will’s ability to move shots. Hell, ask LeBron James.

When called upon, when we need him most, he scores. 24 points last night. Game-winner against Villanova. 19 against Kentucky. 17 against Minnesota. 20 against Austin Peay. (What? You don’t remember? We definitely needed him against Austin Peay.)

And he’s no longer the one-dimensional scoring threat of taking the ball to the iron and dunking. In years past a trey going up from T Will usually warranted a collective groan from those wearing red. Not so this season. After working on his J during the off-season and into this season with Coach Pitino, his form has dramatically improved and it’s evident: he’s in the top 30 in the Big East in 3’s knocked down. And they’re knocked down when it counts. Kentucky’s strategy against us was clearly to give T Will the green light and let him pop from beyond the arc. And pop he did, going 3 for 5 from long range.

Give him room and he’ll pull the trigger. Get in his face and he’s using his quickness to go around you. Play zone against him and he’s going to thread the needle to find the open man under the basket.

“Unstoppable” is spelled T-W-i-l-l.

T Will’s energy and passion for the game is contagious. He lights a fire up under his teammates. He’s a leader. He gets the crowd going. Every time the man leads a fast break, folks at Freedom Hall quickly rise to their feet and 20,000 hold their breath, ready to be awed by another thrilling cram.

Will T Will lead us to the Promised Land? Yet to be seen. But it’s his enthusiasm, his passion for the game, his unselfishness, and his versatility that has Terrence Williams creeping up the list of this “blogger’s” all-time favorite Cards. And I won't lose any sleep knowing that this is T Will's team.

Cards Beat Irish; T-Will is the Man

They aren't going to make it easy on themselves are they? I guess you can't ask for much more than a win against teams like Nova and Notre Dame, but I don't think I'm going to survive the season if they are all going to be nailbiters. However, a win is a win even if it does send you through a whirlwind of emotion in the span of 5 minutes. The defense withstood the Frankengody/McAlarney onslaught to force OT. Then T-Will and company then took care of business and made it look like a rout. Cards 87 Irish 73 F/OT

- What can you say about T-Will that he isn't already thinking himself right now? I mean the dude is all over SportsCenter talking to Jay Bilas, showing off his new found J, and smiling for the whole world to see. "Man, if I miss this lay-up, Jay Bilas is going to kill me.." is just plain hilarious when T-Will is talking with the analyst after the game. Bilas said Williams was the best player on the floor even with the defending conference MVP there as well. If you haven't seen it - check it out on espn.com. 24 points 16 boards 8 assists 3 steals - His best regular season game as a Card statistically. When the shot is falling, he is just deadly. Tim Tebow is wearing T-Will pajamas tonight, just ask Coach Pitino:

"Obviously, the game that T-Will had was a Superman type game."

- The resurgence of Samardo Samuels is in it's second game and improving steadily. He was playing with some grit and working to get the ball early. The team looked to him more than they had in previous games and he capitalized. 18 points and 6 boards against a team with acceptable big mean is a vast improvement. His 4 blocks are just as impressive. Here's a good quote from Coach Pitino about the evolution of Samardo the last few games...

"From the Kentucky game, in the first two months of the season; I realized this when you get to know people he just couldn't grasp anything mentally. What I told him was that Earl Clark couldn't grasp anything as a freshman. It just takes time and repetition, don't get discouraged. Something happened in the Kentucky game, whether he was embarrassed or watching Patrick Patterson in film a light switch went. He really gave us a big lift tonight."
- Earl Clark's rim rocker on Frankengody was one of the more vicious dunks I have ever seen period, especially for someone donning the Cardinal red. Look back a couple posts and you'll see the best wallpaper a Cardinal fan could ever have. That is the definition of a facial. Afterwards, he flexed like the Incredible Hulk and looked like he was going to say 'I don't like to be angry..." or whatever Bruce Banner says before he mutated into the monster. A horrible thing for someone to do the the defending BIG EAST POY. 15 points 10 rebounds and one story for the grandkids for E5.

- The defense was good all around, but Andre McGee led the way by just ruining the day of Irish PG Torey Jackson. "Buckets" McGee forced 4 TO's in 13 second half minutes against Jackson and almost won the Cards the game by rattling Jackson into a turnover at the end of regulation only to be called a back-court violation. For as inconsistent as his shot has been, Buckets sure plays some nice defense which will be needed against guys like Rosario of Rutgers or Price of UCONN. Greta game for Andre "Buckets" McGee.

- Terrence Jennings filled in beautifully for a foul-troubled Samardo as he is looking more and more comfortable out there every game. His 19 minutes had to be close to a season-high and he deserves more after that performance. TJ was ripping down boards, blocking shots, and passing out of he post. Remember, Pitino called Jennings the "key to the team" at Media Day. This output against a tough Notre Dame team is a big step in the right direction.

More on the game later today....

The Aftermath

Just take a look at how intense Earl looks in this picture. It reminds me of that look he got in March last year. Could it have started earlier this year? He looks super human, like Charles Bronson or Clint Eastwood, like a man with a chip the size of New Jersey on his shoulders. He needs to make 1000 copies and send them to every scout, GM and coach in the NBA and it guarantees him a lottery pick next year. That's the type of look a man gets when he finds out his girl's been sleeping around or someone's been stealing from him. He looks as if he could run through a brick wall unfazed. OK, I'm getting carried away, but it was a nasty, nasty, nasty dunk on one of the best players in the country. Not to take anything away from the absolutely amazing performance by one T-Will (we'll get to that later), but that was one for the posterizing history books. AHHHHHHH!!!!

More to come on the thrilling OT victory later...

Oh No He Didn't!!!!

Show Me My Opponent - Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Name: Notre Dame
Nickname: Fighting Irish
Location: South Bend, Indiana
Mascot: Leprechaun
First Season: 1898

Claim to Fame: Snapping UCLA 88 game winning streak (1974)

Versus the Cards: Louisville lead series 14 to 8 (Louisville has won 9 out of last 10 meetings)

History of the Program - It's no secret of the success of the Notre Dame football program but the basketball team has some history of it's own. A resume that reads 2 National Coach of the Year winners (Digger Phelps both 1971&1987), 3 National Player of the Year winners, 9 Consensus All-Americans, 2 John Wooden All-Americans, 4 Big East Player of the Year winners, and 2 Big East Rookie of the Year winners, all while reaching the NCAA Tournament 29 times (9th most), including a Final Four appearances in 1978. The Irish have been playing college basketball for over 100 years and have won 1642 games in that span (11th All-Time) but none maybe bigger then their victory over John Wooden's UCLA Bruins on January 19th, 1974, when they snapped still college basketballs longest winning streak of 88 games (71-70). A win I am sure that Digger Phelps and his matching highlighter/neck tie combo will remind you of every chance he gets. What he may forget to tell you though is that Notre Dame also ended a 29 game win steak (San Francisco in 1977), a 26 game win steak (DePaul in 1980), 28 game win streak (Virginia in 1981), and a 20 game win streak (Boston College in 2005). The Irish have had 17 different head coaches, with Phelps (71-91) and George Keogan (23-43) each serving 20 years but also have had six different coaches only last one season (most recently Mike Doherty in 2000).

Notable Alumni -

Mike Crowley - President of the Oakland Athletics
Edward DeBartalo - Former owner of the San Francisco 49ers (during glory days of the 80s)
Larry Dolan - President of the Cleveland Indians
Jim Fitzgerald - Former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors
Joe Garagiola - Vice President of Baseball Operations in Major League Baseball
Ted Phillips - President and Chief Operator of the Chicago Bears
John York - Co-owner of the San Francisco 49ers
Richard Riehle - Actor
George Wendt - Actor (most famously Norm on Cheers)
Phil Donahue - TV personalty
Regis Philbin - TV personality
Hubert Schlafly - Inventor of the teleprompter
Steve Bartman - Most hated Cubs fan

The Irish have produced over hundreds of NFL players, so I can not name them all but here are a few big ones....

Joe Montanta - Former NFL QB and a member of the Hall of Fame
Bertrand Berry - NFL defensive end (Cardinals)
Jerome "The Bus" Bettis - Former NFL running back
Tim Brown - Heisman winner (1988) and NFL wide receiver
Nick Buoniconti - Former NFL linebacker, Co-Host of "Inside The NFL" on HBO, and a member of the Hall of Fame
John Carney - NFL kicker (recently helped Eagles advance in the playoffs by sucking)
Dave Casper - Former NFL wide receiver and member of the Hall of Fame
Mike Golic - Former NFL defensive tackle and Co-Host of ESPN's Mike & Mike in the Morning
Bob Golic - Former NFL defensive tackle and former resident adviser for Zach, Slater, and Screech
Ryan Grant - Current NFL running back (Packers)
Skip Holtz - Current coach at East Carolina (football)
Paul Hornung - Heisman winner (1956), Louisville native and member of NFL Hall of Fame
John Huate - Heisman winner (1964), lost starting position to Joe Namath (who finished 11th in Heisman voting) as a rookie
John Lujak - Heisman winner (1947), 2 time pro bowler in NFL

Ron Powlus - I know he sucked but I wanted a reason to mention Beano Cook..you mean he didn't win four Heismans?

Tony Rice - Starting QB for last Notre Dame Championship (1988)
Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger - Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!!! Need I say more?
Joe Theisman - Former NFL QB, his leg shattering and career ending sack by Lawrence Taylor on MNF is still the most gruesome thing I have ever seen

Brad Lidge - Current MLB pitcher (Phillies)
Carl Yastrzemski - MLB Hall of Fame (Red Sox), over 3,000 hits and 450 homeruns, including the triple crown in 1967

Austin Carr - Former POY (71) and NBA guard, was the first pick in 1971 draft and first ever by Cleveland Cavalier.
Adrian Dantley - Former NBA forward, one of the greatest low post players of all time. A member of the NBA Hall of Fame, his #4 is retired by the Utah Jazz
Laphonso Ellis - Former NBA forward, drafted 5th overall by Denver Nuggets in 1992
Joe Kleine - Former NBA center and proof no matter how much you suck, as long as you are atleast 7 feet tall you can play in the NBA
Bill Laimber - Former NBA center and member of the Pistons "Bad Boys" teams of the 1980's.
Ray Meyer - Former coach of great but under achieving DePaul teams in the 1980's. Member of College Basketball Hall of Fame
Troy Murphy - Current NBA center (Pacers) and 2 time All-American and 2001 Big East POY
Kelly Tripucka - Former NBA forward and owner of the coolest names and hair-styles
Orlando Wooldridge - Former NBA forwards and greatest dunkers

Cup O' Jones : ND Gameday

A few golden nuggets of info to get you through the long day of anticipation for tonight's match-up with the Irish. Picture courtesy of Dugan Ryan's facebook profile...

- Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the football team is a complete wreck right now. For a guy to be hired as solo defensive coordinator here and bolt to become CO- defensive coordinator at Kansas is absurd. BF Mangino has built a school known for their offense - not defense - in a conference that plays very little and is a haven for high-powered offenses. I understand coach Miller wants to be closer to family, but if he had the right pieces to build a good defense, I guarantee he would have stayed. Now I'm hearing that strength coach and player favorite Joe Kenn is leaving for the Jacksonville Jaguars and, as TC said a couple days ago, Jeff Brohm is shopping himself around as well. Also, Krag's prized recruit coming next year, LB Mike Privott, was a Miller guy and could possibly be wavering on his decision. I expect at least 5 more players to transfer or quit before spring ball starts. Tom Jurich needs to address this immediately because people are starting to lose trust fast in this program.

- Back to Brohm, I have heard a rumor from a very reliable source that Brohm may be headed to Florida Atlantic to become assistant / head-coach-in-waiting under Coach Schnellenberger. It's a popular treand in college football right now with schools like Florida St., Kentucky, and Texas already appointing who will replace their current coach. That is the best bet for Brohm's future. Another option is Minnesota, where Brohm may have recently interviewed for the offensive coordinator job. All I'm hearing is that Brohm is as good as gone, possibly an official announcement today. It's a shame that we are letting such a loyal guy leave without a fight. Just mark it down as another casualty from the debacle known as the Krag Era.

- Make sure you read Trevor's preview and break-down of the game. The Cards need to do two things to come out on top tonight: 1) Keep ND off the offensive glass 2) Shoot better than 12% from 3-point range. If we do those two things, victory is ours. Frankengody loves the rims at Freedom Hall as he just lit the place up last year in defeat. The match-up between PG Torey Jackson and the Louisville pressure will also be a key. If he penetrates and gets his teammates wide-open looks from outside it could be an uphill battle for the Cards. I see the Cards coming out on top, buy not by much.

