Video of Pitino press conference

Kyle Kuric's comment on lost scholarship

Per Eric Crawford's blog:

Coach told me and my parents that at any year in my career that he might need the scholarship. He met with my parents at the end of the season and told them if there was a problem that he wouldn’t do it, but they were glad to.

We’re just happy to do what’s in the best interest of the team. It doesn’t matter to me.

Link to Crawford's initial post and take on the lost scholarships here.

Pitino: Ware, Hancock in, Kyle Kuric and Chris Smith may have to get part-time jobs

Rick Pitino formally announced the arrivals of Kevin Ware and Luke Hancock to the Louisville basketball program in a press conference today. Kevin, of course, is the recruit that chose us after becoming embroiled in all the Brandon Bender/Central Florida/"beautiful campus" intrigue following his decision to de-commit from Tennessee after Bruce Pearl's ouster. Rick said he'll play valuable backup minutes at both the 1 and 2 positions. As for Luke, who will have to sit out a year after transferring from George Mason, Rick labeled him "a special basketball player" and noted his game-winning NCAA tourney shot as well as what all the strong descriptions made by his former coaches and teammates. Of both additions, Pitino said "we did a lot of homework" to ensure that they fit the Louisville "brand" and will play for the name on the front of the jersey.

That we have added so many talented and committed individuals to our program is undeniably exciting. However, it comes with a price that many of us feared, especially in the case of Kyle Kuric. Pitino announced that Kuric, Chris Smith and Elisha Justice will all have their scholarships taken away for next season. Rick talked about Kyle in particular, noting that he came here as a walk-on but had definitely earned his scholarship. But Rick has discussed with the Kuric family each season that at some point he might have to take away the Kuric scholarship to provide it to a top-caliber recruit. Pitino assured reporters that he wouldn't have asked the Kuric family to pay their own way if "they couldn't afford it." (Kyle's dad is apparently a brain surgeon).

If that's the case then so be it, I guess. I do look forward to Kyle's own comments for assurance that he's "all in" about this, not only because he can afford it but also because he wants to make a deep tourney run his senior year. What will irritate me, if it comes to pass, are any passively observant commentators who think any less of Kuric's ability because he is now our starting "walk-on."

Other tidbits:

-- Jared Swopshire or Rakeem Buckles may medical redshirt next season if the coaching staff determines that either hasn't yet reached 100 percent in recovery from their injuries, but could get healthy the following year. Swop's agonizing recovery from history's most damning and mysterious sports hernia continues, while Rock continues to battle the effects of his torn ACL.

-- Richard Pitino will not be interviewing for the Boston University head coaching job, as was suggested by a Boston newspaper and followed up by Card Game. "Richard is under contract for two years, and he doesn't have the money for the buyout," Ricky joked. "His mother's the only one with any money in the family." (be advised, I'm paraphrasing from memory) As far as any other rumors involving players or coaches, Pitino sought to put them to rest. "We will not have anyone leave our program."

-- Recruiting-wise, Pitino commented that it's the program's intent to recruit two studs for next year's class, followed by another big class of four major recruits the year after.

-- Pitino noted that Louisville's non-conference schedule next year, as in years past, will be built to fit the team. This includes 3-4 teams that will likely be preseason top 10s (UK, Vanderbilt, etc.). So take that Bozich. Pitino described being "blindsided" by the Vanderbilt game having just finished scheduling Memphis.

-- Random comment about team roles. Peyton's the "personality" on the team, while "Kyle's the worker" and "Chris Smith is also a worker"... Is the defining attribute of "workers" those who don't get scholarships? Guess that makes sense.

-- Pitino noted that he will grant more latitude to the players in selecting team captains for next season, and may allow Peyton Siva to be a team captain despite not being a senior.

-- The most important guy in the lineup for next year, Pitino said, is Gorgui Dieng. "I would not be surprised if Gorgui led the country in shot blocking next year," such is his potential. Rick talked a bit about Gorgui's "softness," which has nothing to do with his attitude or desire and everything to do with his weight. When Gorgui arrived at Louisville, he was 170 pounds, Pitino said. Since then the coaching staff has beefed him up to 217. The goal is to get him up to 245.

-- In response to a question about how injuries crippled us at times last season, Ricky said, "well yes, but having 28 guys this season is really going to help us." He's only mildly exaggerating.

O'Leary meets DaMarcus Smith

With Bender and Caldwell making appearances as eels Flotsam and Jetsom. I had a disturbing amount of fun paraphrasing these lyrics...

George O'Leary, adding hostage-taker to his resume...

Loyal readers will recall that there was once a time, back in the darkest Kragthorpian of nights, that Mr. Red advocated for the disgraced ex-Notre Dame coach-for-a-minute, George O'Leary, as a dark horse candidate for what, then, was just a hopeful head coaching vacancy for the Cards.

Now, not so much.

Having refused to let Seneca QB DaMarcus Smith out of his letter of intent, UCF Coach O'Leary will be adding a prized indentured servant to his roster within the next two weeks.

Look, I'm not letting DaMarcus off the hook here, yes, he brought this on himself. But he's a 17-year old kid, he's allowed a few fuckups. O'Leary, on the other hand, should be ashamed of himself. This quote is particularly galling...

He left me saying he was 100 percent a Knight," O'Leary said, alluding to rumors dating back to February that Smith was unhappy with his decision and planned to ask to be released from his letter of intent. "But every time he goes back to the Louisville area, it seems to be questionable what's taking place there".

