LOUISVILLE WINS BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP

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Cards Advance to Big East Tourney Final! Beat Notre Dame 64-50

The Louisville Fighting Cardinals will play tomorrow in the Big East Tournament conference final. Still hard to believe I just wrote that.

The Cards dominated Notre Dame tonight, did so offensively and defensively. The more paranoid Louisville fan kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; it never did. Looking at the stats, it's not as clear where the advantage was won -- the Irish outrebounded us, had more steals, and turnovers were even with Louisville.

What stood out the most, because it represented such a stark contrast from the regular season, is how the Cards became sharpshooters even if only for a game, shooting 56 percent from the field. I don't think anyone is fooling themselves that the hot shooting will last. What's more encouraging is the sudden surge of confidence, the assertiveness, the positive body language and high fives and smiles even as they all got chewed out by Rick, up by twenty.

At the same time, Louisville put together one of its best defensive performances yet, limiting a strong Notre Dame shooting team to 36 percent from the field, including 2 of 16 from beyond the arc.  Even those stats can't tell the story of the swarming, raving, interfering pack the Cards' defense has become. Whatever happens, the Cards seem intent on riding their defense to whatever March fate awaits them. Not much arguing against that logic.

Peyton Siva led the way again: 13 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists. It's become a legendary and redemptive tourney performance for the Little General. Gorgui Dieng had 16 points on 8-8 shooting -- I don't remember many of those shots being gimmes. Kyle Kuric added 12, and Chris Smith chipped in 9. Russ Smith was in Pitino's dog house so much tonight you got the sense Ricky simply relishes chewing out Russ, but he still managed 5 assists and 3 steals. And like we said yesterday, Russ could care less about the yelling.

Stats here.

Tomorrow night, Cards fans. 9 p.m. against the oldest of rivals, Cincinnati. Who coulda believed it when the tournament began? Louisville will be playing for the Big East Championship for the third time in four years. Many have taken to calling this Louisville's "revenge tour." I get that, but my hope is that this tournament will become the start of something far more special. In 72 short hours, our wilder dreams once again seem attainable.

Congrats Cards.

GO CARDS!!!

Crash into me

A review of the box score from the first Notre Dame game supports what Mr. Black took away from last night's victory, thoughts that were echoed in Eric Crawford's column on the Cards as well. Shooting the basketball is the most visible facet of the game that this team struggles with, but it's rarely the reason we lose games.

While not setting the nets on fire, the Cards shot the ball considerably better than the Irish in the double-OT loss in January (42.3% to 31.7%). Both teams were terrible behind the arc (UL 30.8% to ND 19.2%). The difference in the game was that the Irish only committed 11 turnovers and logged more offensive rebounds than the Cards.

Of our 9 losses, 7 came when the other team grabbed more offensive rebounds. And speaking generally, the difference of that margin correllates with how bad the loss was.

Mike Brey's Notre Dame team is displined enought to not let what happened to Marquette happen again. He said as much in his post-game comments last night. They are a deliberate basketball team that averaged less than 10 turnovers a game this season. It won't be won in a track meet.

But no matter the tempo, the Cardinals can continue to push the advantage by with relentless energy on the glass. As we all know, we've missed enough jumpers this year that our guys should know where to be.

Crash the offensive boards, and the Cards will crash into the Big East Final tomorrow.

Quote of the Day

I committed to Louisville, and people think this year is just supposed to be for fun. I'm down for my team, and I want to win a state championship. I want that to be known by everybody.

-Cardinal commit Terry Rozier. Rozier led his Shaker Heights team to a district semifinal victory on Wednesday with 22 points, 7 boards, 6 assists, and 5 steals. He'll play in the Final tomorrow at 2:30.

5 Life Lessons from Coach Rick Pitino

(This post was written by guest continubutor Anthony Jones. Anthony is a presence all over the web and operates www.sportsmanagementcolleges.com that helps those looking for a career in professional sports)

Fans of the Louisville Cardinals need no introduction to Coach Rick Pitino. He has been the head basketball coach since 2001, has coached for other college basketball teams, and even two NBA ones. But what truly makes Coach Pitino stand out is being the only coach in NCAA history to take three separate teams to the Final Four (Providence, Kentucky, and of course, Louisville). Whether looking to become a coach yourself or just in need for some motivation, we have gathered five life lessons you can learn from Coach Pitino.

