Buckles or Behanan

Rick Pitino is up to his old tricks, applying a healthy lather of spin and innuendo heading into the biggest game of the season to date. Russ Smith may be taking over at starting shooting guard from a player who has been reliable all season. Kevin Ware may or may not play, and if he does, it's unclear whether it will be at point guard or small forward.

But perhaps the biggest eyebrow raiser was when Pitino said that Rakeem Buckles may be getting the start, presumably over power forward Chane Behanan. Recall that Pitino did not play Rock at all against Fairleigh Dickson because he "did not want to rush him back". So it could be a vote of confidence in Buckles' ability to contribute fully, or it could be a message to Chane Behanan, whose scoring numbers have dipped since his double-double against Vandy.

As much as I like Buckles, I'm more hesitant to do anything that may stunt the development of Chane. I know Pitino likes to say that fans and players alike place too much emphasis on the starting lineups. I think that's true, but I also think it's important for a player to get comfortable with his role on the team. Without some continuity in that regard, I don't think you can blame Russ Smith, for instance, if he continues to shoot a dozen times in a row when he is promptly moved into the starting lineup afterwards.

There's also the possibility that Rick Pitino is playing some gamesmanship with Memphis. Perhaps Josh Pastner is having trouble knowing what to expect when Louisville hits the court. The problem, I suspect, is that Pitino isn't quite sure yet either.

Where is he now?

With the rivalry renewed this week, it's hard to get away from Darius Washington. Not that I'm complaining, his moments on the free throw line in the Conference USA championship in '05 were as captivating as sports get.

Washington's misses, that cost the Tigers a trip to the NCAA tournament, quickly took on a life of their own. Verne Lundquist's stellar play call, and the "Somebody's got to go help that kid up" ensured it a timeless quality; it was a sequence you just knew would be replayed through the ages the moment it happened. For memorable sports moments, let's face it, pain is beauty.

And Darius' pain was so great an outpouring of support came from all over the globe. Everyone was calling and writing expressions of condolence. Isiah Thomas reached out. As did actor/singer Tyrese. Scads of NBA players left him voicemails, as well as a Tennessee congressman. The fan mail poured in for months, including a "Get Well" card from Louisville fans.

So Darius Washington bounced back. His next season at Memphis he led his team to the Elite 8 and was named an honorable mention on the All American team. He then made what, in retrospect, was a poor decision. Washington declared for the NBA draft in 2006 and immediately signed with an agent. He went undrafted.

Darius struggled to land with an NBA team, but eventually was given a shot in 2007 when he was activated by the San Antonio Spurs while Tony Parker rehabbed an injury. He played in 18 games and averaged 2.9 points.

Since then he has bounced around the international leagues. He is currently leading the Turk Telekom squad in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. He's averaging 21 points and 5 assists a game.

Darius Washington famously looked over to John Calipari from the free throw line and mouthed "It's over!" with a cocky throat-slash motion after draining his first. It wasn't over. But it wasn't when his final shot clanged off the front of the rim, either.

One for the Ages

The Memphis Commercial Appeal takes a look at a rivalry renewed.

Blue cheese and whine

I admit, sometimes UK humor eludes me. So it's entirely possible that this piece is some elaborate bit of self-parody. But if not, if it's what it appears to be, this essay is certainly the cherry-on-top of a week that offered an unprecedented look into the psyche of the Cay-uts fan. Remember a few years ago when NASA scientists were enthralled when the planet Jupiter was rammed by a stream of asteroids? The scientists were pretty sure what was inside, but were excited nonetheless to confirm it with their own eyes. Well, that's what the loss to the Hoosiers has done with regards to the inner-workings of the Wildcat brain.

And after a week of self-pity about their less then warm welcome to Bloomington, KSR blogger Chris Thomas is feeling a little reflective this holiday season. Apparently just not self-reflective...