- The best announcing team around will be doing the game tonight on ESPN. It doesn't get any better than Sean McDonough, Jay Bilas and Bill Raftery when it comes to calling college hoops. McDonough is one of the best in the business and sometimes his quips about Raftery's drinking habits are hilarious. Bilas is the best analyst in the biz right now with crazy amounts of knowledge to spew. Raftery cracks me up with his sayings like "mantoman", "the keees" and "onions!". all three put together a team that makes watching the game more enjoyable.

- Pitino had a press conference yesterday to preview tonight's game. The audio can be found on the official UofL website.

- The lovely Dana O'Neil had a good write up on the Louisville-Villanova game on ESPN.com. A couple pretty good quotes quotes from T-Will in there about his shooting woes and the GW shot. Also an interesting quote from the postgame press conference where Pitino was talking about how hard the BIG EAST is this season:

“I’ve looked forward to this year more than any other,” Pitino said. “You’ll never see 12, 13 teams as tough as this. It’s special, I’ll tell you that. I’m getting the hell out of here after this year, I’m telling you that.”

Some people might call that foreshadowing, I say it's Coach P trying to emphasize the point of how tough the conference is in a tongue-and-cheek way. I really don't see Coach leaving after this year, something that people a misconstruing after seeing this quote. It is getting to that point though where we need to be on guard for a possible Pitino departure, but with the guys we have coming in I don't see it being anytime soon.

Breaking Down the Irish

Head Coach: Mike Brey (9th season)

Record: 12-3 (overall), 3-1(Big East)

Last game: Beat Seton Hall 83-79

Team Statistics -
Scoring: 82.2 ppg (1st in Big East) Opponent - 67.5 ppg
Rebounds: 43.1 rpg (4th in Big East) Opponents - 35.5 rpg
Assists: 18.7 apg (1st in Big East) Opponents - 13.1 apg
Turnovers: 9.4 tpg (16th, fewest, in Big East) Opponents - 12.7 tpg
Steals: 7.1 spg (11th in Big East) Opponents - 5.3 spg
Blocks: 2.7 bpg (16th in Big East) Opponents - 3.3 bpg
FG pct: 46% (6th in Big East) Opponents - 42%
3 point pct: 41% (1st in Big East) Opponents - 34%
FT pct: 69% (7th in Big East)

Starting Lineup...

Guard - Tory Jackson 5'11 193 Junior #2

A triple double threat every time he gets on the court, averaging 11.8 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds a game. Has scored in double figures in his last five games and put up a season high 21 against Indiana earlier this year. While he can knock down the three (shooting 41%) he doesn't force the shot, attempting only 24 times (hitting 10 of them). Does a great job of getting into the lane and with a strong upper body, has the ability to finish at the rim.

Guard - Kyle McAlarney 6'0 196 Senior #23

OK...if you don't know this guy can hurt you from anywhere on the court then you have never watched a game of college basketball. The President of the Tommy Chong Fan Club is from Statin Island, New York and came to the Irish as the 4th All-Time leading scorer in New York High School history. Since then has shown everyone he can hit anything (whether it be a three or a joint). Averaging 16.5 points a game, hitting on 46% of 134 three point attempts this season already. Drilled North Carolina for 39 points in defeat. Not at his best when forced to create for himself, obviously better as a catch and shoot player. Has only taken 46 shots this season that wasn't a three (out of 182 total shot attempt).

Guard - Ryan Ayers 6'7 210 Senior #42

The son of former Ohio State head coach Randy Ayers (currently an assistant coach in the NBA), has improved his game every season to the point where he is averaging career highs in scoring (11.5), rebounds (3.4) and field goal percentage (46%) a game. Ayers is the second best shooter the Irish have, connecting on 44% from behind the arc (39 of 87). While he may not get the attention that some of his teammates do, can still burn you if you leave him open, putting up 35 points earlier this year in a win over South Dakota.

Forward - Zach Hillesland 6'9 233 Senior #33

One of three Senior starters and the role player on a team of offensive studs. Averaging 6.5 points and 5.9 rebounds a game. This is the guy the Cards will need not forget about, does a great job at scrapping for every loose ball and at 2.9 assists per game, shows he has the ability to find the open man. Put up 17 points against Depaul and pulled down 12 rebounds against Furman (both wins). Has had an offensive rebound in seven straight games (four against Georgetown), while only twice this season has Hillesland been held without any offensive rebounds in a game.

Forward - Luke Harangody 6'8 251 Junior #44

Frankenstein leads the Big East in scoring (24.5), rebounding (12.5), field goals made (117), is second in free throws made (83), and eighth in field goal percentage (50%). Oh yea...I almost forgot, he put up 40 on the Cards last year in Freedom Hall. The only way anyone has slowed this beast down was by giving him pneumonia. In 13 games this year Harangody has only been held below 20 points twice (one of those was with pneumonia and still had 13 points) and has scored over 30 points three times, including his last two games (wins over Georgetown and Seton Hall). Is averaging 4.5 offensive rebounds a game as well. Not really a threat from deep, but can hit a fifteen footer if you leave him open. You let him get the ball anywhere on the low block though and you might as well just let him dunk it because he is going to score whether you like it or not.

Key Reserves...

Luke Zeller, forward - leads a thin bench in minutes (17.8), points (6.3), and rebounds (3.8) a game. Had 10 points and 11 rebounds against Indiana.

Jonathan Peoples, guard - doesn't fill out the stat sheet but does have a 2/1 assist to turnover ratio in relief of Jackson and McAlarney.

Needs to be done - The Cards have struggled with putting teams away over the last three games and the Irish showed last year in Freedom Hall that they will never die, coming back down 19 with 5:41 to play, cutting the Cards lead to just 5 with 23 seconds. That can not happen again, Louisville must learn to finish off their opponents because Sosa isn't hitting that many 30 footers and something tells me Harangody isn't going to miss a layup to win the game. Notre Dame is not the best defensive unit, so the Cards should get plenty of good looks from the outside, as well as the fact that no one on the Irish's roster is a shot blocking threat, so Louisville's guards should have no fear attacking the rim. Louisville can't stop Harangody (sorry) but no one can, he is going to get his points and rebounds. In two of the three Irish defeats, McAlarney was a combined 1-11 from behind the arc (North Carolina only exception) and in last seasons victory he (McAlarney) was 3-17 from the field. Louisville must disrupt him as much as possible. Point guard Tory Jackson must also not be allowed to have his way in the lane. Cardinal guards did a great job (mostly) of not allowing Nova's guards to penetrate the lane with ease, giving them the luxury of picking which open shooter to pass to. If Jackson is allowed to penetrate, surrounded by so many offensive weapons, it could be a long day for Louisville.

Prediction - This is a game Terrence Williams can be big in. Notre Dame doesn't have anyone who can match up with him and with their (Notre Dame) lack of ability to block shots, Williams should be able to get into the lane and finish. Louisville defensively have been on all year but this by far is the best offensive team they have faced. If Samuels thinks he had it tough with Dante Cunningham (a good player), he hasn't seen anything yet. Jennings has been forced to play more minutes lately (Samuels fatigue and foul trouble) and has shown great improvements (more on defense then offense) and the Cards are going to need him to contribute if Samuels gets in trouble.

Cards - 84

Irish - 79

Just to Ruin Things...

It's bizarre how much I've forgot about the UL football season. This season will ONLY be worse but I think it's funny our coaches leave BEFORE actually coaching.

Brand spanking new DC Bill Miller has decided to leave Louisville and become the co-DC at Kansas. Here's what Miller had to say...

"The timing of this is opportunity is very unfortunate," said Miller. "But its an opportunity for me to be closer to my 85-year old father and my brother. I truly appreciate the opportunity Steve gave me at Louisville, and am grateful of the treatment that Tom Jurich and Steve also gave me while I was here. I don't expect many people to understand my decision, but this is something I had to do for my family."

It's almost comical each day when another coach/player/prospect is gone from UL football. Let the free fall begin.

Whew! That was Close

The Cards shot 3-25 from 3-point range today and beat the #17 team in the country. Villanova is a good team who will most definitely be tough to beat in March because of their guard-play and hustle. However, the Cards played an excellent game defensively, holding Nova to only 8 three point attempts all game and went into a hostile environment on the road in the BIG EAST. They overcame the poor outside shooting and came away clutching a victory. I'm sure Pitino isn't pleased with the lack of "killer instinct" the Cards have shown with the lead, but he'll take a W in any size, shape or color on the road.

- The "killer instinct" thing is something that needs to change soon if this team is going to live up to expectations. There's no way we should just impose our will the first 30 minutes, absolutely dominating opponents, and then have to hit a shot in the final 15 seconds in 2 of 3 games to win. We were up 6-10 on UK throughout the game and let them come back in the final minute. South Florida went on a 10-0 run to close out the game Wednesday. Today, the Cards were definitely the best team on the court and showed it by controlling them whole game. Yet they let Nova take their first lead in the final stages of the game. It's partially Pitino and his substitutions and partially the team getting complacent, but this team need to learn soon how to step on the other teams' throat when they have a lead. If they don't, I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose a game they shouldn't very soon. Not so much against UK and USF, but today we were very, very lucky to win.

- The final sequence showed the world why Louisville has earned the nickname "Cardiac Cards". From T-Will's wild shot - to getting beat on the press - to Antonio Pena's free throw problems - to Earl letting the FT board slip out of his hands - to the lob and multiple tip-in attempts. All lead to me about having a friggin coronary. I wouldn't expect less from this team or any other Louisville team. There were a few times the game looked to be slipping away and it was almost like Nova snatched defeat from the jaws of victory by missing the FT's and tips.

- T-Will continued to build towards becoming this year's David Padgett. Any time the Cards were in a rut and failing to execute the offense, T-Will would make something happen. You have to love seeing players improve like T-Will has over the last 4 years. Nearly all of the poor shot selection, wild passes and falling asleep on defense has been removed from his game and it seems something good happens every time he drives to the basket. 12 points, 15 boards and 6 assists in 35 minutes. Despite all the greatness that he brings, T-Will needs to be more consistent with his shot. There were a few opportunities for him to halt a Nova run with an open 3 and he bricked it. As we all know, if those start falling at around a 40% clip the Cards will take it to a new level.

- Like Andy said earlier, Earl Clark is just a mastodon in the paint, but somewhat sporadic around the perimeter. He can hit shots from the outside, but he rarely creates for teammates off the dribble. In the paint, E5 can let his teammates create for him - leaving him one-on-one with what is more than likely an under-sized defender 5-10 feet from the hoop. I have not seen one guy all year that can match up with Earl in both size AND athletic ability inside. That's where Earl pays the bills in college. Next year he can showcase his outside game with the Bucks or Sixers.

- Guard play was suspect at best for the Cards today. The 4 guards (Sosa, McGee, Smith, Knowles) went a combined 5-24 from the field (2-15 from 3) for only 12 points. It wasn't like they weren't getting open looks, they just weren't knocking them down. The pressure of the Nova guards combined with the poor shooting forced the Cards to pound it down low. Sosa looked to be getting back to his old ways a little, so we'll watch out for that. The other 3 just weren't hitting, but made up for it by playing some hard-nosed D on Nova's guards.

- Samardo played a lot better today, but Nova didn't have a guy taller than him to compete inside. 15 points is more like it but the Jamaican is still a work in progress more on defense. He was getting himself open in the post and exhibiting some good post moves. However, he does get his shot blocked far too much for my liking. Hopefully he looks at his stat sheet and gets a little more confident. By the way, Mardo got called for the foul in the picture above.

More to come later on....

Halftime Report

34-26
I feel pretty good about our first half. We were extremely steady when Sosa was in the game. The back ups MUST do better. Knowles and Jerry Smith need to get their 3 on!
Is it just me or does TWill get every rebound? His ability to slash and rebound will be sorely missed next season. He's that important.
I want to see us continue to dominate. Right now, take one spin shot from Reynolds, he hasn't done too much.
2-13 from the 3 point line IS NOT good for Louisville.

Second half thoughts: We MUST hit 3's. If we don't and they do we're looking at a game.

C'mon CARDS!

I love EARL CLARK when he plays inside....Sosa keep driving....we need to hit some more spot up 3's, we're struggling on that right now....awful officiating thus far....19-11, keep it going...how about Reggie Delk with the floater?

