Cards snag much-needed win over Cincinnati
by Mike Rutherford on Jan 24, 2010 6:09 PM EST
in Basketball
Email
PrintAs it relates to this team's evolution, I'm not sure today could have gone any better.
The Cards won a game that looked like it could go either way for the bulk of 40 minutes. Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings co-existed on the floor for a lengthy period of time and showed flashes of being a dynamic force. Reggie Delk gave one of the five best individual performances of the season and displayed a Pitino-inspired commitment to defense and rebounding. Edgar Sosa had some confidence restored down the stretch. And finally, Louisville notched its first victory over a top-50 RPI team, and got back over .500 in the Big East.
The six days between games is going to a feel a lot shorter than it would have if Mick had been doing the mamba out of Freedom Hall.
Enjoy the final shreds of your weekend and look for a full recap later.
44 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Go Cards
6 days to prep for WVU! Liked the new look lineup, liked less Swop. They will definitely need to work on some rotations to keep this lineup fresh. A lot better shot selection and ball rotation today!
TJ stop reaching on guards in the backcourt!
I was 2nd most impressed (after reggie) with Sosa's performance today
despite having a series of shitty games and having Siva steal a significant chunk of his minutes today, Sosa still managed to play well and relatively composed. Frosh-Junior edgar sosa would have just given up on the season after all that. Kudos to him for not letting it affect him
Yeah I noticed that too. I thought he mentioned earlier how he became aware of his sulking. Apparently he has forgotten about that lesson.
Also is it me or does Sosa seem a step slower and a bit stilted with the ball this year. At one point I had Hurt Hernia flashbacks.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
One of the best things about this win...
the ensuing AnVillen video on YouTube. It’s been so long.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Jan 24, 2010 7:11 PM EST reply actions
I really like how he tightened up the lineup
I mean its great that we have 12 guys who can hold their own on a D-I court, but really do we just want to hold our own.
Even though we didn’t score a ton, and we got outrebounded, and we didn’t pass the ball very well I felt confident with every group that was out there all day long. If you ranked our players from 1-12, the top 8 players got the minutes today. What’s more is that I think that everyone got to play their natural position today. Try as he might, we all know that Swop is not a 4.
I hope that this isn’t just a fluke. Cincy is a grossly deficient team from behind the arc, and they more or less torched us today. But going forward, the more confidence that our guards have in Samardo and TJ backing them up on drives to the basket, the less likely they’ll be to sag off guys on the perimeter.
Vaughn hit 4 of their 10 threes and I think he is about to become their all-time 3 point leader.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
He's a bit of a ways away
Giving up 10 3s to a team that shoots 28% is awful. But, it was a terrible 3 taken by UC followed by the same player charging and then fouling that gave us a 7-0 run when they were down 2. We need to beat the middle teams in the conference if we can’t beat the ones up top yet.
Siva
logged twelve minutes— 10 pts on 3/4 shooting with three assists, three steals, and no TOs. We’ll be in good hands next year. Perhaps better.
Looking much better today!
One thing I noticed as the station was going to commercial break right after Siva had just made a great play a currently-benched Sosa heading toward Siva, who was on his way toward the bench. Sosa had a huge grin on his face as the two met each other. That’s right – Sosa was genuinely thrilled for the guy who was getting “his” minutes and was showing it. That tells me he’s come a long way from the pouter we’ve all griped about for so long. I think these guys may yet surprise some people.
yeah I've accused him of pouting
but I think really he’s mad at himself when he’s sitting there knowing he got pulled because he screwed up. He seems to have rather a fragile psyche, but I don’t think it’s a question of pouting – more of a self-administered, internal ass-chewing.
The best part
Seeing Jerry smack Rick Pitino’s ass as he walked by. Almost as good as Edgar giving him a five at the end of a game.
Best/weirdest moment...
..late in the first half with TJ at the line and about to be subbed in for, he made his first shot, and Pitino turned to the crowd behind him and waved his arms like “get up! get up!” and people were sorta surprised and started cheering. It got loud all of a sudden, but TJ had to shoot again, so he turned around sorta surprised and was like, what the hell is going on. But he made the 2nd FT, came out of the game and the crowd continued to go nuts.
Overall, an awesome moment, but weird timing for pitino to do that during the FTs. Usually FH is really quiet when we are shooting FTs. TJ turning around like, what the hell is going on?, was also really funny to me for some reason.
TJ and free throws
He has really come a long way. He was 4 for 4 today at the line. Last year I doubt on 4 tries he would have hit the rim more than twice.
I agree
I saw TJ do the “WTF?” lookback at the crowd /bench and then sank the 2nd free throw all in a span of 3-4 seconds. Did not expect 2 hours later to read that Pitino pumping up the crowd was the reason. Weird indeed.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Jan 25, 2010 12:07 AM EST up reply actions
I was surprised by that too, but i’m beginning to think that Pitino is really getting bothered by the lack of energy in the Hall at key moments.
At that point we were taking the lead with about a minute left I think, and i’m thinking he figured TJ was going to do whatever he was going to do at the line and Pitino wanted to make sure that whatever happened the crowd was up for that last bit of the half.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
The Hall is a morgue
This has been a bitch of mine for years now but you’d think everyone attending UofL games @ the Hall has been sedated. It is the quietest 20K people you’ll ever find in one place for a sporting event. On TV the place comes across as just plain dead. When you see other venues you get the crazy student section going full bore every game. I usually make it to 3 or 4 games around the Christmas/New Year holiday period & it’s not much different in person. During the long gone days of the Metro, the place was LOUD. Not sure what’s happened over the years but I’m hoping the new arena get’s the place rocking again.
by california_card on Jan 25, 2010 3:17 AM EST up reply actions
wait til next year
I have had great seats at FH for years. I pay about $2500 in donations for the pair. Next year downtown UofL wants $5000. My seats will not be the same and the primo seats will more and more be occupied by corporate suits. When businesses, not fans, own a high percentage of the better seats you will find the place to be more and more quiet because the occupants don’t have the fire.