This stereotype turns opposing fans who would otherwise be reasonable into irrational jerks. They think its cool or funny to get on Facebook or Twitter and spout off about how Kentucky deserves every bad thing that happens because they’re nothing but insane hicks. And while a healthy combination of hatred and respect is a compelling part of any great rivalry, the antics are getting out of hand with violence and animosity. I’m not saying we all have to like each other, but UofL and IU fans have shown a great deal of unnecessary ganging-up and hatred towards all UK fans this week. 

Being arguably the greatest college basketball program in history means that haters are inevitable. From the top, it’s impossible to avoid them. And with that, being the biggest fanbase means you’ve got plenty of unreasonable crazies of your own to deal with. But all I ask is this: If you’re going to be a hater or a jerk, direct it towards the unreasonable fan who provoked you instead of at an entire fanbase.

So remember this, everyone, when UK fans and their flagship website engage in the annual "Hate Fest" of your team. Everything is fair game, the vitriol can know no bounds...until UK loses. Then it's much less fun and sportsmanship and decorum must rule the day.

Some Hawthorne ladies and gents: No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true.

A number of UK fans, having made their beds, seem to be getting confused.

Season at a glance: Steals

Next up on this early-season-in-review is steals. Given the team's acknowledged defensive prowess, I think most Cards fans would expect gaudy numbers in this department. As a team Louisville doesn't exactly disappoint, but the numbers do suggest this squad isn't meeting its potential either in the forced-turnover department.

Team Steals

Average per game -- 8.6.  Opponent's average per game -- 6.6.  Margin -- +2 LOU

Steals Leaders

Peyton Siva -- 1.9 steals per game, .06 steals per minute

Kyle Kuric -- 1.7 steals per game, .05 steals per minute

Russ Smith -- 1.6 steals per game, .09 steals per minute

Chris Smith -- 1.1 steals per game, .04 steals per minute

Analysis

At a +2 steal advantage per game, our ability to deflect, disrupt, knock away, or intercept the ball is no weak spot. The fact that this team boasts four players averaging more than a steal per game testifies to the defensive philosophy in place. What's more, most of our individual leaders have improved from last season: Kyle's steal average is up 0.8 per game from last year, Chris Smith is up slightly from 0.9 steals per game last year, and Peyton's steal average, which we can expect to increase now that he has returned to full health, is almost exactly where it was last year (2.0).

The statistic that really stood out above was Russ Smith's steals per minute -- at .09, Russ is actually our most efficient takeaway artist. Most accounts on Smith have traditionally focused either on his (by now almost comic) never-ending desire to shoot, or his "admirable disregard" for running the team's plays. The stats above certainly underscore the burst of energy and quickness Russ brings from the bench, but they point to the chaos Russ is capable of causing in both directions. As Pitino begins to work Kevin Ware into the fold and Russ Smith returns to shooting guard, look for Russ increasingly to use his quickness to make deflections or trying to anticipate an opponent's next pass.

Nevertheless, if you stare at these numbers long enough or place it in a greater context, you can't help but feel that these Cards are capable of more. Louisville presently is fifth in the Big East in steals -- which seems low to me -- and well behind the pace set by Syracuse, Rutgers and -- gulp -- DePaul. In two games (Lamar, Butler), we were actually out-stolen (word?), and in a third game (Vanderbilt) we tied. This team is also behind the pace of last year's squad, which finished the season averaging 9.3 steals per game. Part of it is that we lost Preston Knowles, who averaged 1.9 steals a game last season. And part of it is this year there is greater drop-off in steals production between our perimeter specialists and the next tier of defenders -- excluding Rock and Elisha, Gorgui is next above with .7 steals per game. Whereas looking at the steals stats from last season, there were multiple players averaging .9 and .8 steals per game.

This might suggest that we should aim for more deflections and takeaways near the basket. In particular, it's not unrealistic to think that with time, Gorgui could pick up a few more defensive tricks in the paint and inch his steal average up to 1 per game. However, I suspect that our ability to steal will improve naturally, as more players move off injured/ineligible reserve and deepen our resources coming off the bench. It takes bounce and energy to orchestrate the frenetic pace of defense to which we grew accustomed last year; adding adding more warm bodies should allow Rick to unleash the full onslaught of defensive pressure that heretofore has been seen only sporadically.