Show Me My Opponent - Villanova Wildcats

Nickname: Wildcats

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Arena: Wachovia Center (capcity 21,600)

Head Coach: Jay Wright (8th season)

Record: 13-2 (1-1 Big East)

Record against the Cards: 6-6 (Cards won last meeting 64-58)

History of the Program- Villanova has been a power and threat under current coach Jay Wright since he arrived on campus. Nova will always be known for their miracle run in 1985 to the National Title under Rollie Massiminno (upsetting Big East rival Georgetown). A run that showed a team that had to play a near perfect game to win. Despite later reports that revealed that some Nova players were doing cocaine at halftime in the locker room. A member of what is known as the Philadelphia super five (along with Temple, La Salle, St. Josephs and Pennsylvania), a group of Universities all based in the Philadelphia area. Villanova is one of several Catholic schools in the Big East (Is the oldest and largest Catholic University in Pennsylvania) and like most of them do not compete in Division I football.

Notable Alumni -

Jim Croce(pictured) - Musician, best known for his song Bad bad Leroy Brown

Toby Keith - Musician (kinda), attended but didn't finish but was awarded honorary degree, that says a lot about the integrity of your school.

Victoria Zdrok(pictured) - 1994 Playmate of the Month (October) and 2004 Pet of the Year and a fan of Popsicles.

Paul Arizin - Former NBA player (mostly Philadelphia Warriors), listed by the NBA as one of their 50 Greatest players in 1996.

Chris Ford - Former Player (Pistons and Celtics) and coach (Celtics, Bucks, Clippers, and 76ers). Is the first man to hit a three point shot in NBA history (October 12th, 1979)
Rory Sparrow - Former NBA point guard
Tim Donaghy - Former NBA ref (rogue ref, right David Stern?) who was found guilty of fixing games for gambling purposes
Kerry Kittles - Former NBA player (lottery pick by Nets).
Malik Allen - Current NBA center (Nets)
Randy Foye - Current NBA guard (Timberwolves)
Kyle Lowry - Current NBA point guard (Grizzlies)
Allen Ray - Current NBA guard (Celtics)
Tim Thomas - Current NBA forward (Clippers)

Howie Long - NFL Hall of Fame Defensive End (Raiders), not just the guy from the Radio Shack commercials who makes fun of Terry Bradshaw's lack of hair.

Brian Westbrook - Current NFL running back (Eagles), most complete back in the NFL

Starting Lineup -

Guard - Scottie Reynolds - 6'2 180 Junior #1

Has been a thorn in Cards fans sides since he got to Villanova. Originally signed with Oklahoma but changed his mind when Coach Sampson left for Indiana. Is as fast as they come with the ball, second on the team in scoring (15.9 a game), while leading the Wildcats in assists a game (4.1). Does have a tendency to be turnover prone though.

Guard - Corey Stokes - 6'5 220 Sophomore #24

A sharpshooter who is putting up 10 points a game and hitting 44% of his three point attempts. Was held scoreless in last game against Seton Hall, playing only seven minutes. It was the first time he was held without a point in a game this season.

Forward - Dante Cunningham - 6'8 230 Senior #33Leads the team in scoring at 17.1 points a game, while grabbing 7.9 rebounds a game. Has recorded six double-doubles this season. Is averaging 2.8 offensive rebounds a game(6 or more three times). Was held to 10 points in loss to Cards last season. Has a sister (Davalyn Cunningham), who plays in the WNBA.

Forward - Antonio Pena - 6'8 235 Sophomore #0
The perfect role player, averaging 6 points and 6 rebounds a game. Pena will hustle for every ball and take any charge. The x-factor type player the Cards must not forget about on a team of good players. Chose Villanova over Louisville and others coming out of High School in Brooklyn, NY.

Forward - Dwayne Anderson - 6'6 215 Senior #22

Only averaging 4 points and 4 rebounds but missed the first month of the season so is still getting into the groove. Put up fifteen rebound in overtime win against Seton Hall, seven of them being offensive rebounds.

Tougher Wildcats- This is a more balanced Wildcat team compared to the other Wildcats Louisville has played this season. Villanova isn't as deep as Louisville (not many are) but go eight deep and it is a solid eight. Junior point guard Scottie Reynolds is the leader of this team, a role he has had for three years now. He (Reynolds) plays like a New York point guard (is from Virginia) with his exceptional quickness and ability to break you down in several different ways. Reynolds is coming off a 40 point performance against Seton Hall. Fellow starter Stokes and heavily used reserve Corey Fisher give the Wildcats a deadly rotation. Stokes is a serious zone buster. Fisher isn't a big a threat from the outside as Reynolds and Stokes but can score just the same. Is averaging 14.6 points over the last three games and is averaging 3 assists a game. But what makes the Wildcats so dangerous is their ability to break you down from the inside as well. Sophomore Antonio Pena is a typical garbage man, while Dante Cunningham has been on a tear. A Senior who has improved his numbers and game every season, he (Cunningham) isn't a threat from more then 15 feet out but is solid on the glass (7.9 a game) and put up 24 points and 13 rebounds in a loss against Texas.

What needs to be done - Edgar Sosa can not get into a "whatever you can do I can do better" attitude with Scottie Reynolds. He has had that happen in the past and as he has begun to play better the Cards play better. That and Reynolds is twice the player Sosa is (sorry Edgar). I though Clark (Earl) would have a big game against USF because I knew they didn't have the athletes to match up with him (not many do) but Villanova plays good defense, holding opponents to 38% shooting. Pena and Cunningham (6'8 each) are the Wildcats tallest players. Louisville must control the tempo and not let Nova's guards slice and dice the Cards less then good transition defense. Andre (McGee) and Knowles need to contribute off the bench.

Position by Position -

Guards -
Sosa-vs-Reynolds: Advantage Nova, Sosa has played well over the last two games but Reynolds is better then Sosa at every aspect of the game.

Smith-vs-Stokes: Push, Both are similar players, while I do think Jerry (Smith) is a better ball handler.

Forwards -

Williams-vs-Anderson: Advantage Cards, Anderson is a bench player in a starters role. Big advantage Cards

Clark-vs-Pena: Advantage Cards, It really depends which Clark shows up.

Center -

Samuels-vs-Cunningham: Push, Samuels maybe a better player but he is a Freshman going on the road against a very good Senior.

Bench: Advantage Cards, Louisville is one of the deepest teams in the country. Louisville can bring five players off their bench that can contribute is one way or another. Villanova has one, maybe two.

Prediction -

This not only is the Cards toughest road game so far this season, it will be one of their toughest all year. This could be a huge win for Louisville who have struggled away from home. They showed a lack of killer instinct the last two games against lesser teams and if you (Louisville) go into Villanova with that complacent attitude you (Louisville) will leave with a good ass kicking. Sosa and Samuels must keep their cool. Sosa has gone 4 for 13 (9points) in two meetings against Nova. Jennings and Goode won't be as effective against Nova's front court as they were against UK and USF weaker front lines. This is a game that Andre McGee could be huge in, he is due. Clark led the Cards with 14 in their last meeting in the Wachovia Center (Nova won 57-53 on 3/3/07), while Terrence Williams has struggled against Jay Wright's Wildcats in the past (averaging 7 points a game on 10-34 from the field) but must show up if the Cards have any chance.

Cards - 58

Wildcats - 62

LT to Florida State

The epidemic continues.

Last night, the Courier-Journal confirmed what was first reported here on the LYes! on Wednesday - senior safety Latarrius Thomas is gone.

According to the Louisville paper, LT wanted to transfer to either Eastern Michigan or Arkansas, but Kragthrope would grant his transfer to neither, so he's opting for FSU. Apparently Krag begged him to stay, but LT wasn't having any of it, saying, "I just don't feel like it's the right place for me anymore."

With only one year left of eligibility, he'd rather sit out a season than play under the current regime at U of L.

The former 3-star recruit out of Smyrna Beach, Florida would have most likely been one of our greatest defensive contributors next season.

Straight From My Gut...

It's a long weekend of college basketball but more importantly NFL Playoffs. I do mostly everything on gut feeling. I read the reports, analysis, etc but mostly all my betting/fantasy play comes on gut feeling. I had a good feeling that Florida could cover anything up to 6.5 points...and I was right! Let's face it, Florida is in the midst of a Nebraska/Miami type run. What they're doing in the modern age of "Who the hell is actually number 1" is amazing. Somehow Urban Meyer, even though not around the full extent of the BCS, is the first coach to win 2 under that umbrella. Tebow is simply amazing. That drive at the end of hte game where he wasted 7 minutes plus and capped it with the JUMP PASS (which is a gimic but a perfect way to end the season). Oklahoma simply couldn't get on the field in the second half. They had 2 prime opportunities in the first half and got nothing. Of course, Tebow looked human in the first half and forced 2 passes himself. In the end, if Florida scores on even one of those early possessions this game is a blow out. OU played valiantly but Big Game Bob Stoops is starting to look really lame, much like Jim Tressell every January.

It would have truly been great to see USC v. Florida.
Now, to things that matter.

12p: Louisville @ Villanova. I'm scared to death. Honestly, the end of the UK game combined with a some laggish game against a pathetic USF team leads me confused as to this team's state of mind. For some reason it isn't fair that all my hate will be going towards Philadelphia, but I mean they are the bastard city of the state.
Louisville needs to hang on to this game. They're going to be pushed but still Louisville has the size and that size needs to play. If nothing else, this will be the match up of the best dressed coaches in basketball.

Now, to the NFL.
Saturday 4:30p Ravens @ Titans
How can anyone pick against the Ravens? Wait a minute, how can anyone pick against the Titans? Honestly, this bunch of games are complete toss ups.
Ravens MUST run the ball and Flacco must not turn the ball over. This game is simply down to turnovers. If the Ravens get heat on Collins then ut oh....and vice versa. Chris Johnson MUST get the ball, not White. And if Ed Reed gets 2 picks and returns one for a TD then I'm slotting them for the Super Bowl.
In the end I think the Titans, with the home field advantage, may get behind early but will get Flacco to make ROOKIE mistakes leading to a Titans victory.
17-16 Titans...late TD after Ravens turned ball over and had to settle for FG's but look for an early Ravens TD.

Saturday 8:15p Cardinals @ Panthers
This one could get ugly. What can the Cardinals NOT do on a consistent basis? Stop the run. What do the Panthers do as good or better than anyone in the league? Run the ball. It's pretty simple. If the Panthers have a good amount of success running the ball then it's over. Plus, Steve Smith will put together a nice day, no doubt. The Cards need to score first and often. They have to get better protection for Warner and must pray that Fitzgerald can make a few huge catches and that Boldin is healthy enough to play.
Give me the Panthers 31-23
Sunday 1p Eagles @ Giants
Obviously, this is my game. Another pesky Philly team. If nothing else this Philly team has followed the path of the Giants from '08 and are the "hottest team giong into the playoffs." So hot they didn't know the rules to the over time period and lost to the lowly Redskins 10-3...yeah that's right now TD. The Giants have stumbled into the playoffs losing 3 of 4 if you count the Vikings game in which the 3rd string D and David Carr, yes that David Carr, got all the second half snaps. Honestly, I think this game could go any way. I could see boht teams being beat up or I could see an overtime game (yes, in which someone has to win Donovan...don't worry no ties).
It all comes down the the running game for the GMEN. If they run the ball they win. For the Iggles it's about Westbrook and limited McNabb's mistakes. If McNabb plays Romo with the ball it will be over...same with Eli. If Westbrook gets out in the open then that's trouble. It will be a line of scrimmage game. I really think Philly could win and many pundits are riding the Eagles hard. I'll take the GMEN for the obvious.
20-13 Giants.

Chargers @ Steelers 4:45p
My dislike for both of these teams is obvious. I'm tired of the Steelers, their fans, their mediocre play that gets them way too much praise. Plus, no other team gets the TD call in the Ravens game..unbelievable. Anyways, the Chargers are hot but let's face it they won't be able to run. They just won't. The Steelers will run enough and Big Ben will run around enough to win.
Give me the Steelers easily 20-7.

Strahan and Glazer say....

obviously nothing about the BCS National Championship Game...if that's what it still is. My gut and wallet says FLORIDA but I'm starting to read some very convincing stuff about Oklahoma. Give me Florida 38-31. OU hasn't seen a D this good, is missing a top RB, and Urban Meyer's simply a better coach.

Brohm out at U of L?