1. Assists matter – As a young basketball player himself, Rick Pitino played for the University of Massachusetts Amherst during the 70's. During that time, he had 168 assists as a senior for the team, which was the eighth best ever. Even back then, he knew the importance of winning as a team, rather than hogging the ball.

2. Going for three – Did you know that the NCAA did not allow baskets to be counted as three points no matter where they were shot from until 1987? It seems that many other coaches did not even after that time. Coach Pitino was one of the first coaches to truly embrace what this meant for a basketball team and applied it to his winning strategy instead of struggling against it.

3. “Larry Bird is not walking through that door” - These were the famous words he uttered at a press conference in 2000 as coach of the Celtics. It was in response to frustration by the fans and their longing for the greats. His words were meant as advice to admire the past but not expect it to happen again and instead to focus on the players they do have. Similar words would be said in future press conferences.

4. Scandal/Schmandal – In 2009, allegations of a sexual scandal surfaced around Coach Pitino, which is not new in the world of sports or coaching. However, Coach Pitino was able to make time to answer questions, yet kept his focus on coaching basketball. In fact, he did it so well, he led the Cardinals to a 31-6 season and the Big East regular-season and tournament titles for that year.

5. Success is a Choice – This is the name of his self-help book and an audio recording. In them, he describes how success is a series of choices rather than just falling into situations where success happens. It is a great lesson for both inside and outside of sports.

Hope! Cards Upset Marquette 84-71

It was the signature victory that this team has desperately needed all season long. And it couldn't have come at a better time.

Against the #9 ranked team in the country, Rick Pitino's suddenly surging Louisville Cardinals started the game hot, built up a 17 point lead, surrendered most of it, then built up their lead again. The Cards never trailed. 

These Cards may stink on offense, and they seem to have accepted it. But they've found a formula that worked for them tonight, straight out of the Pitino playbook: keep chucking up shots, any way you can. No shot is a bad shot, just keep earning more shots -- which of course means good defense and offensive rebounding. 

The stats tell the story. Tonight, Louisville attempted 77 shots, while Marquette shot 68. They pulled down 23 offensive rebounds to Marquette's 15 -- Gorgui had 7, Swop had six. 14 steals to the Golden Eagles' ten. 9 blocks (Gorgui and Kyle each had 3) versus Marquette's 4. I've rolled my eyes in the past about that unofficial "ball-deflections" stat that Pitino constantly harps about, but I'd like to hear what it was tonight. If the coaching staff could even keep count.

Last thought on the above: the defense has always been there this season. It was the offensive rebounding that made the difference.

There were multiple heroes tonight; all our guys played well. The King scored 20 points; Swop gave the Cards a valuable boost. Gorgui's was a dominating presence inside, Chane had a near double-double, and Russ essentially robbed Marquette's guards of their ability to cross-dribble. 

But the honors for player of the game belongs to Peyton Siva: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals. Peyton is full of confidence, smiling again, playing at a dominating, in-control level not seen since last season during the UConn games. When he's amped up like this, it's a unique thing to see him play. Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery each kept saying the same thing, with disbelief. "Man, he's fast." 

Stats here.

Louisville advances to the Big East Tourney Semifinals tomorrow at 9 p.m., against the winner of South Florida-Notre Dame. Card Nation is ecstatic with the unexpected surge, and all stripes are marveling at the tenacity and ferocity that Rick Pitino has suddenly whipped up in his bunch. Pitino, in turn, has stolen ESPN's heart during this tournament with his courtside antics, charismatic interviews and the fire in his heart -- if you've watched him these last few games, you know what I mean. For Pitino, the unexpected run has to come as vindication of sorts following a difficult season that's put him on the defensive for much of it -- proof that his system is not broken or outdated, that his approach to basketball works, that Pitino-ball can still bring home glory. Plus, this is New York, and we all know he loves this stage. For the moment, he has his players seizing the opportunity.