****

Addendum to my rebounding post from a few days ago: as a team, we've been outrebounded only once this season -- it was against Long Beach State.

Pitino presser recap

* Kevin Ware will make his debut against Memphis (Pitino earlier thought it would be against Western). He will serve as backup to Peyton Siva and Kyle Kuric. Two things about this. 1) Ware must be much more polished than I expected 2) Rick must have reservations about Elisha Justice/Henderson. He may talk up the "scrappers", but when chips are down, he wants the blue chips.

* UC/Xavier melee "none of his business". Because those words rarely escape Pitino's lips, it was pretty clear he wanted no part of badmouthing friend and former assistant Mick Cronin.

* Kevin Ware suffered a minor injury in practice (nothing serious). Pitino got a good line in about "officially being a Cardinal now".

* Russ Smith will start at the 2-guard spot against Memphis. Another curious move it seems, as Russ has "6th man energy" written all over him. With Ware, and soon Wayne Blackshear returning, the roulette on the perimeter over the next month will be very interesting and exciting.

Quote of the Day

"It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to get a chance to play for someone like that. You can see it in his eyes."

-Glasgow tight end Hunter Bowles, on his decision to play for UofL and Coach Strong.

How dangerous are the wounded Tigers?

Extremely. All those underlying forces that align and impact basketball games but do not show up in the box score are going against Louisville for this one. The Memphis Tigers fell out of the Top 25 after losing to Murray State, and will be definitely be playing with sense of urgency to notch a "season-saving" win to right the ship. We will get Memphis at its most focused.

The Tigers have been out of sync this season, but there is no denying the talent on their roster. Will Barton, Adonis Thomas, and Joe Jackson were all 5-star recruits with a choice of any college in the land. Tarik Black and Wesley Witherspoon were highly-coveted 4-stars. There are capable role players like Charles Carmouche around them. With a roster this loaded, it's no wonder Coach Josh Pastner is feeling the heat.

So, it looks to be the proverbial lose-lose situation. If UofL wins, they will have merely beat a "reeling" Memphis team and will garner little respect from those pundits already holding their noses at the Cards. Lose and their suspicions will have been confirmed.

But the Cards have one thing going for them when it comes to karma and cosmic forces. IT'S MEMPHIS STATE. A dormant but extremely heated rivalry is about to be awoken; one that goes back through the decades, encompasses 85 contests and 3 conferences, and battles filled with legendary vitriol, punches thrown, a player chasing another with a chair, and switchblades being thrown on the court. The fans know this and the die-hards on both sides will lose sleep this week. The question is, do the players? Joe Jackson of Memphis said earlier this week he was vaguely familiar with the past rivalry, but to him it was basically another game.

It's not. I think both teams will encounter an environment in the Kayefseum that perhaps they aren't prepared for. If I were Rick Pitino, I'd be giving a crash course in basketball history to his players this week on how much this game means. If Louisville can capture the correct mindset and harness that power, all the worrisome factors listed above will fall by the wayside.

Morning links

* UofL's quest to become the Florida North of football could take another step forward this weekend. Two Gators that are seeking transfers, tight end Gerald Christian and wide receiver Robert Clark will take an official visit.

Christian would be the real prize. He's 6'3'' 220, was a four-star prospect coming out of high school, and was the #2 rated tight end in the state of Florida. We've had some great tight ends come through, but Christian would add a level of athleticism unseen since the Ibn Green days. Both would have two years of eligibility remaining.

* Also big on the recruiting front is that Central's star running back Anthony Wales will be visiting as well. Recruiting Central high school can be the barometer that reveals the upper hand between Cards-Cats for intrastate supremacy. A commitment from Wales would give us a clear picture of which way the wind is blowing.

* Great work from Rick Bozich this morning on former Cardinal and NFL great Joe Jacoby returning to UofL to finish his degree.