Less than one year after turning down Nick Saban’s offer to lead Alabama’s offense, Louisville Offensive Coordinator Jeff Brohm’s job is reportedly in jeopardy.

There has been much speculation on this issue throughout the season and thereafter. The Cards averaged only 376.7 yards per game last season. But yesterday it was announced that Cards’ administrative assistant Jay Johnson was promoted to “offensive assistant,” despite the fact there are no vacancies yet to be filled from the offensive staff from a year ago.

Prior to joining U of L, Johnson served as offensive coordinator at Southern Miss from 2005-07, during which his pass-heavy Golden Eagles averaged a mere 358.7 yards per game and never finished better than 4th offensively in C-USA. But fear not – I’m sure our turtleneck clad AD will assure you this is another example of Krag “putting his pieces in place” and to be patient.

Yes, the offensive sputtered last season. But that’ll happen when you lose so many starters to a coach who runs them off, injuries, and the NFL draft. Now it appears Krag wants to throw the baby out with the bathwater by running off Jeff Brohm, who could have been calling plays in the Sugar Bowl this year and is, to say the least, a pillar of the Louisville community.


There is an abundance of unhappy (to put it mildly) fans. Why further divide the faithful by creating the rift that would result by booting one of the town’s most beloved figures, and one who’s devoted most of his life to University of Louisville football?

Cup O' Jones : Facial Edition

Although there were a few tense moments, the Cards looked rather impressive at times in a 14-point victory over USF Wednesday night. The Cards pretty much used their superior talent to overpower and outlast a young and talented Bulls team. It was the Cards' first victory in a BIG EAST opener in 5 seasons. Cards 71 Bulls 57.

- Earl Clark was back to his old self scoring 22 points and grabbing 9 boards. As laid-back and chill as Clark seems in interviews, he sure does play with a lot of emotion and fire when motivated. As Trevor pointed out before the game, Clark was due for a big output. You could see how distraught he was in the waning moments of the UK game and figured he would make it a point to atone for his bad outing quickly. He took a few bad shots from the outside, but I think he found his spot - in or around the corner - where he hit 2 of his 3 triples. As he left the court smiling, the whole bench was giving him love as they knew the end of the UK game was eating at him. Another loyal reader suggested the Clark plays better on neutral sites and/or on the road because he is away from all the distractions that surround him in Louisville. If he continues this trend n those type of games then we might have something. USF coach Stan Heath added this on E5:

"I saw him in the Kentucky game and figured he would come out pretty determined. His ability to hurt us, driving inside and also with 3-point shooting, was a tough matchup for our team."

-T-Will had 4 points on only 3 shots, 5 boards and 5 assists. Not too much, but he doesn't care as long as that W is put on the board. He did spark a run with a serious facial job on Bulls' center Alex Rivas. I felt sorry for the guy. He's going to be all over this and every other Card site for years with the picture to the left. Maybe next time he should open his eyes when trying to block #1. T-Will played his least amount of minutes all year (21) after being forced to sit most of the first half with foul trouble.

- Pitino got to test his depth on the road playing Reggie Delk and Terrence Jennings 16 and 17 minutes respectively. Both played pretty well. Delk showed good passing within the offensive sets and knocked down a couple shots. Jennings is looking less and less lost every time he gets in the game and did a great job altering shots on the defensive end. both were expected to have bigger roles this season, so we'll see what this new found playing time brings.

- Coach P was looking for better passing and less "one-on-one" and by my view the Cards succeeded. They were making the extra pass for the open shot, running the offense well, and playing as team. I think the next step to becoming a contender is not getting complacent with a lead. The Cards led against UK by 11 and let it slip away and although most of the starters were sitting, they let USF go on a 10-0 run at the end of the game looking very sloppy in the process.

- The team has shied away from throwing it into Samardo ever since the 2 game stretch (Western, Ole Miss) where he struggled mightily. Samuels has gotten very few opportunities to regain trust in the last few games. When given the chance, he has shown off a few electric post moves. Only 5 shot attempts tonight and less than that against UK. It's time for the team to start looking to the big guy more often and let him get into the flow of the game.

- I've not been able to get a read on who Coach Pitino is going to play in what situations. George Goode had a hell of a game against UK and played only one minute tonight. In turn, Reggie Delk played ZERO minutes against UK and played 16 tonight. However, Goode's lack of time may be due to a stress fracture that has been bothering him lately. Not doubting the coach, just wondering if he is going to find a solid, consistent rotation at any point this season.

- Our 4 main guards (Sosa, Jerry, Knowles and McGee) played very well tonight and are beginning to seem interchangeable. all combinations of the 4 seem to work fairly well in different ways. Smith had a bad shooting night but made up for it on D. Sosa kept riding the the wave of his UK shot, playing within himself. PK took good shots and stayed consistent and McGee knocked down his free throws. As we all know, as good as T-Will, Clark and Mardo are, the team will only go as far as these guys take them.

- Good start to the BIG EAST campaign. As Pitino said Tuesday, It's a "death march" that only gets tougher as the season progresses. Off to Philly for #17 'Nova on Saturday. Hopefully we won't have a UK fan inspect our plane this time and we can actually have a normal flight.

Louisville Leads 32-26 at Halftime

Not a terribly lethargic first half. At first I was extremely worried. Sosa looks like he's playing with confidence and is hitting some nice shots....a couple threes and a nice banked runner.

Clark looks like he's shaken the hangover from the final minutes of the UK game.

TJ has some nice minutes off the bench...his passing much better and blocking ability becoming evident.

I hope we can open this up quickly to a double digit lead and take it from there.

More after the game.....

p.s. enjoy bball season while you can...the football season is becoming more and more irrelevant each year.

Thomas and Roache No Longer with Team?

The bad news keeps coming for Krag and his Louisville football team as a source close to the team tells me safety Lattarius Thomas has asked for a transfer and o-lineman Brian Roache has decided to quit. Both player started at one point or another last year.

The number is too high to calculate now, but I think it's something like 40 players that have either quit, transfered, or left early since ol' Krag took over close to 2 years ago. That is a staggering number unmatched by any one (or even two combined) teams in college. I'm not going to rant like I usually do about St. Krag, but it is completely ridiculous for this trend to continue 2 years later. Both these players now need to be replaced and I really don't see anyone on the depth chart as capable.

Thomas brought all sorts of promise after a freshman year highlighted by a team high 8 (? I think that's it couldn't find it exactly) picks and an Orange Bowl victory. He tore up his knee the following year in the 3rd game and sat the remainder of the season. This past season Thomas battled back injuries and was benched in favor of Bobby Buchanan and Daniel Covington. Who knows what could have beem if the dread injury bug didn't bite L.T. This comes as a surprise to me because L.T. was supposed to be one of the leaders on an inexperienced defense. Thomas chose the Cards after being courted by such teams as Florida, Mississippi St. and West Virginia. I have always liked L.T., considering him one of our better defenders, and hope he lands on his feet healthy somewhere.

The 6'5 305lb Roache played the last two years at OT, rotating as a starter at times. He, like Thomas, will be a senior next year and all indications say he's completely done with football as opposed to transfering. No real explaination here either. It looked to me like Roache would be set to start at either guard or tackle next year, but you never really know what's going on behind the scenes in Camp Krag.

Is this ever going to stop?

School Confirms Simms Transfer

As was first reported here on the L Yes! December 8th, QB Matt Simms has decided to take his golden locks and doobie rolling skills to another school. Here is the official statement released by the athletic deprtment....

University of Louisville quarterback Matt Simms has decided to transfer from the school," said head coach Steve Kragthorpe.

"Matt informed me of his interest to transfer from the University of Louisville, " said Kragthorpe. "I wish Matt nothing but the best in all his future endeavors."

Simms, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound redshirt freshman from New Jersey, played in just two games for the Cardinals in 2008, completing 4 of 10 passes for 39 yards and no touchdowns. He also threw an interception.

Cup O' Jones : USF Gameday

- The Cards continued their troubles traveling this season. As I brought up last night, the Cards were forced to turn around and make an emergency landing back at Louisville International Airport after an apparent engine fire 15-20 minutes outside of the city as the team was en route to Tampa for tonight's So. Florida game. Supposedly there were a few tense moments, however it turns out there was no fire in the first place, but thank God the captain took all the precautions necessary with our squad on board. The Cards had flight trouble on the way out to Arizona for the Minnesota game as well, so hopefully this doesn't start a trend. The Cards were scheduled to re-depart at 8:30 last night and word is it was smooth sailing. I really don't see this affecting us tonight.

- Here is the audio from the Coach Pitino/Edgar Sosa news conference from yesterday morning. Pitino called the Big East a "Death March" on multiple occasions and said the he knew this team would have many ups-and-downs before the season even started. Raved about the play of Patrick Patterson, calling him the most unguardable big man in the country and previewed the USF game. Check out the audio for yourself at U of L's official site.

- Krag got a commitment from another 2-star JUCO, this time in the form of 6-3 285lb Joseph Townsend, a DT from DeAnza CC in California. Don't know much about the guy, but do know that there is a gaping hole in the interior of the d-line next year and any added depth will be helpful. I have never been a fan of JUCO's because it seems like coaches get them in hopes they will be ready quicker, but in actuality it takes them just as long to learn the system as the freshman. That brings the total number of recruits for next year to 17.

- Watch out for Dominique Jones tonight on South Florida. He has the ability to put up points in bunches like Meeks did Sunday. it always seems as though the best player on the opposition always has a great game against us, and Jones plays that role for the Bulls. If the Cards can hold him under 20 points they will win easily.

Quick Rundown - USF

Location: Tampa, FL

Enrollment: 44,000

Arena: Sun Dome (10,411)

Head Coach: Stan Heath

Record: 5-8 (0-1)

Projected Starters

G Dominique Jones So. 6-4

G Jesus Verdejo Sr. 6-4

G Justin Leemow Fr. 6-1

F Mobolaji Ajayi Sr. 6-9

F Eladio Espinoza Fr. 6-7

Key Reserves

G Chris Howard Jr. 6-3

F-C Augustus Gilchrist Fr. 6-10

C Alex Rivas Sanchez Fr. 6-10

F Aris Williams Sr. 6-9

G B.J. Davis Fr. 6-1

-Heath is 0-6 all-time against AP Top 25

-USF is 8-75 vs. AP Top 25

-USF is 7-44 since joining Big East (in league play)

-In 3 seasons, USF is yet to win more than 3 conference games

On Wednesday, the Cards open the Big East in sunny Tampa against the Bulls of USF. Fortunately for the Cards basketball team, USF has all their athletes on the football team, and not the basketball team. On the glass half empty side of things, the Cards have a trend of losing Big East openers. This game makes me a little nervous for two reasons. Numero uno, it is on the road. UofL lost to UNLV at home, so I know they can lose to this team on the road. Second, USF only lost to Syracuse by five, 59-54. I've come to a realization about this team. These guys can beat anybody on a given night, but they can also lose to anybody on a given night (see WKU, Minnesota, UNLV).

Hopefully, Edgar puts in the work he put in on Sunday. I've been backing mi amigo for 3 years, so I didn't need to be included in the apology...ROB. This guy is capable of playing the way he played every game. That's why Pitino was so frustrated with him. He does amazing things in practice, but it wasn't transfering to games. Anyway, back to the Bulls. Dominique Jones is their leader and best player. They start a small lineup but bring in two 6-10ers and a 6-9er off the bench. I just don't see them matching up with UofL well or being much of a problem.

Prediction: Birds poop on the Bulls 88-74.

Cards Plane Makes Emergency Landing

As reported by the Courier-Journal. Glad that everybody is OK...

A charter plane carrying the University of Louisville basketball team to Tampa had to return to Louisville for an emergency landing after an engine caught fire.
Kenny Klein, U of L’s associate athletic director for media relations, said the team was 10 to 15 minutes into its flight when it turned around.
He said the team was not told about the engine fire until the plane was safely on the ground.

“We had no idea what was going on until we landed and everything was safe at that point,” Klein said.
He said the pilot walked back into the passenger area “and told us what was happening. There was no alarm on our part.”

Klein said the team was watching game film in preparation for its game tomorrow night at South Florida while waiting for another plane.

Sosa NOT a Proud Papa

...Yet. I wrote in passing the other day that Edgar Sosa allegedly had a baby in the past couple weeks. Sosa shot down that runor at the press conference with Coach Pitino this morning. How do these rumors get started and why do I almost always believe them? Same thing happened when some idiot poster on ITV said Krag was going to resign.