Yea, the Louisville area, where his family and friends live, as well as the local university he's wanted to play for his entire life, yea, that's where the shadiness is going on.

Netherworld figures like Ken Caldwell and Brandon Bender that were in Smith's ear, well, they're just blown away by the beauty of the UCF campus, that's all.

I feel bad for Smith, even though he's ultimately to blame. He listened to bad advice, and ruined his chance to become one of the most anticipated and beloved local athletes to ever suit up for the Cards. He could have been Bush and Brohm rolled into one; he could a been a contenda.

Now, his prospects look murky. Full of hollow promise, like a George O'Leary resume. I hope these UCF clowns get added to the Big East.

Pitino, Texas... is this tiny planet big enough for both?

From "The Big Mac Blog," Ricky talks TCU's addition to the conference, bad history in the Lone Star State, and the awesomeness of the Big East (solid post below this one by Mr. Red by the way, trying to keep Cal's crying in check):

Mac Engel: What was your reaction to the Big East's decision to add TCU?

Rick Pitino: We felt it was purely a football decision. One of my very worst experiences was traveling to TCU and getting killed there. We were in Conference USA (it was a 71-46 loss on Feb. 17, 2004). It was one of those nights that nothing went well for us and everything went right for them. It was a horrible experience. It really was one of the worst experiences of my coaching career.

It was a football decision, but what it does is enhance the basketball program at TCU for sure.

For all of us it adds value.

Texas is so fertile in recruiting; it's a big part of recruiting in the Big 10 and this should help for us as well. Some of us will feel more comfortable recruiting there now for sure.

ME: How does this add value for a Louisville, or a TCU?

RP: When I came to Louisville we were a top 10 program. In terms of value according to Forbes, there is only one basketball program among the top 50 money making athletic programs in the country that is basketball. The rest are all football. We're the one. That would not be true today if we were not in The Big East. The Big East makes Louisville a top five program. It was the one thing that Louisville lacked was that established conference. We really didn't have it in the Metro or Conference USA. Now we do.

TCU basketball could never, ever - or a South Florida or a DePaul or a wherever - be what it wants to be without being in a major conference. Now they are because they have that affiliation.

ME: UConn finished ninth in the Big East but won the NCAA tournament; can you describe how loaded and difficult this conference is in men's basketball?

RP: It's such a fine line here. We almost beat UConn three times, and we beat Butler at home and we got knocked out of the first round of the (NCAA) tournament. It's very easy to be as close to the top in this conference as it is to finish 10th or 11th. UConn could have been out of the tournament all together if their non-conference wasn't so good.

It's beyond being a bear. It's every night. For a guy like (TCU coach) Jimmy Christian - we went to the same high school, although at different times - he's taken a TCU job and he's building the thing and then all of a sudden he turns around and he's in the Big East. It's awesome from a recruiting standpoint, but, and he knows this, this is a very, very difficult basketball league.

Full post here.

From the annals of chutzpah

"This is no knock on the Big East but they’ve had 19 teams in the Tournament the last two years and how many have made it by the first round? How is this happening? When they start playing each other they say the 11th team is really good. What?"


-Coach Cal, at the SEC coaches' conference. I don't know about the 11th team, but that 9th placed Big East team was pretty good, wasn't it? Ahhhhh? Ahhh? West Virginia too, for that matter.

** Actually I do know about the 11th team. It was Marquette, who beat Xavier and fellow Big East stalwart Syracuse on their own Sweet 16 run. Who was it that finished 11th in the SEC again? Oh right, (7-9 conf.) Mississippi. Yea, they really got snubbed. You make a good point, Waddles.

Quote of the Day

"Promises are made to be broken !"

-Rodney Purvis, via twitter, he of former "My word is my bond!" fame

Melo unmellow, and Purvis to play the Cards?

In the bank of "tell Mr. Red to stop throwing shit-fits about recruiting" files, you can put this one under ABFBTR: as in, "A Big Fat Bust To Recall". Syracuse's Fab Melo, once thought to be a Louisville-leaning phenom, has been arrested on charges of criminal mischief after a thoroughly underwhelming freshman campaign.

There was a time when Melo's decision to spurn the Cards was a major blow, and Louisville was left with little choice but to offer a scholarship to a somewhat-known teammate of stud wing Justin Coleman. Some African kid, probably a bust.

Life's a funny game. Another reminder to regard recruiting services kind of like astrology; you pay attention, but no too much attention, and hope for the best.

These are the things I'll be thinking of when I watch Gorgui Dieng dunk on Fab next year, if indeed, he's still on the team.

And speaking of mystical forces, Rodney Purvis is now making googly eyes towards the Pastner-led Memphis Tigers. Yep, the same Tigers we've known, loathed, defeated on a regular basis, and just renewed our animosity license for. Yep, those same Tigers that will be visiting come December.

If Purvis does decide to take his talents to Graceland, you can re-up the dial on the rivalry to white hot. Should the fates allow.

It's on!

The rivalry with our ancient foe, the Memphis Tigers, is back on. The series will resume at the Kayefseum on December 17 at 3:00pm. The Cards will travel to Memphis the following year.

The two rivals have not played since UofL left to join the Big East after the 2005 season. The Cards, of course, won the final matchup in the C-USA tourney after the infamous Darius Washington missed free throws.

I really wish we could fast forward through the next three months.