* Kevin Ware won't be the only one gaining elibility for the first time on Saturday. Memphis' Ferrakohn Hall will see action after sitting out the first 8 games due to NCAA rules. He transferred to Memphis from Seton Hall.

* Preston Knowles will begin his professional career in the Ukraine. Just in time for Christmas, you can now order your SK Dnipro Azot Dniprodzerzhyns jersey. As Kramer said to Newman during their epic "Risk" game: "I think it is time to put a hurt on the Ukraine".

Michaelee?

No confirmation yet, but bigger fish than I are reporting that redshirt freshman receiver Michaelee Harris has suffered another injury to his knee, attended the autograph session at the PJ last night on crutches, and will miss the Belk Bowl. Some say spring practice next season is in jeopardy as well.

If true, it's tough news for a kid that's been plagued by injuries in his brief career. Recall, other than Teddy Bridgewater, Harris was perhaps the most blockbuster recruit of the Strong Era. He was coming on more and more as the season progressed, and caught one of the prettiest passes of the year, the 18-yard strike from TB that was the difference-maker against Syracuse.

We'll keep you posted on the official word as to the severity of the injury. Keep your head up, Mr. Harris. There's a lot of great football to be played still ahead of you.

VillenHD presents: UofL-Fairleigh Dickinson highlights

Beale Street blues; what's wrong with Memphis?

A season that began with a Top 10 ranking and legitimate national title hopes has gotten off to a rocky start for the Memphis Tigers, and Coach Josh Pastner and the players are beginning to feel the heat. Two high profile guys, Adonis Thomas and Chris Crawford deactivated their Twitter accounts following last week's loss to Murray State, and Pastner has been imploring his team to hunker down and "ignore the noise".

Frankly, I think the rumors of the Tigers' demise have been exagerrated. Their three losses were against a good Michigan team, Georgetown in OT, and a Murray State squad that many now consider to be the best mid-major in the country. But that hasn't prevented the doom and gloom from seeping in.

I'll take my own stab at the X's and O's as we get closer to tip off, but here's some select, always entertaining newspaper commenters diagnosing the team's struggles...

* This team plays too much AAU ball, too much playground ball. They don't respect their coach. Josh is too nice. He needs stronger assistant coaches to be the enforcer. Josh is great in recruiting. It looks like he lacks something in coaching during a game.

* Out-smarted, out-efforted, out coached. Murray St. Is a good team, but not even close to the talent all of the experts say the U of M has. This is simply not a very entertaining team to watch. We are not in the same class as any of the top tier teams. Witherspoon? Why is he even in the line-up.? What exactly is his role? And the lazy perimeter passes that got kept getting picked off reminded me of a high school girls jv game. We need to play much more smarter and apply for a heart transplant.

* They are not a good team. Too many young coaches,need some experience on the bench someone who can get their attention. Not going to be a good week

* Again, We will lose every tough game and every top twenty five game due to lack of coaching. Sad but true! Put any good coach with this team and we are probably undefeated. Memphis fans do not have the patience to wait for this coach to learn how to coach!

* Why? b/c Pastner can't coach- This team looks horrible, not one single player has improved from last year. Tarik Black looks lost, we don't have a point guard and we look like a freaking AAU team out there playing summer ball just running and gunning, absolutely pathetic. Lost to Murray State at home, really?

* The guy is in over his head. Face the music. Go get Bobby Knight.

* I don't think Coach Pastner can effectively motivate them. It's not helpful to remain positive. What is positive currently? Suggesting to stay this way or talk things through is absolutely soft tactically. Players' tails should be in between their legs right now. All of them.

* One more thing to Coach Pastner...lose the haircut. If you want to be taken seriously, stop looking like Shirley Temple's kid brother. Shave your head and grow a nasty Fu Manchu. I'll bet the players would listen then.