We try to hold up the utmost journalistic integrity here at the L Yes!, but this rumor seemed to have legs. However, it turned out to be just that - a rumor. So the statements being made that "being a father must have grounded him" or "this is going to mature him" thrown around the 'net are complete falsehoods.

Still doesn't take away from the bomb he dropped on the Mildcats. Vamos Edgar!

More on the presser when I'm at home and not on my phone later this afternoon.

Cup O' Jones : Mythbuster Edition

- Is it just me being a selfish (sometimes biased) fan or does it seem like people are giving UK more credit for losing than us for winning? The Cards were up 7 with 50 seconds to go and if it weren't for a couple quick whistles and absolutely inept turnovers they could have won by 10. Clark and Samuels both played terrible and the only thing somewhat uncommon thing the Cards did was actually hit some shots. In turn, we got the Cats' best. They average 18 TO's (around 25 against BCS teams) and committed a common 21 against Pitino's top-ranked defensive unit, mostly in the first half. TO's are a part of UK's identity as a team this year - bottom line. Whipping boy Michael Porter played his best game ever, clocking 33 minutes with ZERO TO's and 2 3's that he usually doesn't make. Patterson and Meeks combined for 50 points, something they've done only a few times all year. Also, the Cats played almost half the game (around 17 minutes) in the bonus and our top scorer played only 11 minutes with foul trouble. If I told you that before the game, you wouldn't have believed the Cards would only trail once for a little more than a second. The better team won and I hope the Cats enjoy the moral victory. As we all know, the excuses will flow for a few weeks.

- Jody Demling is at it again, talking to 2011 stud Marquis Teague's father after the game Sunday. Teague would be a huge pull for Pitino. The Indianapolis Pike sophomore guard is a consensus top-10 player in his class. Teague's father, Shawn, played for Pitino at Boston U and his brother, Jeff, is starring for undefeated Wake Forest currently. Demling says speculation was abound that Teague had committed with Ryan Tayor and Mike Chandler. The elder Teague rebuffed that rumor by saying Marquis will wait until after the season to make a decision, but added that UL is very high on his son's list. Indiana is extremely high on the super soph, wanting to end the talent flight out of the Hoosier state that has been going on for nearly 10 years. Is this the first of many Pitino/Crean recruiting battles? Wake Forest is another school that scares me on his list as well due to the family connection. Richard Pitino has been given the keys to the recruiting bus and is just completely killing it (that's good killing it).

- Even though I took it with a grain of salt - even calling it sarcastic - on Sunday, I guess Pitino did tell Sosa it was time to move on - unless this is just some big conspiracy. Sosa confirmed it in the post-game presser. That is just crazy to me. A coach tells a player his time here may be up, the player asks the coach for just one more chance, then player hits a game winning 3 to beat said coach's former employer and hated rival. It seems like an episode of 'The White Shadow' or 'Fresh Prince', not big-time real-life college basketball. All this newfound media attention is making me wonder whether Sos' is going to turn the corner or let this to to his head just like his other "signature" game.

- Cards slip in both polls to 21 in the coaches and 23 in the AP. I predicted we would fall out due to the home loss, but I think voters saw the Cards people expected to see before the season Sunday. Well, at least for parts of the game. As long as we stay around this area or higher, the Final 4 is still a definite possibility. anything much lower would put us in that 6-9 seed range that is such a tough road to take.

- Coach P will have his weekly press conference this morning at 11 before the Cards deoart for Tampa for Wednesday's game against South Florida. We will be there and have a complete roundup sometime this evening. Hopefully we'll hear more about the Sosa situation, Earl and Samardo's struggles, and how he feels about this team going into Big East play.

- For your viewing pleasure, the last 6 minutes of Sunday's game. Make sure you watch it in a crowded are with the volume full blast.....

Krag Adds to his Staff

Rocco Gasparro - UofL's football media relations director - has given us something to read for the next hour as he details the new coaches Krag has added to his staff in this press release. I'm very impressed with the detail. More on these guys later tonight...

Louisville, Ky - University of Louisville head football coach Steve Kragthorpe has announced three additions to his coaching staff for the 2009 season.

Former University of Tennessee coach Larry Slade, former Utah State head coach Brent Guy have joined the staff as defensive assistants, while former Southern Mississippi offensive coordinator Jay Johnson has joined the Cardinals as an offensive assistant.

Kragthorpe also announced that special teams coordinator Mark Nelson has resigned from his position to pursue other opportunities.

"I'm very excited to add the caliber of coaches like Larry Slade, Brent Guy and Jay Johnson to our staff,* said Kragthorpe. *All three of these coaches have a tremendous amount of experience and will be great additions to our football staff."

*Larry is one of the most-respected defensive back coaches in the nation,* said Kragthorpe. *I worked with Larry at Texas A&M and he is one of the best I*ve ever been around. I*m excited that he has decided to join our staff*

Added Kragthorpe, *Brent has a proven track record playing great defense wherever he has coached. I*m excited to add a coach with the expertise to our staff. He had great success at Arizona State as a defensive coordinator and can add a lot of expertise to that side of the
football.*

*I*ve known Jay for a long time and he has an excellent offensive mind,* said Kragthorpe. *His teams at Southern Miss where verysuccessful and explosive, and we*re fortunate to add Jay to our offensive staff.*

Slade joins the Cardinals* defensive staff after 10 seasons with Phil Fulmer at the University of Tennessee in the defensive backfield and is known for turning out some of the nation*s best secondary units.

Despite a 5-7 record by the Volunteers in 2008, Slade was instrumental in leading one of the nation*s top defensive units. The Volunteers were ranked fourth in the country in pass defense and tied for the third in the country in total defense.

Slade coached All-America defensive back Eric Berry, who was recognized by five All-America outlets -- American Football Coaches Association,Walter Camp Football Foundation, Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press and Sporting News -- becoming the first
Tennessee player to claim unanimous mention since offensive lineman Antone Davis in 1990.

Slade*s 2000 and 2001 secondary units, aided and abetted by the rest of the defense, established school season records with 64 and 72 passes broken up, respectively. It continued a pattern of success that Slade has enjoyed in his 36 years in the coaching profession.

Before coming to Tennessee, Slade spent five seasons at Texas A&M from 1994-98. His 1997 unit allowed a nation*s best three passing touchdowns.

Prior to joining the staff at A&M, Slade spent two seasons at Maryland as the defensive coordinator from 1992-93. Slade also spent six seasons at Washington from 1986-91, which was highlighted by a national championship in 1991, during which the Huskies ranked first in NCAA
statistics for pass efficiency defense.

Slade also enjoyed stops at Southern Illinois (1984-85), Howard (1983), Richmond (1982) and his alma mater Shepherd (1973-81).

Slade, a native of Pelham, N.C., who twice was named All-West Virginia while playing guard at Shepherd in the early 1970s. He was named Little All-America honorable mention in 1971 and later inducted into the Shepherd College Hall of Fame. He received his degree in biology with a
minor in English.

Guy joins the Cardinals after spending four seasons as head coach at Utah State. Under his guidance, Guy had a total of 14 players (four in`05, three in `06, four in `07, three in *08) earn first or second-team all-WAC honors, including WAC Freshman of the Year Award in 2006 in linebacker Paul Igboeli.

Guy came to Utah State from Arizona State where he was the defensive coordinator for four years. In 2004, ASU went 9-3 and defeated Purdue in the Sun Bowl. That marked the Sun Devils* second bowl appearance in three years. ASU*s defense finished 2004 ranked 28th nationally in rushing defense, 32nd in pass efficiency defense and 48th in both total
and scoring defense.

In 2002, Guy*s defense forced 40 turnovers, including 22 interceptions. Those totals ranked third and fourth in the country, respectively. In addition, ASU recorded an incredible 123,tackles for loss, including 52 sacks that season. He coached Terrell Suggs, who set the NCAA record for sacks that season with 24 and was recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Award (nation*s top defensive player), Lombardi Trophy (nation*s top lineman) and Morris Trophy (Pac-10*s top lineman)

Before joining the ASU staff, Guy was the defensive coordinator at Boise State from 1998-2000, helping the Broncos become the cream of the league as BSU won the 1999 and 2000 Big West Championships posting a 10-1 combined conference record in those two years. Under his guidance, Boise State led the Big West in total defense, rushing defense and
scoring defense in both 1999 and 2000.

During his first stint at Utah State from 1992-94, working with the linebackers, the Aggies won a Big West Conference Championship and posted the only bowl victory in school history, winning the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl, 42-33, against Ball State.

Guy, who has been a part of nine bowl teams in his playing and coaching career, had two stints coaching at his alma mater of Oklahoma State. After serving as a graduate assistant (1986-87) and recruiting coordinator (1988) there, Guy coached the Cowboy linebackers from
1989-91 and then again from 1995-97.

Guy began his playing career at Oklahoma State as a walk-on and became a starter at both defensive end and linebacker. As a senior in 1982 he started at linebacker and recorded 106 tackles to rank third on the team. He also had three tackles for loss, recovered one fumble, had one interception and broke up seven passes. Guy graduated from Oklahoma State with a degree in hotel and restaurant administration in 1983.

Johnson spent last season as an administrative assistant with the Cardinals after spending five years at Southern Mississippi, including three as the offensive coordinator, where he helped lead the Golden Eagles to five straight bowl appearances.

Under Johnson*s guidance, the Golden Eagles established a school record for total offense in 2007 with 5,066, eclipsing the 5,000-yard plateau for the first time in school history. The Golden Eagles also finished in the top 25 in rushing offense in 2006 and 2007, rushing for
over 2,000 yards in both seasons for the first time since 1987. The Golden Eagles averaged 27.8 points per game in *07 and 29.6 in *05, the highest totals since 1998.

Johnson also coached the school*s third 1,000-yard running back in school history when Damion Fletcher ran for over 1,300 yards in consecutive seasons, becoming the only back in school history to accomplish such a feat.

Under Johnson*s tutelage in 2005, Dustin Almond, had one of the best seasons ever by a Golden Eagle signal caller in 2005, as he set the single-season record for passing completions (216), passing attempts (392), and total offense (2,762), while throwing 23 touchdowns, the second most in school history.

In 2004, Johnson guided a solid stable of running backs, which averaged 144.9 yards per game, 22.8 more yards per game and six more rushing touchdowns than in 2003. Anthony Harris, Sherron Moore and Larry Thomas carried the majority of the load for the season.

He has extensive coaching experience and knowledge of several positions, including quarterbacks, receivers, defensive backs, running backs and tight ends.

Johnson has honed his coaching skills at a variety of levels and schools. He started his coaching career at Columbia-Hickman High School in 1993, serving as the quarterbacks, receivers and defensive backs coach.

In 1994, he moved to Missouri as a graduate assistant coach, later moving to Augsburg College, serving as the school's offensive coordinator and recruitment coordinator from 1994-95, before moving to that same position at Truman State from 1995-97. He directed Truman State's offense to an average of over 30 points and 400 yards a game during the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

He served as a graduate assistant at Kansas from 1997-99 and became its quarterbacks coach in 1999, serving in that role until 2001, when he moved to coach running backs and coached in that role before arriving at Southern Miss.

Johnson, a three-time All-Gateway Conference quarterback and four-time conference player of the week in his playing days at Northern Iowa, led his teams to a 31-8 record, and won three conference championships, while appearing in three national playoffs. He finished his career with
almost 500 completions and threw for over 8,000 yards and 58 touchdowns.

He was elected team captain in both the 1991 and 1992 seasons. He quarterbacked the '92 team to a 12-2 record, a conference championship and the No. 3 ranking in the final NCAA Div. 1-AA poll.

Johnson also holds a variety of academic honors to go with his on-field prowess. He earned President's Academic Excellence honors in the Gateway Conference and held a perfect 4.0 grade point average while completing his master's degree at Missouri. That earned him a Superior Graduate Achievement Award from the Department of Health and Exercise Science,
and he was a Dean's List scholar at Northern Iowa where he compiled a 3.47 GPA. He also taught several courses while at Truman State and Missouri.

Plus/Minus for UK Win

Here are your plus/minus ratings for the dramatic win against UK on Sunday. Again this is determined by how the team fares when an individual player comes in the game. For example when Will Scott came into the game at 17:14 in the 2nd half the Cards were down one (42-43). When he left at the 15:35 mark, the Cards led by eight (51-43). Down one to up eight means a +9 rating for Willis. Not only does he boost the team GPA, sometimes he even helps the team's record. Minutes played are in parentheses.



