This Gravy Doesn't Taste So Good
by CardsFan922 on Mar 11, 2010 12:21 AM EST
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So, that sucked. After Saturday, everything was supposed to be gravy. I know that in three weeks and three years and thirty years, we will remember Saturday over everything else (more so than even the 2008 Elite 8 run, I would bet).
But tonight. Ugh.
No Jerry + no defensive rebounding (block out!) + missing tons of shots in the 2nd half + not playing fast/loose in the 2nd half + missed free throws + Knowles going 1-12 = horrible, horrible loss.
It seems so simple, but when we shoot well, we are really good. When we shoot poor to average, we are terrible.
See everyone Sunday.
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While we were closing out Freedom Hall perfectly
Cincy was getting beat by 27 at Georgetown.
I give up trying to analyze any of this.
focus
This is a team that does better being a little behind at the half. Give them a big lead and they loose focus and then their game. Most of them seem to suffer from ADD.
This team is a collective head case
I was worried when we were up 9 at the half. When the two stupid alley oop plays went bad, you could see the air come out if the whole damn team. I am so disgusted at this point, I don’t care whether we get a bid to the NCAA or not. I will say this: if we go to the NCAA, we will be about a 10 seed, and we’ll have a chance to pull an upset. If we go to the NIT, we will be the favorites in our first-round game and we will lose.
Let’s talk baseball.
I think we would decline an NIT bid if it came to that.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 11, 2010 1:17 AM EST up reply actions
No way Rick would decline a NIT bid
He’d accept it just for the extra practice time/games alone.
by quiet cardinal on Mar 11, 2010 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
I don't see us accepting an NIT bid unless no games in FH are involved.
No way do we want to mess with the Cuse game being the last Louisville game in the building, IMO.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 11, 2010 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
+1
I’d rather us be a 10-12 seed than an 8-9, so that may be one good thing out of this. I’d love to see some W/L stats related to halftime margins. It seems this team does better when they’re down a few at the half as opposed to being “in control”.
And why was there NO offensive rebounding?
I thought I would never say this but im ready for this season to end
Im just tired of being on this rollercoaster ride…..up one second down the next…..but about tonights game why did we come out of our zone? we played almost the whole second half man to man when our zone held them to 27% shooting in the first half …. this is a horrible shooting team from outside which is why I figured we would zone them the whole game… they were killing us off the dribble while we were in man…. that was a head scratcher to me…..but when you get out rebounded the way we did I guess nothing really matters man or zone
Well, I think we were still playing a lot of zone.
But it was a matchup zone, which meant a lot of the time we were switching on ball screens, so it looked like man to man.
That being said, we definitely did play a lot of man in the second half, which I can only assume was meant to help on the boards. Rebounding out of a zone is difficult, and we were getting trounced on the boards in the first half.
We've seen an immature team go through basketball puberty this season
If the Cards can build some muscle and clear up the acne this Summer, the pieces are in place for a fun team to watch over the next 3-4 years. This bunch is far from the world-beaters of the 80s but we’ll always have Freedom Hall.
Now let’s regroup and play with some pride next week. We are Louisville basketball, damnit.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 11, 2010 2:29 AM EST reply actions
maybe this keeps us out
of the 8/9 seed death match. Thats the only positive that I can see coming from this loss. Like rickmbari said, this team is a collective headcase.
Bilas pointed out that when we were up 9 we should have been up 19. That’s been the problem with this team all year. We never learned how to step on someones throat and finish them when we had the chance.
Also, didn’t Lance Stevenson totaly expose the Gaping hole that we have at the small forward position. Man, do we need someone with some size/strength to fill that void. I hope to god that Justin Coleman has been eating his wheaties and will be ready for the big east next year.
Yeah, the 8/9 seed sucks. I think this loss may actually help.
But we are so up and down, who knows. One thing I do know though is that it takes consistency to be successful in March. We, unfortunately, cannot string W’s together.
by CtotheAtotheRtotheDtotheS on Mar 11, 2010 8:31 AM EST up reply actions
That was my thought too....
That if UL won and lost to WV that they would probably be a 9 seed, so I think this helps. I think they’ll get an 11 or 12 seed now and could be reminisent of Arizona from last year (but hopefully not losing by 30 in the Sweet 16). However, I just read this on si.com:
Louisville lost its Big East tourney opener to Cincinnati and has opened itself up to what could be a very unfriendly examination of its at-large profile. This will be explored in more detail in tomorrow’s Bubble Watch, but it’s not inconceivable to think Louisville could miss the NCAAs.
Gay.
Just read the C-J wrap on the game, and Rick sounded really peeved.
And I completely agree with him that we blew the game when we had the 12-point lead and started taking rushed, ill-advised shots. TJ’s 17-footer was the perfect example. And at that time, I was thinking what Bilas said later — we really should have been up 20, and we weren’t because we didn’t rebound.
I can’t bear to watch Selection Sunday. Although I think we will be in, depending on what happens in conference tournaments, the bubble could shrink between now and then.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 11, 2010 9:10 AM EST reply actions
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was.
Same as it ever was.
you may find yourself
behind the wheel of a large automobile
I understand the creeping apathy by some...
but come on. We should all know by now that this squad can beat any team in the country, and by the same token, we can also go down in flames to just about anybody in the country. Let’s just enjoy our upcoming tourney run, cheer like hell, pray that Jerry gets healthy and hope we can make some noise and maybe get to the sweet sixteen.