Kevin Ware joins the party

The long saga of Kevin Ware and his destination for higher education hit a milestone this morning when the heretofore ineligible guard saw the practice floor for the first time. Only Rick Pitino knows how much we'll see of Ware and how soon (RP indicated a likely debut against Western KY on Dec. 23rd, but with Rick, you never really know). Circumstances would seem to dictate his immediate contribution, as the numerous injuries to Elisha Justice have forced Russ Smith back into backup point guard duties, an idea that Pitino had sworn off just weeks ago.

A fresh reminder on what we're working with here, just so we're on the same page...

NAME: Ware, Kevin
HOMETOWN: Conyers, GA
DOB: January 3, 1993
SIZE: 6'4'', 180lbs
HIGH SCHOOL STATS: 13.2 ppg, 4.5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, 1.6 blocks; led Rockdale County to state runners-up

It's difficult to overstate the importance of adding another weapon to the perimeter. The Cards have quickness, but lack size in the backcourt. Siva and Russ Smith can play the gadfly, the pest to opposing points guards, but lack the length to completely shut down someone's game.

At 6'4'' with long arms and a rangy frame, Kevin Ware can be that kind of defender; he developed a reputation on his high school and AAU teams as a "lock down" type of player. And perhaps most importantly, his addition will allow Rick Pitino to resume the 90-feet of pressure that the Cardinals thrive on.

Offensively, Ware is just as intriguing. He's an explosive athlete with a knack for getting to the rim (not just the lane, not just the basket). He also has a beautiful jump shot that forces the defender to pick his poison. In fact, Ware has played shooting guard for most of his career, though both Pitino and Ware's high school coach have indicated Ware will look to play point guard almost exclusively.

Are there any negaitves? Sure, a few. There's always the concern of how much a freshman can contribute in Pitino's system, especially one joining the squad mid-season. The video available of Ware shows he can get out of control at times and lose his handle on the ball; he looks to be a high-dribbler. And of course, you hope that his protracted college search, which included a spell with the UCF Knights and Ken Caldwell, is not reflective of any immaturity or the dreaded "head case" label.

But those concerns are either very minor or highly speculative. What is known is that a tremendous athlete, one with NBA potential, joined the Cardinals practice this morning. He can flat out ball, and his size brings back memories of the towering, high-flying guards of Denny Crum's heydey.

Welcome to the Louisville Cardinals, Kevin. It was worth the wait, for all parties I believe.

Season at a glance: Rebounding

Loyal readers will know that we've obsessed to some degree (read: bitched and moaned) about rebounding ever since we started this blog -- that's two complete basketball seasons for those who've fallen behind in their archiving. With Gorgui and Chane now filling out our frontcourt, has that finally started to change? Below are a few relevant individual and team statistics for the season. An individual player's rebounds per minute, which to me indicates overall efficiency, is emboldened.

Team rebounding 

Average per game -- 40.9. Opponent's rebounding average per game -- 33.6 . Rebounding margin -- +7.3 LOU

Rebounding Leaders

Gorgui -- 9.0 rebounds per game, 4.3 offensive rebounds per game, .32 rebounds per minute

Chane Behanan -- 8.1 rebounds per game, 2.7 offensive rebounds per game, .32 rebounds per minute

Jared Swopshire -- 4.9 rebounds per game, 1.4 offensive rebounds per game, .26 rebounds per minute

Kyle Kuric -- 4.7 rebounds per game, 1.4 offensive rebounds per game, .13 rebounds per minute

Chris Smith -- 3.2 rebounds per game, .56 offensive rebounds per game, .11 rebounds per minute

Peyton Siva -- 2.9 rebounds per game, .29 offensive rebounds per game, .09 rebounds per minute

 Analysis

Ranked 21st in the country in total per game, rebounding has been a strength thus far for the Cards. What's been key is the rapid progression of Chane Behanan. While Gorgui has been as productive a rebounder as he was last year (his offensive rebounding statistic, ranking him 6th in the country, is downright studly), Behanan has been a greater presence on the glass, I think, than many of us expected or would have counted on from a freshman. As a defensive rebounder, Chane actually outpaces Gorgui; and come to think of it the image of Chane crippling the spirits of the opposing team with another board, sending both teams scampering the other way, has been a constant.