Fans teeter everywhere with Rick Pitino; I certainly know I'm one of them. But his players obviously buy in. There was a moment tonight as the game ended that seemed fitting, when Rick started walking over to shake hands with the Marquette staff, and Russ, whom ESPN has shown being chewed out by Pitino no less than 57 times during this tournament, came charging over and excitedly tried to wrap Pitino in a bear hug. Pitino quickly flipped him over to the side, as if to say, "dammit Russ, get off me! I gotta job to do and it's shaking hands, not celebrating!" As if all of this was part of the Grand Pitino Plan, the pieces falling into place just as Rick envisioned it. Russ had to be reminded, but Pitino did not. (Russ didn't care by the way... he's Russ). But Rick was obviously pumped after the game. His players are pumped. We are pumped. 

After ending the season with such a thud, it feels great to be winning games, turning heads, and making an improbably run for postseason glory. Please oh please, let it continue tomorrow.

GO CARDS!

Gorgui Monster

The new single-season block leader for the University of Louisville: Gorgui Dieng.

Gorgui played as if being snubbed for Big East Defensive Player of Year was a personal affront. He was active all night, challenging everything at the rim and affecting about twice as many shots as his number of actual blocks (6) indicates.

I think what I liked most about his game last night was his short memory. In the past when Dieng would get beat, you could see his frustration and it affected his play. Last night he continued to battle and came out on top far more times than not.

Short Memory Gorgui is a good Gorgui.

Free throw stats

Marquette gets to the line and takes advantage when it does more than any team in the Big East. The Golden Eagles shot a league high 750 free throws in the regular season and made 72.4%, good for second in the conference (behind only Villanova).

All seven players in their main rotation shoot better than 70%. In fact the only regular contributor to not hit that mark is guard Vander Blue, who got off to a slow start, but finished the final 10 games of the regular season hitting almost 80% from the charity stripe.

In the first meeting the Golden Eagles made 88.9% (16-18), while the Cards managed a paltry 40% (4-10). The 12-point differential marked the exact margin Louisville would have needed for the victory.

With the Cardinals feeling confident on the defensive end, dialing up the aggression, they need to make sure to keep it under control tonight and adjust to the way the game is called. You do not want to get into a free throw shooting contest with Marquette.

The Cardinals shoot 67% as a team from the line.

Hope? Cards Down Seton Hall 61-55

It wasn't pretty. But the Cards rallied in the second half, and actually put together some impressive sequences of half-court offense, to defeat Seton Hall and advance in the Big East Tournament. Marquette awaits us tomorrow night.

Peyton Siva led the way with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals. Kyle Kuric, whom Rick Pitino cajoled/begged/ordered to shoot more during a halftime interview with ESPN, added 13 points, though it came on 4 of 14 shooting, 2 of 10 from beyond the arc. Right at the end, Kyle hit a midrange jumper from the top of the key that helped ice it. It would be nice to see that aspect of Kyle's game more often; tonight it was crucial. Russ Smith added 11 points; Gorgui Dieng blocked 6 shots -- and now has the most single-season blocked shots in school history.

Stats here.

During the second half, Louisville managed to score 38 points, most of which came in the half-court. The way I look at it, if we can score 38 points per half, and it's not totally the result of a track meet, well, heck, 38 per half counts as a functioning offense! With our defense, it could be enough. So yes, maybe there's hope, though I still question if it can come without Wayne Blackshear playing significant minutes. One thing's for certain: the Cards will have to play markedly better tomorrow to beat Marquette.

Go Cards!

Cha cha cha changes

Some interesting insights from the CJ staff today on the Cardinals' predicament. On one hand, Eric Crawford argues that lineup-tinkering is foolish at this stage in the season, that the Cards need to be fixed between the ears. On the other CL Brown reminds that a player with Wayne Blackshear's talents could be a difference-maker, and that for a team stuck in an offensive rut the size of the Mariana Trench, continuing to play him may be worth the risk.

I'm very much split on this. At this stage I do think it is dumb to try any grand reinventions. We are who we are. You can count on Louisville playing a tough matchup zone, getting on the break when we can, and continuing to pop the trey no matter how many rattle out.

But I hope the Cards will explore three changes that can be accomplished without throwing the baby out with the bath water.

1) More looks inside. Gorgui is struggling offensively, just like everyone. But every halfcourt possession should see Dieng touching the ball before a shot goes up.

2) Whatever message was trying to be sent by benching Chane, consider it received and get him back on the court for as many minutes as possible. The Cards need what Behanan brings to the table. Jared Swopshire cannot. Barring extreme foul trouble, Chane needs way more minutes than the 17 he played against Syracuse.

