What to watch: 2/8/10
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 8, 2010 6:30 PM EST
in Basketball
21 comments
Villanova at West Virginia (7 p.m./ESPN)
Two top five Big East teams playing each other in a game of basketball. I will be watching.
UMES at North Carolina A&T (7 p.m./ESPNU)
Two bottom half MEAC teams playing each other in a game of basketball. Their moms will be watching.
The Citadel at Charleston (7 p.m./CSS)
My Losing Season is a good book.
Fairfield at Siena (7 p.m./MSG/ESPN FulCourt)
The Saints roll to 14-0 in the MAAc and continue their quest to get a single-digit NCAA seed but avoid the 8/9 death game.
Robert Morris at Pittsburgh (7 p.m./MASN/Big East Network)
I knew the league was desperate to add a ninth team for football, but...Jesus.
Kansas at Texas (9 p.m./ESPN)
You hate to put this much stock in a game against the No. 1 team in the country, but if Texas doesn't pull the upset then this could end up being a Florida '03-esque fall from grace.
Alcorn State at Grambling (9 p.m./ESPNU)
Eddie Robinson...that is my response to this game.
Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State (9 p.m./CST/ESPN Plus)
A big game in terms of both the race for the WAC title and La. Tech's outside shot at an at-large bid.
21 comments | 0 recs |
Stat post: How Louisville stacks up in the Big East
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 8, 2010 11:29 AM EST
in Basketball
14 comments
I am in no mood to think, so let's analyze where U of L currently sits statistically in relation to its Big East brethren. I don't even know if that sentence made sense. Not re-reading it. Scoring Offense 5th - 79.7 ppg Leader - Villanova, 85.2 ppg Scoring Defense 11th - 69.3 ppg Leader - Pittsburgh, 60.6 ppg Scoring Margin 5th - +10.4 Leader - Syracuse, +17.9 Free-Throw Percentage 4th - 70.5% Leader - Villanova, 75.3% Field Goal Percentage 7th - 45.1% Leader - Syracuse, 53.1% Field Goal Percentage Defense 8th - 42.2% Leader - Connecticut, 38.2% Three-Point Percentage 10th - 32.9% Leader - Marquette - 42.4% Three-Point Percentage Defense 14th - 35.2% Leader - Pittsburgh, 29.9% Rebounding Offense 6th - 39.0 rpg Leader - Providence, 41.4 rpg Rebounding Defense 9th - 34.3 rpg Leader - West Virginia, 30.3 rpg Rebounding Margin 5th - +4.7 Leader - West Virginia, +7.9 Blocked Shots 9th - 4.1 bpg Leader- Connecticut, 8.6 bpg Assists 5th - 15.7 apg Leader - Syracuse, 19.9 apg Steals 3rd - 8.1 spg Leader - Syracuse, 10.9 spg Turnover Margin 4th - +2.48 Leader - Marquette, +4.39 Assist/Turnover Ratio 8th - 1.1 Leader - Notre Dame, 1.8 Offensive Rebounds 2nd - 15.9 rpg Leader - Providence, 17.2 rpg Defensive Rebounds 13th - 23.1 rpg Leader - Connecticut, 26.8 rpg Defensive Rebound Percentage 11th - 64.4% Leader - Cincinnati, 72% Offensive Rebound Percentage 2nd - 42.4% Leader - West Virginia, 43.3% 3-Point Field Goals Made 3rd - 8.0 pg Leader - Marquette, 8.2 pg So we don't lead the league in anything, but we're also not last in the league in anything. Party? Ten Pin?
14 comments | 0 recs |
AnVillen: Louisville vs. Rutgers 2-6-10
Open Thread: Louisville vs. Rutgers
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 6, 2010 3:15 PM EST
347 comments
Smilin' Charlie came this close to getting bumped off by mascot rape.
Don't let me down, Chuck.
GO CARDS.