It's true that a few of the teams we've played have been undersized, but that was probably no less true at about this point last season, when rebounding nonetheless was a season-long concern. In fact, if you look at a similar post about rebounding from last January 4, you get a sense of how much we've improved. Last year, our most efficient rebounder mid-season was Rakeem Buckles at .35 rebounds per minute, but he had just gone down with his injury right before the Kentucky game. The next most efficient guy was Gogui at .33 rebounds per minute (nearly the same clip as this year), followed by SVT at .28 per minute. But Gorgui at that point was still backing up Terrence Jennings, and SVT, for reasons that remain unfathomable to me to this day, wasn't getting many minutes at all.

By comparison, this year we have two starters, Gorgui and Chane, logging starter minutes, averaging .32 rebounds per minute, followed by Swopshire at .26. Since those three log considerably more minutes than last season's top three, overall individual and team averages shoot straight up. Hence, Gorgui is pulling down 9 boards a game compared to 4.8 last season, Chane is grabbing 8.1 per game, and Swop is contributing almost five.

And not to hate on Jennings (sorry Red), but at roughly this point last season, our starting center was averaging an anemic 5.2 rebounds per game (heck, KURIC's almost averaging more than that this year). Compare that to our starters this year, and you can see just how much we've improved significantly.

As for future improvements, this team would benefit from greater rebounding from our guards. Looking at his rebounds per minute, I can see how Pitino has grown frustrated at times at how Kyle isn't filling out his stat sheet. It would also be crucial if one of our mid-range players, such as Kyle or Swop, could boost the Cards' presence on the offensive glass (we currently rank 51st in the country in offensive rebounding). Our shooting hasn't been what it was in season's past so it's not like there aren't opportunities for greater production. The thought of Kuric, Swop or Smith sailing in for a rebound/put-back slam is very appealing -- to say nothing of what's possible once Wayne Blackshear finally dons his Louisville jersey.

The most critical thing the Cards can do, however, is sustain the rebounding success they've had to this point, which won't be easy as we enter Big East play where the bodies get bigger, meaner, and more physical. However, with Rock recuperated and SVT and Blackshear coming back from injury, there is no reason to expect any less toughness on the board. At last, we seem poised and able, if willing, to become the mighty glass warriors of yester-year of which we (at this blog) have always dreamed.

Holton boltin'

Louisville junior safety Shenard Holton announced yesterday, via twitter, that he would be seeking a transfer and it appears that decision is final and confirmed. Holton had been a solid contributor in the Cards secondary and was one of the team's surest tacklers and hardest hitters.

But the decision appears to be a mutual one between coach and player. Charlie Strong delved out some internal discipline this season; Holton missed 5 games for undisclosed violations and it was becoming apparent that Bedford and Strong were ready to move forward at his position.

Shenard Holton is going the JUCO route and will be attending the University of New Mexico Highlands. We wish him well.

The remaining safeties on the current Louisville roster are Hakeem Smith, Calvin Pryor, Mike Evans and Jermaine Reve and there is a bevy of young talent in the next class like Demetrius Frazier and Devontre Parnell who will most likely join the last line of defense.

"We Can Be Successful Here"

Nice job by Eric Crawford in posting the whole of Charlie Strong's comments about his future at Louisville from yesterday's press conference -- they are definitely worth the glance. I guess you can call it BS if you want, but Strong, more than some, seems to see the inherent advantages of staying at Louisville and the success that previous head coaches surrendered when they left. Most of all, Strong prizes loyalty, which should count for a lot when you work for Tom Jurich. From Crawford's blog:

Q: GIVEN YOUR EMOTIONAL RESPONSE WHEN YOU WERE HIRED HERE, HOW MUCH DOES THAT LOYALTY MEAN TO YOU, THAT THEY GAVE YOU YOUR FIRST CHANCE HERE?