And mark my words, the lower level will be 20-25% blue at the UK games from now on.
I agree.
I look down in the premium seat area and I swear I could find people that are asleep. It really makes us look bad.
-Dustin
its all about the money
If we had a student section on the floor instead of in the endzone it would be raucous. Instead the only people who can afford good seats are old rich fuks. I’m not a student anymore but that always pissed me off.
by Jason G on Jan 25, 2010 9:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
that's the main thing I'm worried about with the arena
I went to Virginia for college, and they just built a really nice stadium there. Problem is, it’s like an NBA arena, lots of bright lights, and pyrotechnics…but nobody cheers or stands up unless the student section tells them too. I think that you’re slightly off on the corporate types though, since the new stadium has tons of luxury boxes, a lot of them will be in there. But we’ll see. I’m hopeful.
by Chris Redman is my hero on Jan 25, 2010 12:16 PM EST up reply actions
mark my words
When UK plays here a quarter of the seats around me are filled with UK fans I have never seen before. The seat holders sell thir seats to cover a large portion of their “donation.” One guy a couple of years ago told me he sold his seats for enough to cover a whole year’s donation. As the donation grows the pressure to sell will grow and grow. So add that to the biz tickets and watch the blue shirts increase.
Lineup
I was impressed with the long over due experimentation of the two giants. I always dreamed of seeing them out there together, but never thought it would’ve came at such a significant time. We matched up quite well with Cinci’s size. One thing that concerned me was in order to put Cinci out of reach we were forced to hit from the three point line. I also fell in love with Siva, Delk, Knowles, Jennings, and Samardo being out on the floor together. Pitino’s and most notably Samardo’s passion really got me and the rest of the crowd pumped up!
CLM RED 9
Didn't see the game but
Congrats Cards on a much needed win.
________________________________________________
~LK
www.myspace.com/lordkayoss
www.youtube.com/lordkayossrippro
www.welcometomynightmare.tk
Not sure the big guys will work against all teams,
but when we get that kind of contribution from Delk, it doesn’t matter as much. To me, Delk and Siva were the keys yesterday. Swop’s “plus-minus” has to be way in the negatives. But when Delk (or Swop on rare occasions) contributes, we’re much, much better. And when Siva is at the point and as composed as he was yesterday, we’re a totally different team.
theoldman
a team that's ready for it could burn us...
several times TJ was way up court when the Bearcats were inbounding. a fast 4 would make the SS-TJ lineup useless.
I wonder if that was planned because Pitino never got mad
looked like TJ thought he was a guard sometimes
I believe Dell deserves
More credit than what he is getting. Yesterday did everything a college basketball player doesn’t enjoy doing: extreme hard work on rebounding, very hard defense, and passing up shots he could take to get better ones( while he is shooting a great percentage and had the hot hand). I really hope the other boys see how the small hustle contributions can change a game and I thank Reggie for bringing his dedication(and none problems-i mean really has this kid ever acted anger or caused any problems?) to the table and showing SENIOR leadership because he’s the only one showing it
by itsALLintheCARDS on Jan 25, 2010 1:59 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Can't believe I
Missppelled his name, stupid iPhone, I apologize Reginald DELK
by itsALLintheCARDS on Jan 25, 2010 2:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree with this full bore
Delk was the reason we won yesterday. After Wright’s 3, he hit the one that made it a 5 pt game again. Jennings and Samuels played well on defense, but Delk played great. He helped lock down Stephenson, who got 0 shots the second half. I know a certain person who complained about Delk starting at the beginning of the game, but I’m happy when that person is proved wrong in a good way. I hope Reg doesn’t disappear again
I think I was the only one a little disappointed in Jennings/Samuels
They did a nice job on Gates in the second half, and made free throws. But I think most of their defense had to do with our guards shutting down Cincinnati’s guards the second half. They also got scored on by Gates when he got touches, and they combined for less rebounds than Delk had by himself. I’m not saying they shouldn’t play together, but I am saying I would like to see them dominate down low, not just play alright. Jennings played his best defensive game of the year yesterday with Samardo, and I think better things are to come.
I think the effect that Sam and TJ did showed in the long Cincy possessions. They couldn’t get the ball inside and that resulted in the ball being stuck on the perimeter.
Also alot of their offense rebounds seemed to come from wing players crashing the boards. I wish i had tape of the game, because i’m fairly certain Delk started off the game horribly in terms of rebounding and was pulled for Swop (quite certain I saw Pitino yelling at him a few times). When he came back he was a beast.
As weak as Swop is with the ball, he always seems to get a hand on the ball when it’s in the air keeping it alive for others to rebound.
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
but you have to grab the ball
our team in general has a problem with tipping the ball. It’s nice to get a hand on it, but you need to bring it down.
by Chris Redman is my hero on Jan 25, 2010 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah I know that’s Swop’s problem. I was just saying that in the start of the game Delk wasn’t rebounding well so Cincy got a ton of rebounds (Cincy had 10 of the first 11 rebounds).
They gone have to stop sleeping on me one day.. I gotta be one of the best
About 3 hours ago by Eric Wright Cleveland Browns – Cornerback
I agree with you both
And what the hell is it with our tipping of the ball? We seem to bat it around between 2-3 of our guys long enough for the other team to get a layup or one of our guys tips the ball and the other 4 are running down the court leading to a layup. This has been going on for 3 years! Two hands young men two hands.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