Starters
Edgar "I can do NO wrong" Sosa (26) - +4
Jerry "Raindrops" Smith (29) - -1
Terrence "You know my nickname already" Williams (36) - EVEN
Earl "6 more TO's than Porter" Clark (36) - +3
Samardo "Foul trouble" Samuels (11) - +4

Bench
Andre "Buckets" McGee (14) - -1
George "not in MY hood" Goode (22) - EVEN
Terrence "Where am I?" Jennings (6) - -2
Preston "Meeks won't hit that"Knowles (10) - -4
Kyle "Baby Chitwood" Kuric (4) - +4
Jared "Look who I'm backing up" Swopshire (4) - -7
Will "I promise I'm not injured coach" Scott (2) - +9 ... I repeat +9

- When I was calculating these up today, I was completely shocked that Will Scott had the best rating of anyone on the team. He did benefit from being on the floor during UL's biggest run of the game, a 9-0 spurt following Billy Clyde's technical after UK took it's first lead 43-42, but he scored 4 of the 9 points. 2 minutes played, 4 points - I'll take that all day from our Rhodes scholar.

- Before Tim Higgins and his group of officiating goons called Mardo for his second foul at the 15:09 mark of the first half, the Cards were up 7 and rolling. Mardo was forced to sit the last 15 minutes due to foul trouble. For someone not named Derrick Caracter to commit 4 fouls in 8 minutes is completely ridiculous. He was in for a total of 3 seconds between his 3rd and 4th fouls - Not saying he didn't deserve a couple fouls, but that's absurd. Higgins should be tied up on 4th St. some Saturday night so Card fans can throw tomatoes and rotten fruit at his face. Sorry - I just hate that guy.

- The single worst segment was by Earl Clark from the 7:30 to :30 mark in the 2nd half where he was a -9. 2 turnovers, 2 fouls, and 2 missed shots in the final minutes. It was obvious that Clark wasn't very pleased with his play by seeing his demeanor on the bench in the waning moments. He was saved from being the goat by a guy who most perceived as the goat before the game.

- T-Will is a beast comes to playing long stretches. He sat a total of ZERO minutes in the 2nd half scoring 15 points on 5-6 from the field (3-4 from 3). He grabbed 7 on his 8 boards in the 2nd stanza as well. He pretty much embodies what this team is all about, being better conditioned and wearing the opposition down at the end of games. T-Will floated under the radar all day and then you look at his stat line and are simply amazed. He's slowly becoming what David Padgett was last year.

Almost 24 Hours Later...

and I'm still confused and excited as hell about that game. The tradition known as the Battle in the Bluegrass left me emotionally exhausted but happy (obviously) with the outcome. There's so much to take from this game. There's too many ways to examine it or break it down.
Here's what we learned:

1. This MUST be Sosa's turning point. There's no turning back. Sosa, to me, has proven he can go out play solid defense, hit the big shots, protect the ball much better, but most importantly control his emotions. Now that Louisville fans have seen evidence of this being possible, we must see it night in and night out. Will this happen? That remains to be the big question. But let's face it, Sosa's dramatic three....his 18 points in only 26 minutes....his 2 steals we're huge but you know what his biggest improvement was....HIS FREE THROW SHOOTING! Sosa's 8-9 really helped propel Louisville. It's been a long time since Louisville has shot free throws that well.

2. Patrick Patterson is a beast. I'm going to be honest. I wasn't the biggest Patterson fan. No, not because he was from Kentucky, more because I just wasn't convinced. Well, I am now. Patterson gets every loose ball in the paint. He gets almost every rebound. He gets two hands on every rebound he does pull down. Although he gets blocked way too much, he always gets his points. He's a very good offensive rebounder and if they could ever put a nice point guard with him, that would be scary.

3. My wish is for Earl Clark to catch the same disease Patterson has. When Clark is reboudning double digits, blocking shots, and scoring in the paint he's one of the elite players in college basketball. We need him to be infected with that urge to get every ball and finish around the rim. Please, Pitino, let's stop playing Clark so far away from the basket. Let's see if Samuels can pass from the high post and see if we can utilize both bigs down low. I'd feel much better with Clark and Samuels going hard for rebounds and getting major help from TWill.

4. Michael Porter....two completely lucky 3's....there's a spot for Porter at Indiana University Southeast....or this year and IU.

5. Josh Harrellson....see number 4.

6. The Goode factor. Man, George Goode just played the game of his life. Yeah, he didn't score, but he got to several loose balls, picked up 4 rebounds, and had a few nice blocks including the BIG one in the second half. He gave us 22 crucial minutes while Samuels was riding the pine....and speaking of Samuels.

7. What the hell? It's jsut the kind of game I thought we were going to get from. 11 minutes, 4 points, and oh yeah 1 rebound. His inability to keep himself out of foul trouble is amazing. He couldn't hang on to an entry pass. He got no loose balls and only 1 rebound in 11 minutes. That means Patrick Patterson had his way. This is a game for men. Young, Blair, Monroe, Thabeet are all coming...he needs to grow up now. He needs to attack quicker, block out better, and stay out of foul trouble. We need him and need him NOW.

There's so much more to go over but this is boring enough...but hey what about Harrellson being easily the worst player on the floor....why the ticky tack fouls??....i love when we can play McGee and Knowles off the bench, we need Sosa IN THE GAME...Billy Clyde's stupid TECHNICAL really hurt UK...why does Billy G scream at the ref more when he gets the call than when he doesn't?? In the words of Edgar Sosa...THIS IS OUR HOUSE. (unless of course you're UNLV).

Great game...I'm watching it again when I get off work.

Cup o' Jones: Cisco Edition

- Francisco Garcia was in the stands for the "Dream Game" Sunday dressed to impress. He looks like he didn't get to the hotel to change after church that morning. Cisco was able to attend because the Kings were in Indianapolis Saturday night, losing to the Pacers 122-117. Cisco's 10 points were overshadowed by Kings teammate Kevin Martin's 45. Great to see Mr. Garcia back in the Hall to see such an exciting game. Maybe having his idol in the stands made Sosa play that much better.

- I'm kind of weary about getting commitments from guys before their junior year, but the Cards got 2 verbals from Lawrence North sophomores Ryan Taylor and Michael Chandler. It was first reported by the man, myth and legend Jody Demling on his C-J blog. Both players are considered as top talents in the 2011 class. Taylor is a 6'6 forward and Chandler a 6-11 big man. this continues the pipeline from Lawrence North with PF Steve Van Treese due in next year, swingman Justin Martin the following and the Taylor/Chandler combo the year after that. 09 commitments Mike Marra and Rakeem Buckles were also in attendance along with Marquis Teague, a top-5 player in the 2011 class.

- Demling also reported that Krag is getting in good with Central stud LB Tim Patterson, someone we have been waiting for the Cards to contact. Patterson is a self-admitted Card fan and given the right attention, could commit sometime before next season. As I've always said, it is essential for Krag to get in good with the local talent if this whole rebuilding thing is going to work.

- In typical UK fashion, Billy Clyde is blaming us making foul shots for his team's loss. I didn't hear his post game show but someone who listened told me that he was giving the Cards absolutely no credit and said he didn't expect us to shoot the ball so well from the charity stripe. I even had a UK fan tell me that the better team lost yesterday. I'm working on getting one of my UK fan buddies to do a Dave Letterman style Top Ten list of excuses they have for losing this game. I think sour grapes are on the menu for the next couple days in the Little Blue nation. Haha.

Victory!

Jeez, how brutal were those last few moments? A definite victory looked like it was lost after 2 costly turnovers by Earl Clark and we were going to OT. Then - BOOM! - Sosa knocks down a 25-footer on what looked like a broken play to rip the hearts out of UK fans and send me into a frenzy that included tackling L Yes! contributor TC into my living room couch in celebration. What a game. What a shot. Cards 74 Cats 71. 64 East is that way.

- Here's an interesting quote from Pitino about Sosa which I think to be completely laced with sarcasm:

"We had a long talk. I said `Edgar, if I were you I would transfer now. I wouldn't wait because you need a year under another coach to learn his system. I really think you should. The fans aren't too happy with you. More importantly if you are not happy with yourself, you're not having fun. I really think we'll look at some schools that don't play any defense. There aren't too many, but there are a few I can pick out. Then, we'll get you to transfer. I want you to think it over son. If you decide to come back, I am going to start you, but I want you to be happy and have fun playing the game of basketball. It's painful watching you.' He said to me, `Coach, I just feel that I am on a short leash. Everyone else is on a long leash and I am on a short one.' I said, `Edgar, the reason you are on a short leash is because every time you miss a shot, you get so down on yourself. I feel that you're not an up beat, positive guy. All I want you to do is play defense. I don't care what else you do, but play defense.' He decided to stay and I am happy he made that choice."

If that is completely true - it's amazing that Sosa needs that kind of talk to get his game in check. We all know he has the capability to have games like this, it's just frustrating to watch him play sometimes (all the time). I guess times like this make you realize that you have to take the good with the bad with Mr. Sosa. He just has to not get so frustrated with himself and smile and have a good time like he was out there Sunday.

- I know they turned the ball over a lot, but I feel like we got the best UK had to offer. Meeks was unconscious at points and Patterson handled Clark in the post all night. Of course, as I predicted here before the game, the Tim Higgins led officiating crew blew us into foul-trouble with Samardo Samuels having to sit most of the game due to some questionable calls. It always happens against the Cats, even at home. Meeks and Patterson got their 50, Michael Porter and Perry Stevenson were hitting 3's and Samuels was on the bench in foul trouble. It was set up for a UK win, but Sosa and the Cards were not letting victory slip away.

- If you make free throws you win games? No!? Yes, and the Cards shot 82% (19-23) from the charity stripe which is nearly 15 percentage points higher than the season average. Sosa was 8-9, Clark 6-8 and everybody else was perfect with the exception of Will Scott missing the front end of a technical. The free throw shooting needs to keep improving because it will be a key component in Big East play.

- Besides the amazing play of Sosa, I was thoroughly impressed with the minutes Pitino got out of George Goode. The redshirt freshman played 22 minutes had 2 huge blocks and didn't commit a single turnover. I'm beginning to think he might be the best interior defender we have. Patterson was getting a lot on the offensive boards, but when he went up against Goode in the paint it was slim pickins. According to Rick Pitino, Goode has missed all week in practice due to injury:
"I didn't say anything to you guys because we didn't have the opportunity, but George Goode has a stress fracture. He hasn't practiced in four days. The only reason I didn't play Terrence Jennings a little bit more in that situation is because he has a very time tough against pressure of remembering what we're supposed to do. And he is a difficult free throw shooter at times. We went with George without practicing for a few days and we're going to have to do that for a while until his stress fracture heals."

- Jerry Smith played a Jerry Smith kind of game. He played 29 minutes, didn't miss a shot, scored 11 points ans shut down Meeks just enough to get a victory. When Smith was in the game, Meeks struggled getting his shot off only freeing up on broken plays. All 4 guards made life hell for the UK ball handlers, forcing the cats to commit 21 turnovers. Smith led the way with his usual enthusiasm and intensity. I saw him spinning his towel, getting pumped-up with the crowd while he was waiting to check in the game.

- T-Will was just T-Will. He didn't finish a few in the lane I'm sure he wishes he had, but 19 points and 8 boards is now typical for our senior leader. His defense was awesome as he had 5 steals most as a result of the Pitino press. He made timely shots and grabbed a few huge rebounds towards the end of the game that helped assure victory.

- It concerns me that Samardo had trouble on defense with UK's bigs. His presence in the paint during Big Easy play will be crucial going up against guys like DeJuan Blair of PITT or Hasheem Thabeet of UCONN. He seems to get very down if things aren't going his way on offense. Making up for that with passing, defense and rebounding will get Samardo a long way. He did have a couple nice moves in the post on Patterson though.

- A little bit too close for comfort, but a win is a win especially against the hated Cats. You as a Card fan have a year's worth of bragging rights over Cats fans. That is something that can not be valued. I will be back later tonight with plus/minus ratings for the last 2 games and maybe some video if i can find it trolling around the 'net. South Florida on Wednesday.

Public Apology: Edgar Sosa

Dear Edgar,

I am speaking for myself and the rest of the L Yes! crew when I say - I'm sorry. That game winning shot against the Cats was one of the best moments in the series' illustrious history and it made me regret saying stuff about you that I now will forever regret. Now don't get carried away, but this could finally be the turn we have been waiting for. Congrats on recently becoming a father and may this just be the tip of the iceberg for you this season.

