Strait on...

One of my favorite sites for covering everything from UofL and UK to random musings and beautiful women is StraitPinkie. The good people over there have been kind enough to offer me a chance to drop my poetry and knowledge with them, and you can check out my first piece here wrapping up the wacky week of sports. Read them early, read them often.

UofL's offense questioned for next season

Mike DeCourcy of Sporting News asks "Who makes shots for Louisville?" as one of the biggest subplots heading into next season. Here's what he had to say...

The Cardinals’ March run was sparked by point guard Peyton Siva (offense) and center Gorgui Dieng (defense), and their return has many projecting Louisville as a candidate for a Final Four return. 

No doubt Louisville was terrific in the NCAAs, but the most prominent staple of coach Rick Pitino’s offense generally has been the ability to score from long range. The Cards shot 27-of-70 from 3-point range in the tournament, or 38.6 percent. Senior wings Chris Smith and Kyle Kuric averaged a combined 13.6 points in those games. 

Obviously, that second figure is fairly easily replaced. If sophomore Wayne Blackshear enjoys a healthy offseason, he could cover it himself. Kuric and Smith were reliable shooters, though, accounting for 61.4 percent of the team’s made 3-pointers. Blackshear wasn’t healthy long enough to demonstrate he can be that sort of player.

I know this is an obvious topic since the Cards strength last season was no doubt on the defensive end, but I have little trouble envisioning a much improved offense next season. Kuric and Chris Smith were big contributors, no doubt, but both saw their production drop as the season roared to an end.

DeCourcy correctly cites a healthy Wayne Blackshear as the biggest elephant in the room. Fattie jokes aside, his presence next season is pretty difficult to overstate. Combine that with the return of Mike Marra on the perimeter (I know I know I know the quote, but he's still a very capable scorer) and Luke Hancock, by all accounts a strong shooter and facilitator, and we should be fine.

And it's not like Gorgui, Chane, and Siva are impotent on the offensive end. Each should benefit from the additional weapons named above.

And when all else fails, Russ it.

You know, the words "epic fail" get tossed around so much these days...

When really, they should be reserved for things like this. Stunningly bad on a number of levels.

Sam Madison always comes out on top

Bill Barnwell of Grantland just debuted a new, intriguing way of evaluating the relative successes and failures of an NFL draft pick. Since players obviously land in different scenarios and have different expectations based on where he is taken in the draft, it is notoriously difficult to truly measure the "boom" or "bust" of a specific player. Barnwell's system is meant to zero in on just that, and in his new calculations, former Cardinal Sam Madison comes out as the best defensive back pick since 1997 in terms of value.

The whole column is worth a read, but here's what he had to say about Madison...

Jimmy Johnson made a lot of terrible draft picks for the Dolphins during his tenure in Miami, but he picked up two pretty impressive players back-to-back in 1997. There, he grabbed Madison in the second round and followed that up with Jason Taylor in the third. Taylor probably had the better career, but Madison developed quicker; he was a starter by year two and an All-Pro cornerback by his third season, during which he led the league with seven interceptions. He eventually moved on to New York and picked up a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in 2007.

Athlon dubs Bridgewater #1 Big East QB

No surprises here, but Athlon Sports named Teddy B. as the top quarterback prospect in the Big East conference this year. Here's what they had to say...

Bridgewater was one of Louisville’s top incoming freshmen last season, ranking as Athlon’s No. 6 quarterback for the 2011 recruiting class. He took over as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback against Marshall and led the team to a share of the Big East title and victories over Rutgers, West Virginia and South Florida. Bridgewater finished with 2,129 yards and 14 touchdowns, but showed his inexperience by tossing 12 picks. The Cardinals should be the favorites to win the Big East title in 2012, and Bridgewater should build off a solid freshman performance with a sophomore campaign.

Dead last in the conference? UConn senior Johnny McEntee, who they evaluated thusly: "If he wins the job this spring, it would seem to be a bad sign for the Huskies’ offense". Ouch.

Baseball Cards throttle #1 Cats, 10-2

In case you were ever curious, there is apparently no such thing as an official UofL Cardinals broomstick. So this red and black one will have to suffice. But you get the idea, the baseball Cardinals jumped all over the #1 Wildcats last night and never let up, defeating them 10-2 at Jim Patterson and sweeping the season series.

It was a packed house, proving once again that the UofL-UK rivalry never takes a day off.