347 comments | 0 recs |
Louisville looks to take care of business against surging Rutgers
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 6, 2010 11:55 AM EST
in Basketball
0 comments
It's already been a season of bad breaks for Louisville, and while having to play Rutgers this weekend isn't on par with the calls at the end of the West Virginia game, it certainly falls under the category of misfortune.
Nine days ago the Scarlet Knights were winless in the Big East and had lost their eight conference games by an average of more than 19 points. The folks in Jersey still paying attention were anointing the rest of the year as the Fred Hill farewell tour and praying that no other players would take the Corey Chandler/Greg Ecehnique route and flee the program.
Fast forward today where RU is riding a two-game winning streak after stunning Notre Dame by a point and rolling over St. John's by 12.
“We were going through a very tough stretch, but two of the things I’m most proud is that (the players) never stopped believing and they never stopped working,” said RU head coach Fred Hill. “I think that the last two games they have been rewarded for that.”
Perhaps no one has been more rewarded than star guard Mike Rosario.
The former McDonald's All-American torched the Irish for 24 points and then turned around and buried 13-of-22 shots on his way to dropping 33 on St. John's. After a somewhat cold shooting stretch, Rosario has connected seven of his last 13 three-point attempts.
Rosario expects Louisville to focus in on him this afternoon, a challenge he welcomes.
"I'm used to it," Rosario said of the extra attention. "It shows how much respect I have in the league. That motivates me even more. I just try to adapt to it and see how I can get off my shot or do things in order to get loose."
On the other end of the floor the Cards will have to pay just as much attention to Rutgers center Hamady N'Diaye, who ranks third in the nation in blocked shots with 108, more than twice as many as any other player in the Big East. He's also averaging career highs in points (9.5 ppg) and rebounds (6.5 rpg).
“I remember four years ago, everyone called H a project," Hill said. "To see where he has come from – a kid that played basketball starting at 16, came over here from Dakar, Senegal, played in prep school. I love the kid. He brings unbelievable passion to our team.”
Despite all the "questionable" calls that have gone against them and all the talk of missing the NCAA Tournament, a win by Louisville this afternoon would put them in a tie for fourth place, the spot where they were picked to finish before the season began.
Still, Rick Pitino can't help but wonder what if.
"Think about where we'd be right now beating West Virginia and Pitt on the road,” coach Rick Pitino said. “We'd be in the top 20. So if we're in the top 20, we're a pretty good team. … Not only do I think we're an (NCAA
Stats
Courtesy of Protect R Turf.
|
Rutgers |
Stat |
Louisville |
|
68.0 |
Points Per Game |
79.9 |
|
71.5 |
Points Against/Game |
69.7 |
|
42.9% |
FG% |
44.8% |
|
66.9% |
FT% |
70.1% |
|
32.4% |
3 Point % |
32.8% |
|
-2.4 |
Rebounding Margin |
+4.5 |
|
0-6 (Road) |
Home/Away |
12-3 (Home) |
Notes
--Louisville leads the all-time series with Rutgers 7-1 and is 3-0 against the Scarlet Knights at home.
--N'Diaye has accumulated more blocks so far this season than 10 teams in the conference.
--Rosario and N'Diaye both struggled mightily against the Cards a season ago. The guard led the Scarlet Knights in scoring with 21 points, but missed 11 shots and turned the ball over five times. The big man managed just one blocked shot and fouled out of the game with five minutes left.
--Reggie Delk is shooting 68.2 percent for the Cards over the past three games.
--Pat Forde will make his national debut as a tv analyst during today's game.
0 comments | 0 recs |
Justin Coleman commits to Louisville
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 5, 2010 3:44 PM EST
in Basketball
38 comments
Hunting Prep (WV) swingman Justin Coleman has committed to Louisville.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound five-star prospect is rated as the fourth-best small forward in the class of 2010 by Scout. He's billed as an excellent three-point shooter and finisher.
