Waking up the echoes

I just had a 20 minute conversation with two strangers about Corvin Lamb, a name none of us had heard of 24 hours ago. In the midst of basketball season. In Louisville. Whether he's a quick learner or just has good intuition, Charlie Strong couldn't have said it better; "this is a city and a community that's ready to explode". UofL football's ascendence was not just a blip, there's a passion and love for football here. Derby City is ready to get back on the Collision Course.

Siva-Sosa

I know tinkering time is almost over as far as the lineup is concerned, we're less than two weeks away from Big East play. But watching Sosa's much improved shooting stroke (and Jerry's struggles, though he played well last night) makes me think our best starting guard combo is Siva at point guard and Sosa at the 2 spot. Sosa wants to shoot, let him shoot. Siva wants to create, let him create. I think that's the best way to maximize our talent; Siva has the quickness to defend the point guard, and Sosa will be a half-step quicker than most shooting guards. I know there are egos and status involved, but Mr. Black has said it before, managing these players psyches is overstated. Get your best-producing talent on the floor and let em loose.

Joy to the World

It's tough to place this 37 point blowout in the right context. On the one hand, you don't want to take too much pride in beating a completely depleted Oral Roberts squad, but on the other hand, they're still a solid team with plenty of scalps from big time schools to prove it. And a 37 point win is a 37 point win. All in all, they looked like the team most Cards fans thought they were getting when the season started. Aggressive, deep, and unselfish. I tried not to think about it too much and just enjoyed the supreme pleasure of watching the Cardinals play good basketball. They looked like they were having fun again, the crowd was great, we got to see an unbelievable alleyoop to two players, and I think I even caught a couple Samardo smiles in there. A fun night.

Reloading

Yea, yea, we'll get to b-ball momentarily, don't you know we're a football school again? Right now I'm in awe of the recruiting steamroller that is Charlie Strong. First, last night he locked down committments from three local junior standouts; Devante Parker, Jerrell Moore, and Jamon Brown. Don't know much about them, but Jody Demling called it a "Huge Night" for Louisville football. Then, the icing on the cake, his first Florida recruit has landed...speedster running back Corvin Lamb. Here's what Lamb, a senior, had to say about our head coach...

 "I was excited to hear he got the job. I have built a good relationship with coach Strong and he's a great guy. He has a great persona, he's real down to earth and he's going to win at Louisville.  He said he had a spot for me and I am willing to do the job. I am ready to bring it."

He runs a 4.3-40. This is what I call building the right way.

Goodbye Hawkeyes hello Cardinals

Iowa defensive lineman Ty Harrell is transferring to UofL. The 6'3'', 230lbs end will sit out next season before playing in 2011. I'm pumped to see the Cards are getting beefy up front again, under Kragthorpe we seemed to shrinking by the season. When's the Spring game again?

(Hat tip: StraightPinkie)

Jarrett Davis

Jody Demling reports that UofL commit Jarrett Davis set a Georgia record over the weekend, snagging 5 receptions for 182 yards and two TDs, leading his squad to the state title. Check out his highlight video below. Brighter days are coming for Louisville football.

Pitino's Fingernails

Replace "football" with "basketball" and "pissed away all my money" with "pissed away most of my dignity" and tell me this isn't eerily appropriate for Louisville basketball right now.

Bootch to Bearcats

Sources reporting that Central Michigan coach Butch Jones will fill the Cinci head coaching job. Great hire for the Bearcats if it's true, Jones was my second choice if Charlie Strong somehow fell through. Watching Jones' offensive ingenuity versus Strong's defensive prowess should bring some juice to the Keg of Nails rivalry.

Pitino Quote of the Day

Why does the "youth card" only seem to apply to our team? Look around the college basketball landscape and freshman are making huge contributions from coast to coast. Pitino needs to stop making excuses for his players' poor development. From the CJ:

Pitino said some people were down on Samuels because he hasn't shown the same flash as Kentucky freshman guard John Wall.

“(Wall) is a very unique individual, most freshmen aren't like that,” Pitino said. “Samardo is only a sophomore. He has two and a half more years to develop his skills. It's not going to happen overnight with him.”

Show this to Samardo

Here's a video of three Oral Roberts players teaching viewers how to dunk. They seem a likeable enough group, but right now they may as well be Goebbles, Himmler, and Mengele.

These things come in threes

I know the Cards are beyond looking past any opponent right now, but here's a few bits of info about Oral Roberts gathered from their website; UofL must play sharp to put an end to their nonconference woes...

* Since getting out-rebounded badly in a season-opening loss to Wake Forest (51-25), the Golden Eagles are out-rebounding their opponents by 9.0 boards per game over the last 10 contests.

* After going nearly five years without a winning buzzer beater, the Golden Eagles haven enjoyed two within a month this season and both have come against two of ORU’s most formidable foes. (Stanford and Missouri).

* The Golden Eagles will also be looking to knock off a Big East foe for the fourth time in the last six seasons.

* Every season since 2002-03, ORU has pulled off at least one upset of a power conference team.