Full recap here.

The #20 Cards are on the verge on climbing atop the Big East standings, and host a pivotal series against UConn beginning this Friday at 6:00.

Come on out and show your appreciation.

Image of the century

This is the cover of Karen Sypher's prison-written, co-written, batshit book of bitterness! (image and story from CL Brown).

The vacant stare? The lipstick? Holding a child (for some reason) with bizarre hair? The weirdo prom corsage on her wrist that betrays her forever-young neurosis and Miss Havisham tendencies? It's all too much for words, and therefore the perfect centerpiece for a truly surreal chapter of UofL basketball history.

I'm not saying I'll buy it, but I'm not saying I wouldn't read it should it show up in my Christmas stocking.

James Quick down to 2 (plus 1)

Trinity standout James Quick has reportedly narrowed his list of colleges down to UofL and Ohio State. Quick visited the Buckeyes over the weekend and obviously came away impressed, but not so much so as to commit during the visit, which Urban Meyer certainly must have hoped for.

Though he said he's down to two, Quick is still interested in the Oregon Ducks and is planning to visit Eugene over the summer. So make of that what you will, but since Quick's heartstrings are apparently being tugged by his hometown school, Oregon would seem to be a long shot, literally.

So it's still likely to come down to UofL and Ohio State, the Urban Meyer mentor versus the Charlie Strong pupil. The Cards are still in fine shape to land him.

If Teddy Bridgewater's commitment was the first watershed "event" of the Strong Era that proved UofL was back on the right trajectory, then retaining James Quick would be the second, the sign that the Cards have entered Phase Two of the rebuilding project. Winning a head to head battle against a blueblood like Ohio State for one of the top talents to come out of Louisville since Bush and Brohm would send a powerful message to anyone paying attention.

Since he's a three-sport athlete, a busy kid still interested in taking at least one more visit, I wouldn't expect a commitment anytime soon. But the longer this drags out, the better I believe the Cards chances are.

John L. Smith and more...

I think Bobby Petrino needs to hire John L. Smith's PR person. It struck me as I was reading about the fallout from Smith's interim-hiring. While Smith was criticized by a few for ditching Weber State, his alma mater, before coaching a single game, most of the coverage centered on the Razorbacks' shrewdness for thinking outside the box.

My point is, Smith is every bit the journeyman as Petrino, so much so that no one should be able to keep a straight face when he speaks about loyalty. The difference is John L. has always had an eccentric charm to him; whether from his running with the bulls in Pamplona or his skydiving or his cowboy bluster, Smith has always been a media-darling that rebounds from whatever mistakes he makes. Petrino is just a jerk, simple as that.

So when I read stories that take a divergent tone towards two men that suffer from some of the same failings, it really reminds that being colorful goes a long way in determining how one will be depicted in the media.

John L.'s contract with Weber State would have paid him $130,000 a season. The piece of paper he's about to sign with Arkansas will give him $850,000 for ten months of work. Any further analysis of the situation and his motivations is just fluff.

A good, even-handed, wrapup of the situation from the Weber State perspective available here.

Having said all that, like I mentioned yesterday, I think it's a terrific move for Arkansas. If there's any coach that can thrive in such a frantic and flustered situation, it's John L. The Razorbacks can salvage the season, one that still has a lot of promise, while keeping all their options open for the future.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the Razorbacks are playing in a warm weather bowl and if Smith is still coaching there beyond next season.

Dickie V is all on board for the 2012-13 Cardinals, pegging them as his preseason #1 even after some of the big recruiting pieces have fallen into place. It's going to be such a different dynamic from this past year, and I hope the players spend the offseason wrapping their brains around that concept because half the battle next season is going to be mental.

Speaking of recruits falling into place, this piece from a Kentucky fan casting a critical glare on UCLA's sudden surge onto the recruiting scene cracked me up. My favorite line was, "But let's be real for a second here. Lexington is not Los Angeles". Just the fact that he felt the need to single that out as a trenchant point as if he was being measured and realistic by admitting it, I dunno, just tickled me. 

Luke Hancock is listed by Yahoo! Sports as one of next season's impact transfers. Here's what they had to say...

Hancock is a solid all-around player who would've been one of the best players in the Colonial Athletic Association had he stayed at Mason. In the Big East, he should be an important complementary player for a Louisville team that has legitimate national title aspirations. Hancock has a nice outside shot and is a good passer.