Warmest Regards,
Rob Jones

Ahhh, now I feel better. Mi gusta Edgar Sosa. Definite game MVP with 18 points, including 8 free throws and only 2 TO's in 26 minutes. What is even better is how he was the brunt of most jokes UK fans tried to bring prior to the game. How's Sosa going to blow it? Who's your point guard? Are you going to hit shots? All those questions were answered rather convincingly Sunday. A man that played only 6 minutes against UAB just rescued the Cards from an embarrassing meltdown defeat. And I can speak for most fans in saying that was one of the greatest "No, No, NO.....YES!!!" shots of all time. Reminded me of the Reece Gaines shot against Dwayne Wade and Marquette and was from almost the same spot as the shot Sosa missed against Billy Clyde's A&M squad his freshman year at Rupp.

I know I'm still going to get frustrated with Sosa many more times before it's all said and done. It's good to know that he atones for his mistakes with incredible shots like the one Sunday. As long as it doesn't go to his head...

SUCK ON THAT UK

Last Minute Notes

OK. Now I'm getting a tad bit nervous. Not because of the team we are playing, but the official calling the game. Red-nosed Irishman Tim Higgins has been a thorn in the side of Card fans for at least 20 years. Most recently, he called the Western game in Nashville, blowing his whistle more than a damn band leader. As ESPN analyst and fellow red-noser Bill Raftery would say, Higgins calls a lot of "small change" and "nickle-dimer" fouls that any normal referee wouldn't. How will this affect the Cards? With our press and guards who love to get all up in the oppositions kitchen, Higgins could force us to back off due to foul trouble. I guarantee this guy has something to do with the outcome of the game. He always does. Whether it be calling 2 quick fouls on somebody or not letting the teams play basketball at an enjoyable pace, Higgins has to be the center of attention. A terrible, terrible official who should hang up the whistle as soon as possible.

- Coach Pitino and Jerry Smith talked with the media yesterday. Here is the link to the audio.

-Excited to see Clark Kellogg in his new role as lead analyst for CBS this year. Kellogg is a breath of fresh air and always comes up with cool terms, such as "spurtability". One of the best in the business and a far cry from the always negative Billy Packer. Kellogg will be joined by Kevin Harlan, who is the second best announcer in college basketball behind one Mr. Gus Johnson. Good for us broke fans that have to watch in the luxury of our homes and not the world's greatest arena.

- Who is going to guard Earl Clark? I have scoured the UK roster and have yet to find someone that is going to be able to man up with E5. Darius Miller? Kevin Galloway? Perry Stevenson? Are you joking? If Clark comes to play, he should have an absolutely HUGE day.

- T-minus 90 minutes to tip-off. I'm pacing around the house like a friggin mad man. I just want the game to go ahead and start so I can prove to all the Blue-bloods wrong and shut them up. I don't see how a team that lost to VMI in Rupp can be so confident going into the Hall against a Final 4 contender. I guess that's UK fans for you.

Cup O' Jones: Gameday Edition

It's Gameday folks! Finally the day where the bragging rights are won and good friends become bitter enemies. First, let me share a little story. Grab a carpet square and gather around indian-style...

March 23, 1983 was the day Card fans were finally going to get their shot at the hated Wildcats, with a Final 4 bid on the line. The Cards were huge on the national scene, and the perspective was that UK was scared. For years, UK coach Joe B. Hall refused to play the Cards even though the talent was finally there to compete season-after-season. Card fans finally were granted their wish in a game that was played in Knoxville, TN. My dad, a die-hard fan for all die-hard fans, was lucky enough to score a ticket. Lower-level, a perfect view to watch the Mildcats finally get their comeuppance after all these years. However, there was a snag. His lovely wife (my mother) was due to come home from the hospital after delivering their first child (me) 2 days earlier. The good man that he is, my dad decided to stay home and watch it with a 2-day old Rob Jones. Needless to say, I was born to worship the Cards and despise the Mildcats. And, yes, 25 years later and I'm still making up for it with pops. Sappy, I know, but that is why I'm a Card fan and Cat hater.

We all know that the worst part about Kentucky is their fans. Their fans make us as Louisville fans hate everything to do with UK, Lexington, and the color blue. After all these years, they still feel as if Louisville is an inferior program and will never reach the levels of mighty UK despite the fact that we have been to a Final 4, Elite 8 and Sweet 16 more recently. They bring up championships that weren't even won on a level playing field - no integration, no TV, no competition. In every UK argument I have I get a history lesson because they bring up stuff that happened 10+ years ago which is now completely insignificant. The "little brother" talk makes me sick. Also, no UK fan will ever admit they or their beloved Kayuts have done any wrong even when they pay recruits fathers or run a championship coach out of town for the drunkard they have now. Rednexington, the Mecca for a sociopathetic fan base, is going to be blue tonight, but not in the way it is used to.

We have the better players, the better coach and we are playing in the world's most famous arena, Freedom Hall. The Cards play their best after a loss and, unfortunate as it may be, a lot of our players (mainly Earl) wait for games like this to kick it up a notch. The cards are in the Cards favor today. The only team that will beat Louisville today is Louisville. If the shots are falling, it will be a long day for Mr.'s Patterson and Meeks. Louisville has 10 players that can put up 20 on any given day. UK has 2 (3 if you count Billy G's drinking habits). The UNLV, Minnesota, and Western losses hurt, but they all kind of snuck up on Pitino's team. The Big Blue Boo Hoo isn't sneaking up on them today. There are no excuses, the Cards have had 4 days to prepare and get themselves emotionally ready.

Samardo needs to play like the man that he is. Earl needs to treat this as a tourney game and play with a chip on his massive shoulders. Jerry, Preston and Andre need to be inside Liggins and Porter's jerseys all day causing turnovers. T-Will needs to be the facilitator and not take "contested" shots. Goode and Swop need to fill their roles and Sosa needs to not pull a Plaxico and shoot himself or his whole team with mistakes.

UK still turns the ball over. They are still a 2-trick show. They still have Michael Porter handling the ball and they still have a coach that is in way over his head. It's time for the Cards to shoot down the notion that UK has a better team this year. We know that's not true and everyone outside of the Big Blew Nation knows it's not true. Louisville wins this game rather convincingly and makes a statement to the rest of the nation - Don't count us out quite yet.

UL - 80
UK - 65

Any predictions?

Breaking Down the Mildcats

History of Program :

OK...It's Kentucky and the accomplishments by this program run deep (good and bad) through the bloodlines of College Basketball. Seven National Titles, thirteen Final Fours, All-time leader in wins....BLAH BLAH BLAH!! Four of their titles coming before college basketball had even integrated, while two of the other three (yes I said two) come courtesy of the man UK fans now consider the Antichrist. But lets not forget the schools involvement in point shaving in the 1940's as well as their blatant payoffs to former players Chris Mills and Leron Ellis in the late 80's which led to 2 years probation.

Notable Athletic Alumni :

I will not waste my time writing names of former NBA players from UK, but here are other athletic Alumni....

George Blanda - Member of NFL Hall of Fame

Tim Couch - Former (haha) NFL player (QB) and number one pick in draft

Dermontti Dawson - Former NFL player (Center) with Pittsburgh Steelers (Should be in Hall of Fame)

Howard Schnellenberger - I should haven't to tell you this guy.

Brandon Webb (pictured) - Current Pitcher with Arizona Diamondbacks

Joe Blanton - Current Pitcher with Oakland Athletics

Jim Leyritz - Former Major League Baseball player

Steve Flesch - Current Golfer on PGA Tour

J.B. Holmes - Current Golfer on PGA Tour

Other Notable Alumni :

Steve Beshear - Current Governor of Kentucky

Albert B. "Happy" Chandler - Former Governor of Kentucky, U.S. Senator from Kentucky,Commissioner of Major League Baseball (Helped integrated Major League Baseball), and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ernie Fletcher - Former Governor of Kentucky

Ted Strickland - Current Governor of Ohio

Thomas Jefferson Terral - Former Governor of Arkansas

Ashley Judd - Actress (sorta)

Chris Sullivan - Founder of Outback Steakhouse

Don Rosa - Cartoonist for Disney (Creator of Donald Duck)



Kentucky Starters...

G - Michael Porter #13
Porter as a basketball player has the skill level somewhere between Jason McElwain (no offense J-Mac - my money's on you one-on-one v. Porter) and the fat guy on the basketball team in Teen Wolf. He isn't a threat offensively and can be considered a "self-check" player. Lets just say he makes Kentucky fans wish Tubby Smith had another kid out there to take his place.

Guard - Jodie Meeks #23

Meeks has yet to see a shot he doesn't like but he can knock it down. He is putting up numbers that make Paul Westhead's System look like the Four Corners. 24.1 points per game at 47%, while knocking down 51 (That's over half the amount the Cards have hit as a entire team) three pointers on the season. Even the dumb kid in the class (the one who would eat glue and his own boogers) knows this kid can play and the Cards must slow him down.

Guard - DeAndre Liggins #34
The Freshman from Chicago has definitely showed potential this season, putting up double figures in three games this season. He is averaging 4 assists a game in the month of December, including a career high 8 against Central Michigan in his last game.

Forward - Perry Stevenson #21
A may look like the creatures from the movie Dark Crystal but Stevenson does hustle, he will rotate defensively and he can block your shot. Offensively this 6'9 skin and bones can only hurt you if you let him dunk the ball but with his knack for grabbing garbage offensive boards he can quickly hurt you with 10 to 14 points.

Forward - Patrick Patterson #54

Can take over a game when he doesn't take himself out of it. Has had several problems with getting into foul trouble early in games but when he want the ball he can be a very bad thorn in the Cards heels. The last two games he only received one foul in each game though.

Good News...
Louisville has more talent and Kentucky only has two player who score more then 7 points a game. Kentucky has turned the ball over 256 (18 a game) this year (6th most nationally), while Louisville is forcing opponents into 16 turnovers a game. Cards are also out rebounding the Cats 41-39 on the year.

Bad News....
Louisville has had more talent than WKU, Minnesota, and UNLV, I don't think it mattered to them. Meeks and Patterson are combining for 43.4 points per game and with the way Louisville's offensive can stutter sometimes those two can win the game by themselves. 190 teams have a better team field goal percentage than the Cards.

Breakdown....
Cards must force Meeks to take bad shots and not allow him to get the free throw line. The Cards want Meeks to take quick shots early in the shot clock, like he was doing against VMI. Attacking Patterson defensively is a given, the Cards must feed the ball to who ever Patterson is guarding on the low post, whether it be Clark or Samuels. If Louisville can get him (Patterson) in foul trouble this game could turnout just like last season's.

Prediction....
This game worries me more now than it did a month ago but that's not because Louisville didn't play well against UNLV, it's because this Kentucky team looks more like a lesser version of the A&M team Gillespie put up against the Cards two years ago. Meeks is a stronger (not as good ball handler though) version of A.C. Law IV and Louisville knows how to shoot their way out of a win....but not this time....

Cards - 76

Cats - 68

Cup o' Jones: Hangover Edition

Hope everyone had a good New Year's and got the day off work (not me!) to relax and watch some football. It's Pride week here at the L Yes!, therefore one of my favorite pastimes - making fun of Kayut (that's cat in English) fans. Here's your daily dose of COJ...

- Ah, those cheaters in Rednexington. I know most of you all have heard of Kentucky's Emory package deals to players in the Eddie Sutton days. And by "Emory package" I mean envelopes with thousands of dollars in cash. Probation followed and Pitino bailed them out. I also know you've heard of the game fixing back in the Rupp years. If you haven't you should read this report titled "The Dark Side of Kentucky Basketball" by a freelance writer who failed to mention his name, but did cite all the sleazy incidents. Not saying the Cards have been angels over the years (no probation), but Kentucky is to college basketball what Chicago is to politics or Tony Soprano is to waste management.

- I was reading a message board (I read-no posting) and there was a thread about Rick Pitino's ouster as coach. I hope the audience here is a little more intelligent than that. Pitino is the only thing that kept Louisville basketball afloat after the Denny Crum era. You know who the second choice was? Larry Eustachy (A Jurich crony). For someone to be so stupid as to question him being here after a few bad early games should have their fanhood revoked.