3) Play Wayne Blackshear at the 2-guard. Kyle Kuric is essential to any chance the Cards have at making a run, and Blackshear is the team's most gifted player. So let's try to have our cake and eat it too (Blackshear loooves cake). Keep both on the court together and let other teams react to the mismatch that WB will present at the 2.

As much as I like Russ and Chris is spot duties, I don't think the Cards can make it to the Sweet 16 on their backs, let alone a Final Four. A higher profile Wayne Blackshear at least brings about the possibility. Even if he is limited from what he could have been, I still think he's a greater weapon, even if half-decoy, than what Chris Smith is currently bringing to the position.

Send in the goons!

Temple is your newest member of the Big East conference. If the Owls take over West Virginia's schedule like most anticipate, we'll first meet them in football when they travel to the Papa next season.

The basketball Cardinals also have some unfinished business against Temple. We last faced off in the 2002 NIT tournament, Pitino's first year, when Lynn Greer dropped 27 points and stormed the Owls back from a 16-point halftime deficit to knock out the Cards. Also notable as the "It's like an ice-rink out heah!"-game when Pitino took to the mic during the game to admonish the booing Freedom Hall crowd. Pitino-fan relations remain in about the same state today.

In all seriousness, I think this is a solid addition to the conference and could be the start of a new rivalry, particularly in basketball, for as long as the Cardinals are Big East members.

Cardinal hump day

It's official. The Cards will be facing off tonight against Seton Hall, a team I did not want to see in Madison Square Gardens. Jordan Theodore just seems like one of those "March guys" that can marshall one or two wins just by force of personality. He had 13 points and 13 assists in the Pirates' romp over Providence yesterday. Box score from our first matchup here.

Congrats to the WKU Hilltoppers for securing a tournament bid. They're one of the more remarkable stories in the Dance and continue what has been a golden year for Bluegrass hoops. Except for, ya know, us.

Randy Moss received rave reviews after his workout for a possible NFL comeback yesterday. While Moss was certainly the headliner, it takes two to tango, so Brohm's day throwing to him must have gone fairly well also. An article here examines the Saints touchy QB situation; Drew Brees is apparently livid for getting slapped with the franchise tag and backup Chase Daniels is a restricted free agent. If Brohm's going to get another NFL shot, New Orleans isn't the worst place to be at the moment.

Pro Day is here for the football Cardinals. For the uninitiated, it's where the outgoing seniors workout in front of NFL scouts to try and turn heads before the draft and establish relationships with teams. Best of luck to the fellas as they take the next step towards their dreams.

UofL's projected seeding continues to be all over the map. One has us as high as a 5 seed, others as low as 8, with 6 being the happy median at the moment. It's a fluid situation obviously, and the Cards have to be one of the teams capable of rising or falling most depending on the showing in the conference tournament.

And for the hell of it, here's the video of the Seton Hall highlights where at the end Pitino may or may not have told a glazed-over Herb Pope, "Don't play high". Classic.

Brian Brohm to work out with Saints

Today. He'll be throwing to a little someone known as Randy Moss, who New Orleans is also checking to see if he has anything left in the tank. Good luck, Brian.

New postseason unis

I'm OK with these. But who is this guy and can he shoot?

So you're saying there's a chance

Even the most optimistic of UofL fans are struggling to find reasons to believe, heading into tournament play, that the Cards are capable of winning a string of games. I wish I could argue stridently that we will, but the problems in the halfcourt appear pretty ingrained.

I will say this, however. Louisville lost to Syracuse despite outrebounding them by 12, holding them to fewer than 60 points, and forcing them into 15 turnovers. The only thing this team truly struggles with is shooting. Granted that's a big thing, but if the shots can finally start to fall, if Peyton Siva can orchestrate the offense without turnovers, there's no reason the Cards cannot play with, and indeed beat, some of the best teams in the country.

Louisville's still stingy defense and the way that Chane Behanan is crashing the offensive glass are the two single biggest reasons to still hope.

If the Cards are unable to fix the offense it'll certainly be a short stay in the tourney. There will be many months ahead to break down what went wrong and why. But now is a time to drop the cynicism and embrace the ride. There are still signs that this team is not as far away from good basketball as it presently appears.