Solid you say? Have we found the heir-apparent to Chris Smith's title for impressive density?

Once again a reminder that the Cards face off against the Cats tonight at Jim Patterson at 6:00. Wear red and come on out to help UofL cap a season sweep of UK.

And just for the hell of it...

John L. Smith to Arkansas

Is UofL now starring in the Truman Show, college sports edition? Seems that way after the news broke that John L. Smith, yep, that John L. Smith, will be taking over the Arkansas program on a one-year basis (presumably to extend based on performance) in the wake of Bobby Petrino's firing.

So we have a former coach who jilted us for greener pastures returning to take over for another former coach who jilted us for greener pastures, oh, and according to some, perhaps preventing our current coach from jilting us for greener pastures.

I really can't even process this right now. But I do think it's a very shrewd move on Arkansas' part, making the best of their rotten situation.

Monday Musings

After a semi-washed out Spring Game and a windy and chilly Thunder, I'm starting to fear an earthquake or something for the Derby. Nevertheless, one of the red-letter days in this community was a great success; I had a blast hanging around the Great Lawn all afternoon, taking in the air show and quoting Top Gun relentlessly before the sensory-overload that is the fireworks display.

Thunder is yet another one of the times I feel lucky to live where I do. Last week on a podcast Bill Simmons and his buddy were talking about Patriots Day in Boston, which is a much bigger deal in the northeast than it is here. It's an unofficial holiday up there, one of those days it's acceptable to start A.M. drinking. He was commenting on how not all places have "that", those watershed events like Thunder or Derby that become part of the fabric of a community.

So even if you aren't into fireworks or planes, I can't imagine not enjoying Thunder. It's not about the "show" really, it's just the excuse to make a bunch of plans, coordinate with groups of friends, eat, drink and people-watch amongst the throngs.

It's a fun time around here; I'm starting to feel a little Derby feverish.

Other goings on...

In further evidence of UofL's commitment to across the board athletic excellence, the men's tennis team captured their third straight Big East title after knocking off South Florida yesterday in Tampa. In tennis lingo, that's called a Three Pete Sampras. Well done, fellas.

Tom Jurich's gave some quotes last Friday at the UofL Sports Administration Summit, the most interesting of which on the prospect of retaining Coach Strong, Jurich said, "Money is no object. I will keep him here".

I'm never one to de-sensationalize anything, so of course I think there' a fair amount to be read in the comments. One, he reinforces something I've always said about retaining Charlie, if/when he leaves, it won't be because of money. UofL athletics is experiencing unprecedented athletic success right now. If Strong continues to succeed, if we end up in Big 12 and want to make some noise there when the move is made, I have no doubt that Jurich will dig deep to make Strong a very competitive offer. Of course, the issue is that money may not be what Strong seeks, but a more "tradition-rich" program.

Two, I don't believe Jurich would make such a forceful statement if he wasn't extremely confident in Strong's future here based on some personal conversations. There were about a dozen ways he could have deflected that question but instead went ahead with a fairly bold declaration. Jurich's candidness is legendary, so I'm assuming his confidence is based on private moments with Charlie where they've discussed this very subject.

It's the biggest bugaboo for Louisville football; overcoming the anxiety our successes bring by becoming more than a stepping stone for dynamic coaches. I believe Jurich feels like he has a coach that shares his vision for UofL football.

The Cards host the hated Wildcats at Jim Patterson tomorrow at 6:00pm. It's a Red Out, so dress accordingly. Reserved seats are sold out, but sideline seats are available for $5. The Cats are fresh off taking a three-game series over #1 LSU; defeating them twice in the same season would be a major statement.

Speaking of the hardball, the Bats broke out of their slump in dramatic fashion yesterday with a pinch-hit walk-off homerun to defeat Indianapolis 3-2. The Bats were in desperate need of a shot in the arm, as they needed that W to avoid the worst start in franchise history. Let's hope that's the moment they were looking for to fulcrum them back on the winning track. There's a lot of talent on the roster.

If you're wondering what Rick Pitino & Co. are up to these days, this longggg list of recruiting targets for the class of '13 and '14 will give you an indication. Some years are more important than others in recruiting, and these are two biggies. The post-Siva Era, combined with the undoubted NBA rumors that I suspect will pop up for Gorgui and Chane ups the ante. Cards can't afford many misses in these groups if we want to maintain this level of success.