Worth a drink in my book.
UPDATE: More from Demling.
"They showed me the most interest and have been recruiting me for a while," Coleman told The Courier-Journal. "Coach (Rick) Pitino gets players to the league and they have some spots open at my position next year, so I can come in and play."
The 6-foot-4 Coleman said he also had offers from South Florida, Kentucky, Providence and Arkansas have all offered. He's originally from Richmond, Va., and is considered a top-25 prospect.
Coleman is still not academically eligible but said he was "really close."
Celebration! Ten Pin?
38 comments | 0 recs |
Preston questionable for Rutgers game
If we score more than six points without him I'll be amazed.
3 days ago
Mike Rutherford
7 comments
0 recs
Buddy the Bat brutally sodomized by Donovan McCrabb
by Mike Rutherford on Feb 5, 2010 1:21 PM EST
48 comments
I'm about to ruin your weekend.
Full video here.
Mascot rape: great thing or the greatest thing?
Tip of the cap: EDSBS.
48 comments | 0 recs |
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Cardinals Basketball Schedule
Next 5 Games
| @ St. John's | Thu 02/11 | 7:00 PM EST |
@
Syracuse
|
Sun 02/14 | 1:00 PM EST |
|
Notre Dame
|
Wed 02/17 | 7:00 PM EST |
| @ DePaul | Sat 02/20 | 2:00 PM EST |
|
Georgetown
|
Tue 02/23 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
Rutgers
|
Sat 02/06 | W 76 - 60 |
|
Connecticut
|
Mon 02/01 | W 82 - 69 |
|
@
West Virginia
|
Sat 01/30 | L 74 - 77 |
| Cincinnati | Sun 01/24 | W 68 - 60 |
|
@
Seton Hall
|
Thu 01/21 | L 77 - 80 |
Big East Conference Standings
(updated 2.9.2010 at 1:12 AM EST)
| Conf | Overall | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | W | L | |
|
Syracuse Orange
|
10 | 1 | 23 | 1 |
| Villanova Wildcats | 10 | 1 | 21 | 2 |
|
West Virginia Mountaineers
|
8 | 3 | 19 | 4 |
| Pittsburgh Panthers | 7 | 4 | 18 | 6 |
|
Georgetown Hoyas
|
7 | 4 | 17 | 5 |
|
Louisville Cardinals
|
6 | 4 | 15 | 8 |
|
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
|
6 | 5 | 17 | 7 |
| Marquette Golden Eagles | 6 | 5 | 15 | 8 |
| South Florida Bulls | 5 | 6 | 15 | 8 |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | 5 | 6 | 14 | 9 |
|
Connecticut Huskies
|
4 | 6 | 14 | 9 |
| Providence Friars | 4 | 7 | 12 | 11 |
|
Seton Hall Pirates
|
3 | 7 | 12 | 9 |
| St. John's Red Storm | 2 | 8 | 12 | 10 |
|
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
|
2 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| DePaul Blue Demons | 1 | 10 | 8 | 15 |
Cardinals Football Schedule
| Indiana St. | Sat 09/05 | W 30 - 10 |
|
@
Kentucky
|
Sat 09/19 | L 27 - 31 |
|
@
Utah
|
Sat 09/26 | L 14 - 30 |
| Pittsburgh | Fri 10/02 | L 10 - 35 |
| Southern Miss. | Sat 10/10 | W 25 - 23 |
|
@
Connecticut
|
Sat 10/17 | L 25 - 38 |
| @ Cincinnati | Sat 10/24 | L 10 - 41 |
| Arkansas St. | Sat 10/31 | W 21 - 13 |
|
@
West Virginia
|
Sat 11/07 | L 9 - 17 |
|
Syracuse
|
Sat 11/14 | W 10 - 9 |
| @ South Florida | Sat 11/21 | L 22 - 34 |
|
Rutgers
|
Fri 11/27 | L 14 - 34 |
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