STRONG: That’s what it is. It’s all about loyalty. You don’t walk out on someone. Here you are, you’re two years into a program, and all of a sudden someone has given you a chance, and you’re just going to walk away and say, ‘Bye, bye’ and just walk out. I never would have been placed in this position if he hadn’t given me that opportunity. But you look at it, and I keep saying that, it’s not like this is a place where you can’t go be successful. We can be successful here. A lot of people think, ‘OK He’s stopping in there, they’re going to go win a couple of years and then they’re out.’ Okay why can’t we stop in here, build this program and sit here and watch it grow? You think about Boise, people thought Boise couldn’t get it going and look at what they’re doing. Look at Virginia Tech. No one thought Virginia Tech could get it going and look what they’re doing. Kansas State, look what they’re doing. So why can’t we take this program and build this program and watch it grow and develop. And it’s what people want around here. Our fans want a winner.

Strong said more things to this effect; the comment on John L. is especially intriguing. Full post here.

Season (so far) at a glance

As Mr. Red said recently, we're through the "first phase" of our college basketball season calendar, and I don't think anyone is arguing that it was the hardest part. Toss in that road win against Butler and a thrilling overtime victory against Vandy, however, and you also cannot say that it has been devoid of achievement.

Regarding our much ballyhooed #4 national ranking, time will tell if we're really that good yet, and many awaiting battles will test our mettle. At minimum, we haven't done anything thus far that would prevent us from being ranked so high. And I would remind our doubters that in the weeks ahead, a LOT of talent and size will rejoin the roster from the injured/ineligible reserve.

I suspect, however, that for Cards fans, the most impressive feat isn't the ranking, but the absence of the legendary "Pitino" loss -- the inevitable early-season defeat against Montana State Tech (or the like) that has Pitino afterward short-tempered and leaves Cards fans wondering whether or not we're even going to make the tournament.

We've dissected the Pitino loss on this blog before -- even teams of T-Will lore suffered the Pitino loss -- but the serpent hasn't reared its head yet this year. If that holds up (Charleston and Western Kentucky next Tuesday and Friday, folks), not only will it not be missed, but that must say something about the maturity and defensive tenacity of this particular squad.

As we wait for the momentary calm to end and the storm to intensify once again, starting on Saturday against Memphis, the week ahead provides enough of a lull that we should take a glance at the team's performance in various areas so far this season and make what limited observations we can. We'll start later today with a look at rebounding.

Charlie talks Belk Bowl

Highlights from today's press conference...

* The team will leave for Charlotte on December 21st. Game-specific preparation begins Wednesday.

* Gave more reassuring words on his commitment to Louisville. Reaffirmed his loyalty to Tom Jurich and cited Boise State and Virginia Tech as programs that forged their own indentity. Why not here?

* He said recruits are not asking about conference affiliation much, but when they do, he assures them Louisville will always be in the most advantageous position.

* Cardinal fans are approaching the 12,500 mark for tickets purchased, its first alotment.

* Strong said Belk Bowl tickets are the perfect X-mas present (after hearing that, I'm re-starting negotiations with the Mrs. tonight about our budget and buying tickets. She has no problem saying no to me, but if Charlie is requesting it, that's a horse of a different color. Such is his sway).

* Felt Louisville was disrespected with low selections for All Big East Honors. Named Mario Benavides and Alex Kupper as two he felt deserved to be honored.

* Belk Bowl head Will Webb spoke first. He said ticket sales are over 50K, and forecasted a kickoff temperature in the mid-50s. Also said the slogan for the Bowl is "Come for the Party, Stay for the Game".

Charlie Strong presser

HERE. Noon.

Synergy

The best thing about the game was how well the Big 3 performed. Gorgui notched another double-double, Siva had 16 and 9, Kyle scored 18 and snagged 6 rebounds. But the second best thing was how awesome it is that our football and basketball teams work in tandem like they do.

Lots of schools don't have that luxury. Often the two top dogs on campus have a frosty relationship with one another (Kansas anyone?) and especially at a traditional "basketball school" like Louisville, those tensions are a real possibility. But from all indications, nothing could be further from our present situation.