* Over the last four games the Golden Eagles are shooting 76.5 percent (75-98) from the charity stripe.

* Oh, and did I mention THEY'RE PLAYING FOR THE MEMORY OF THEIR DEAD NAMESAKE!?!?

From the "you've gotta be shittin' me" department...

The hits just keep on comin' for Cardinal basketball. On the eve of Oral Roberts coming to Freedom Hall, Mr. Oral Roberts himself, the namesake, passes away. As if they needed more motivation. By the way, I don't know Mr. Roberts, I'm sure he was a nice man and the news is surely tragic, but please, please don't take the Cardinals postseason hopes to the afterworld with you.

Sharphead to the Rescue?

Less than two months ago Terrence Jennings was involved in an altercation with a plainclothes police officer. He had to be tased twice to be subdued. Without belittling the situation...okay fine, completely belittling the situation, that's the toughness Louisville basketball needs right now. We need tough, we need nasty, we need someone with a swagger, and someone that lacks the self-awareness to know he has nothing to swagger about. I'm looking at you, Mr. Jennings. Though he has found himself in the Pitino's doghouse for the majority of the season, criticized for a poor offseason and lazy practice habits, it's time for Pitino to let the dog out of the house an off of the leash. I've got a pretty decent finger on the pulse of UofL fans; I know plenty of smart fans and plenty of dumb ones. And the one thing that everyone from Denny Crum to the most moronic radio call-in guy agrees upon is that Louisville is soft, and Jennings is underused. He's certainly our best post defender, and the only one that seems capable of keeping the other team from running a lay up line on us. He brings an energy and attitude, and is underestimated on offense. People forget how highly rated he was out of high school, he has plenty of untapped offensive potential. He can ease the double-teams on Samardo. He's not the silver bullet, but a higher profile on the court would be a big 6'10'' step in the right direction.

***UPDATE***

I'm aware that this goes against what Pitino said in comments today about getting better in practice and not making big personnel changes. I agree that getting better in practice is a manifest necessity, but it seems foolish to keep sticking with players that aren't producing. Jerry's not getting it done, Samardo can't rebound, and even when Sosa plays well he doesn't get others going. It's naive to not realize how heavy an anchor these early season losses will be come March, and how tough our road is moving forward. Unless we're resigning ourselves to the NIT this season, yes we need to get better #1, but also need to put guys on the court that can get it done, i.e. Jennings for defense, and Siva for making plays and being a true point.

On the bright side...

The return of a big giant fountain to downtown! CJ reporting a number of new sponsors have come on to the Arena Project, allowing for a $900,000 fountain design to be added to the landscape achitecture. This place is going to be incredible.

Salmon Rush Dee Quarterback

Add juggling to new head coach Charlie Strong's list of talents. While preparing for the Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl, and doing numerous media appearances, he's hit the ground running on the recruiting trail; shoring up comittments he wants to honor, and making late pushes for local athletes. So far so good. Today Louisville received a firm committment from defensive tackle Randy Salmon. Salmon had verbally committed under Steve Kragthorpe, but had wavered a tad in the period before Strong's hiring, and visited Tulsa over the weekend on a recruiting trip. After Charlie Strong reached out via a phone call today, all doubts are now removed. Welcome aboard, Mr. Salmon.

Charlie Freaking Strong

Check out Charlie Strong on the Jim Rome radio show, AM 790, at 2:30 this afternoon.

Denny's lineup?

I was listening to the Denny Crum's radio show earlier to try and cheer myself. When asked by a caller what starting five Crum would play he responded with Siva, Sosa at the two guard, Knowles, Jennings, Samuels". Sounds good to me, except I'd entertain Buckles over Samuels over this point (but that's probably more out of frustration). I think Jerry could come off the bench effectively. A mixup is sorely needed. Whatdaya think?

Sad

2009 can't end fast enough for Louisville basketball. The karma in basketball universe seems to have it's middle finger pointed at Pitino's Cards after last season's run concluded with a thud. Some may have found his post-game comments to be a refreshingly honest departure for the infamous spinmeister, but I found them irksome. He seemed to be going for the wizened basketball wizard angle, one who's seen it all and isn't the least surprised with our embarassing start to the season. The team's decline in talent-level should be a concern for the coach, not an excuse for his failure. Isn't ensuring no jarring drops in ability a tad in his wheelhouse? What's worse, Pitino offerred little hope for getting better except for the possible arrival of Marquis Teague in 2011. I don't want to be impatient lest I get slapped with the label of being an unrealistic and overdemanding fan, but I don't think the city is going to be too happy waiting two seasons for the return of solid basketball.

Yes, the talent level is down, but there's certainly enough on the roster to take care of Charlotte and Western Carolina. For whatever reason, the players don't appear to be buying what Rick's selling. In the past the players would talk about Pitino like a cult leader, fully bewitched, fully confident in his formula for winning basketball. And they enjoyed carrying out their orders. This team seems to be tuning out its coach, doubting themselves, their teammates, and their game plan. I don't know what's going on. Most worrying, for the first time, I'm not sure our head coach does either.