- Edgar Sosa is now a proud papa as he had a child this week. Not himself, but a beautiful young lady of whom I'm unfamiliar and Sosa must have been seeing "socially". No word yet on either the sex or name. As it does with many men, fatherhood can change perspective on things and make someone grow up real quick. This is a perfect case of just that. Congrats Edgar and may this turn into more good things to come in the future.

- I'm assuming that a lot of Card fans share the same empty feeling that I do with the football team failing to make a bowl game. I guess 9 straight did spoil me, but according to General Jurich, us as fans should not expect to "go to the Orange Bowl every week". The way thing are looking we won't be going to a Papa John's Bowl, much less an Orange, this week, month, year, decade, generation if Jurich keeps the expectations low so he saves face whenever anything remotely good occurs and fails to admit he made his first mistake in nearly 10 years as AD. In the meantime, while I'm asked to lower my expectations, UK is playing in the Liberty Bowl, a game that we have won 3 times. Oh, and they're loading up on all the top in-state players while we sign guys from Podunk CC. If you're really rebuilding, then take HS talent over JUCO's so you have more time to develop them in the system. What a friggin train wreck. Enough already.

- Here's video of the first ever Dream Game OT period where the Cards absolutely murder the Kayuts to take the inaugural battle. I was two days old when this game was played...

Thoughts on UNLV Loss

Like I said on Wednesday, as if you didn't need more reason to take a couple extra drinks of Woodford on New Year's, the Cards gave you one. I don't know whether they were looking past UNLV to the Mildcats (why?) or just flat out laid an egg, but the Cards fell to a team that was missing their best player and scored only 56 points. At Freedom Hall no less. Rebels 56 Cards 55. Bartender!

The loss to UNLV was an absolute atrocious display of basketball, especially in the first half. The Cards looked like they weren't playing hard and didn't get the ball in the hoop on offense until Knowles hit a 3 with 7:30 to go in the first. With the talent and coach we have that is utterly ridiculous and totally uncalled for. Like Jay Bilas said on the ESPN telecast, the Cards still have a team that can/will make noise in March. However, playing like they did on Wednesday night will get you nowhere fast. Here are 10 things I noticed, most being on the negative side of things - deservingly so...

1. Our biggest issue in all 3 losses was not being able to score, especially around the basket. T-Will has the ability to get by anyone on the dribble, but it does no good if the shot doesn't fall. There were multiple times where T-Will could have just dunked or attempted to dunk and not fling up some cute floater or finger-roll. It would get the crowd excited and either 2 points or a trip to the line. I don't know if he's concerned about the knee, but Williams needs to posterize some sorry center like we all know he can. Pitino said after the game, "We didn't have it offensively tonight and in the three games we've lost now, we've really struggled at the offensive end shooting the basketball. That's an obvious weakness of ours. We just have to create as much motion as possible and not just rely on that."
2. I'm beginning to think Pitino put too much weight on Samardo's shoulders too early. Eventually he could become that leader and focal point, but right now he needs to develop that killer mentality that all the greats have and he lacks. Like Pitino said, he has to learn to play above the rim and pass effectively out of double teams. Also, his hops are very troublesome to me because his shot gets blocked what seems to be 3-4 times a game. Mardo lacks the essential explosion a big man needs to fight through the trees inside. His shot will continue to get blocked if he continues to play that way. The way he was forced to guard someone smaller than him on the outside hurt the team late in the game as well.
   
3. Sosa didn't waste much time before committing his first turnover. He entered the game at 18:02 in the first half and threw it to no one in particular at exactly 18:00. He finished the game playing 13 minutes, scoring 2 points on a called goaltending, coughing the ball up 4 times and dropping zero dimes. Seems like the perfect way to prove your doubters wrong and earn more playing time. I guarantee if given the same amount of playing time, Kyle Kuric would be far more impressive and productive while making his teammates better.
4. The first half was the worst I've seen a Pitino coached team play in a while. Like I said before, the ball didn't go through the bucket via a made FG until the 7:30 mark and single digits were a distinct possibility. The team shot 6-26 (23%). T-Will played all 20 minutes and scored 1 point on 0-6 shooting. E5 led in scoring with a whopping 6 and we almost had as many rebounds (20) as points (21). Just an awful display that I would be fine not ever hearing or seeing again in my life. For a team to score 56 points and win on the road is just sickening.
5. Earl needs to get the ball more with his back to the basket. He has a beautiful turn around jumper and a decent drop step that needs to be taken advantage of. Earl gets himself in trouble with the ball on the wing and is much more collected under the hoop where he belongs. Clark shouldn't be settling for jumpers outside of 12-15 feet. He can work on that outside game next year in the league.
   
6. After taking only 7 contested shots against UAB, the Cards took well over 20 (I quit counting) against UNLV. The offense wasn't helping create open looks and players were unable to get an open shot off the dribble. This is completely attributed to passing or lack there of. Most grade schoolers know that if you keep the ball moving good things will happen but the Cards seem to dribble themselves into trouble and only make 2 or 3 passes in an average possession. Less dribbling, more passing will lead to greater success.
7. I'm beginning to agree with TC in thinking that the Knowles/McGee back court is the one that will lead to the most success. McGee's hot hand is coming back and Knowles was a perfect 3-3 from long range against UNLV. Both play some outstanding, ball-hawk defense, but lack the size to hang with bigger guards. Jerry Smith isn't playing bad, I just think he needs to be more assertive on offense by looking to shoot more and not get beat off the dribble so much on D. We haven't seen the intense, game-changing Jerry yet this season.
8. In the few minutes he gets, George Goode has really impressed me with the way he plays defense and rebounds. He had 2 blocks and a board in only 3 minutes. In the practices I've been to this year, he showed off a deadly 15 foot baseline jumper. I'd love to see how the Cards played if Goode was given 10-15 instead of 0-5 minutes a game. I guarantee not much would happen in the paint aka "Goode's Hood". It is hard to find him minutes with Clark and T-Will averaging close to 40 minutes a game, but it's worth a shot just for the interior defense.
   
9. It looked like Coach P didn't go shake Lon Kruger's hand after the game. The ESPN cameras showed a coatless Pitino in disgust about the non-foul call on the final play. He then turned around and walked up the tunnel by himself while the players were giving "good games". Not trying to make an issue out of it, but the Don looked rather infuriated and I would loved to have been a fly on the locker room wall. The amount of expletives had to have been mind-boggling.
10. I thought Rene Rougeau was "The Mountie" or one-half of the French Canadian tag team brothers from late 80's/early 90's WWF. Turns out he's a former walk-on who somehow slipped through the cracks and has become a possible all-conference player for the Rebels. He scored 17 points on 8-9 shooting and played some incredible defense on Clark and T-Will. You love to hear about guys like that, just not when there in the process of torching your team.
    

T-minus 2 days until the "Dream Game". Here's to hoping the Cards use this loss as fuel and don't let it send them into a downward spiral going into Big East play. Regardless of the outcome, the Cards will likely be the first preseason top 5 team to drop completely out of the polls. This might be the type of team that needs to fall on it's back to become humbled. This is no time for soul searching though, as the Kentucky game has now been viewed as a must win, not to salvage the season, but the team's sanity. A second consecutive loss would be close to devastating before the start of conference play.

Oh wait. We're playing the Mildcats. The Big Blue Boo Hoo. We'll be fine.

Help Wanted : Shooter

We are a preseason top 5 team and potential Final Four team in seek of someone who can hit a shot. We are looking for someone who can help raise a team three point percentage of 34% (153rd nationally) and improve a roster that currently ranks 200 (out of 343) in field goals made.

Applicants will be teamed with talented front line that is averaging 38 points and 23 rebounds a game and includes a talented Freshman center that is ranked 6th nationally in points per game (14.7). We rank 17th in the country in assists per page (17.5) but don't expect to see the ball again if it enters the post or certain point guards hands.

You must be able to knock down open shot from beyond nineteen-feet, as well hit a free throw (Cards ranked 263rd nationally in percentage). Also must be able to offer more then just a rise in the teams GPA or medical advice from your parents, along with shooting skills.

Some defense ability is required.

Louisville is a equal opportunity employer (5 different players with more then 35 three point attempts already this season). If you are a potential threat from beyond the arc and will knock down a shot instead of just pump faking every time then please contact Head Coach Rick Pitino.

Show Me My Opponent-Kentucky Wildcats

Location: Lexington, KY
Enrollment: 27,209
Conference: Southeastern
Stadium: Rupp Arena
Record: 11-3
Head Coach: Billy Clyde Gillispie
Notable Alumni: In the NBA: Rajon Rondo, Nazr Mohammed, Joe Crawford, Randolph Morris, Kelenna Azubuike, Keith Bogans, Tony Delk, Tayshaun Prince, Chuck Hayes, Jamaal Magloire, Antoine Walker

Other Alums: Mitch McConnell, Ashley Judd, Former Governor Ernie Fletcher, Current Governor Steve Beshear, as well Sam Bowie, and golfers J.B. Holmes, Steve Flesch

Projected Starters:
G Jodie Meeks
G Michael Porter
F Ramon Harris
F Patrick Patterson
C Perry Stevenson
Key Reserves
DeAndre Liggins G, A.J. Stewart F, Kevin Galloway G, Josh Harrellson C, Darius Miller F

Finally, the game is here, UL v. UK. During the preseason, we thought the Cards would blow the Cats out of the water, but now, the picture is not so clear. UL has dropped games to UNLV, WKU, and Minnesota. A team once ranked #3 in the country will probably not be ranked when the next polls come out. UK, on the other hand, may crack the top 25, whether or not they beat Louisville. (Although it's doubtful if the Cards win.)

The Big Blue suffered their 3 losses to VMI (Virginia Military Institute), North Carolina, and Miami, two of which were ranked and the VMI loss was the first game of the year. Also, VMI lead the nation in scoring last year. I hate to say it, but if UK played UL's schedule, the Cats might be undefeated. Patrick Patterson is coming in to his own and Jodie Meeks finds that hot streak more often than not. At the beginning of the year, I thought for sure that UL would crush UK, but now I'm not so sure. I thought Samuels and Jennings would destroy Patterson, but Samuels is not near as good as his hype and Jennings doesn't even play. UL can't shoot, pass, play defense, make free throws, and have no go-to-guy.

All that being said, UK 68-UL 61.

Pride Week

Well, a not so Happy New Year to the Cards and Cards fans. The basketball Cardinals must have read the last two articles on Lyes because they obviously were not ready to ball up against a UNLV team without their best player. So, another loss to an opponent we should have beat, but that doesn't mean we need to stop smack-talking the Mildcats. If you look back, U of L has had far less talent than the Cats, but still won the game.

Let's see...why do I hate UK so much? (And I really hate them. I hate them so much that last year when Bradley was laying on the floor after a hard foul, I said, "Good! I hope he don't get up! I hope his leg's broke!) That's a true story. There's also the numerous fights I got into with idiot UK fans back in school. So, I decided to make a list...

1. Dicky Lyons, Jr. (Seriously...there are two people, in the same family, named Dicky)
2. Patrick Sparks, the ugliest man to touch a bball (He walked too!)
3. Gimel Martinez's mustache (HORRIBLE!)
4. Ramel Bradley wanted to be a member of the Roc (Never gonna happen bug-eyes)
5. Joker Phillips (He is a joker. What a name!)
6. Tubby not playing Rondo (I actually do like Rondo, and it makes me sick he was on the bench)
7. Ashley Judd (She can't act people! Stop acting like she can!)
8. Antoine Walker (That's why Maybin drilled a 3 in yo face!)
9. Chuck Hayes, Azzabukee (whatever), Randolph Morris = 3 guys with no business in the NBA
10. Last but not least, most importantly, red-neck, toothless, ignorant, think they know it all but really know nothing fans (Yea, we know you got a bunch a titles, but how many were you alive to see?

Aaaaahhhh! I feel better now. UK SUX!

Happy New Years from Louisville Basketball

I have no idea what to say about last night's game. It's just another lackluster performance in a long season of disappoinment. I think it's about time this athletic program takes a long look at itself. Last night's loss was embarassing....and on national TV. Forget about UK, this program is in free fall. This team can't pass, shoot, convert free throws, take care of the ball, and has no clutch/go to guy. This team CANNOT beat Pitt, Uconn, Gtown, Notre Dame, and maybe UK the way things are going.
I have nothing more to say. Hopefully someone else on the site does. I'm depressed beyond belief at this team. Think about this...right now we're maybe a 7 seed in the tournament.