Charlie Strong is obviously a huge fan. He's a staple presence at almost every home game along with others from the coaching staff. Charlie always receives a deafening ovation every time he is shown, and I think a light bulb must have gone off that such adulation could be used to his advantage. He brought the team directly to the Arena after they clinched a share of the Big East title in South Florida to further bask in the afterglow. The players have been directly speaking to the crowd during timeouts the last two games, and some of the popular guys are taking visiting recruits to front row seats, where they enjoy the game before leaving rather ceremoniously before the buzzer to let the recruits feel the love. It's great to see Greg Scruggs playing the drums with the Louisville band, and being able to hear from players we rarely get to see sans helmet and pads.

November and Decemeber (and soon, hopefully January) are a special time when basketball and football overlap. The support between the two programs is awesome, and I hope Charlie Strong and Rick Pitino intend to keep the goodwill flowing.



(h/t Andy Sweeney for the vid)

Mr. Red's Big East Power Rankings

1) Syracuse (10-0). #1 in the nation. Last in our hearts.

2) Louisville (9-0). Cards are the Tim Tebow of college basketball. If Tebow fornicated in restaurants.

3) UConn (8-1). Waxed Harvard harder than Will Hunting.

4) Marquette (9-0). Off the radar and dangerous. Like a stealth bomber.

5) Georgetown (8-1). JT3 now most likeable coach in Big East. By default.

6) Pitt (9-1). A Long Beach State hiccup only thing keeping them from top of this list.

7) Seton Hall (8-1). They are as surprised as you are.

8) Providence (9-2). Appears primed to dutifully play its role of knocking off one quality team per season.

9) West Virginia (6-2). Slowly washing the Kent State stink off them.

10) DePaul (6-3). Cleveland Melvin has shoulders like Atlas from all the garbage he's carrying.

11) Cincinnati (5-3). Recently beat a quality opponent.

12) Notre Dame (7-4). The Irish are totally sick this year.

13) Villanova (5-4). Team is lost right now. In Jay Wright's eyes.

14) South Florida (6-4). Augustus Gilchrist has missed a lot of action. Without him Bulls much worse, but easier to root for.

15) St. John's (4-5). Gene Keady's combover is fuller than the Johnnies roster at the moment.

16) Rutgers (4-5). Eagerly awaiting Big East expansion to add another rung to this list.

"I want a T-Will type of box score"

I want to save most of my game reactions, few though they are, for tomorrow. But I did want to give Rick Pitino props for the job he's done thus far guiding this team. Case in point was the performance Kyle Kuric put on yesterday, which was summed up nicely in this article in the CJ.

Kuric got off to an uncharacteristically poor start from the field. A three from his spot in the corner hits back iron. Another awkwardly off the corner rim. A couple missed free throws. Another three back iron. Old Kyle would have largely packed it in, faded into the backdrop of the game, and not attempt to assert himself, patiently waiting for the next game when the shots may fall.

Senior Kyle, leader Kyle, King Kyle keeps shooting. Senior Kyle has taken to heart Pitino's admonition: "I told him I want a T-Will type of box score. ‘I’m tired of you not having an assist, I’m tired of you not having an offensive rebound." And sure enough, even when the rim was sealed shut, Kyle Kuric affected the game in other ways, logging 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and a blocked shot.

Kuric's career arc has always been said to mirror that of Larry O'Bannon, but, a little T-Will thrown in there is certainly welcome. Rick Pitino knows that being like T-Will is more than just his skill set, it's a mindset. It's the idea that his footprint needs to be all over the outcome of every game. But unlike T-Will, who could struggle from the field and you'd never be certain if he would come out of the funk, with Kyle you just know that it's only a matter of time. Yesterday, he kept firing (though not enough for Pitino's liking) and finished with 18 points, shooting 50% from the field.

As ghost Babe Ruth told Benny in "The Sandlot": Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Kyle Kuric has attained hero status, but Rick Pitino seems intent on drawing him to even greater heights.