I’m not sold on the argument that you need to be consistent to be successful in March. I’m not so sure. You certainly need consistency game-after-game to win something like the Big East regular season title, but when it comes to tournaments, we could get hot and storm through the first two or three games in a hail of three pointers, no problem.
I go into the big dance with no expectations, just a hope that the Good Cards show up, not the Brain Dead Cards. Either way, this is still the most wonderful time of the year.
I think this is right
How a team does in its conference tourney is not very predictive of how they’ll do in the Dance. I don’t think there’s any doubt we’ll make the Dance – we beat a probable #1 seed twice and went well over .500 in the toughest conference in the nation. This team, while frustrating and schizophrenic from Half to Half and game to game, is fully capable of focusing and putting at least 2-3 solid performances in a row together. So much depends on who we draw and how we match up against them, but it’s not ridiculous to think this team might make the Sweet Sixteen. It’s really not. The problem is, it’s also not inconceivable that they’ll lose in Round 1. Cardiac Cards.
before were able to put 2-3 solid performances in a row together
we must first learn to put 2 solid halfs together…… which has a problem throughout the season
agreed
I’ve been saying since the middle of the year I would just be happy to get in to the tournament. I’ll be mildly disappointed if we lose in the first round, but with this team, this is probably all we can ask for.
by Chris Redman is my hero on Mar 11, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
blessing in disguise
i think it’s better to get beat by Cincy then make a run in the Big East tourney, think we are the shiznit then get busted by an 11 seed in the tourney. Don’t know about you but I’d rather be a 10 seed than a 8 or 9 or for mental purposes even a 7.
by Cambroni Cardinals on Mar 11, 2010 10:11 AM EST reply actions
Assumed we'd beat Cinci and lose to WVU
figured if we won only the one, we’d stay at an 8/9, if we beat WVU we’d be a 7, and if we lost our first game we’d fall to a 10/11.
I’m actually not that surprised. Seemed like a lot of loose ball out of bounds plays in the first half didn’t go our way, a few pushes that weren’t called, et al. Still Sosa and Delk were hot. Whoever brought it up was right, we got way too cocky on offense and TJ started shooting 17 ft fadeaways, 8 ft hooks, Preston unfortunately couldn’t hit anything. Was it me, or did Stephenson get away with more than a couple carries as he was driving the lane? Seems like our man to man was awful. They should have defended Lance like I do anyone I guard (note: I’m not great) – force them to use their off-hand.
But this puts us in a much more winnable second game. I don’t really think the first game is any tougher. An 8/9 seed would give us no more/less trouble than a 6 or 7. But I’m debating on what to do with this team: you can’t simply have UL win only two games, because Pitino is undefeated in the Sweet 16. But its been a while since we put together a couple good games in a row.
I’m really not that bothered by this loss, just upset at how we seemed to lose it
NCAA Seed
I’ll bet you we are still no lower than a 9, even after the Cincy loss. I’m telling you, beating ‘Cuse twice and going 11-7 in the BE is a big deal to the Selection Committee. I’ll be surprised if we drop below the 9 spot.
I'm still disappointed that
I don’t get to watch them play for another three days. Also not sure Cinci is really a rival anymore. I don’t mind so much that we lost to Cinci. what kills me is that we lost to a shitty team. That’s the garden for us, not treating us well this year. At least we don’t have to play anymore BE teams. They are tough.
by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Mar 11, 2010 10:45 AM EST reply actions
My thoughts
1. CardsFan922: Totally agree with you that if we shoot well, we win. And if we don’t, we lose. We don’t have a “backup plan” like, say, Michigan St. does with a way to win by rebounding or defending well. We just don’t have that.
2. Those two FTs at the end of the 1H were massive, massive, massive points for UC to get. I don’t mean to sound trite, but there is a HUGE difference between an 11 point lead and a 9 point lead.
3. The silver lining is that I think this loss precludes us from an 8 seed or a 9 seed. Clearly, best case scenario is a 10 or 11 seed whereby UofL would have to play the #2 seed (think New Mexico or Kansas St.) instead of the #1 seed (think Kansas or Kentucky).
I think you all are still a 9 seed
Some say a comet will fall from the sky. Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still. Followed by millions of dumbfounded dips**ts.
We actually shot pretty well overall - it was the rebounding that killed us.
Cincy had 72 (72!) field goal attempts to our 55. That is your ballgame. We shot 43.6% overall, but that is counterbalanced by shooting 10-18 from 3-point range; that makes for a pretty good overall shooting percentage.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 11, 2010 11:08 AM EST reply actions
Yes
Louisville shot well overall last night. The Cards did miss a handful of high percentage shots during Cinci’s run in the 2nd half. That helped change the momentum and gave Cinci the confidence to win.
I agree with those calling for a coaching adjustment with regard to rebounding. But look at our bench. There are no strong rebounders with size except perhaps Rock. Cinci got a couple lucky bounces but damn, 28 offensive rebounds? Disgusting. After a shot attempt, I saw a lot of standing and watching. No heart on defense last night. Jerry’s absence was huge.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 11, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah
Jerry’s absence probably was the difference in a close game here. He’s a spark plug when this team needs some emotional jolting. They looked kind of dead most of the 2nd Half, when Jerry’s excitement might have been the game winner. The rebounding thing will catch up to them in the Dance, but we should have Jerry back to inspire, at least. I hope.
I agree with those calling for a coaching adjustment with regard to rebounding. But look at our bench. There are no strong rebounders with size except perhaps Rock.
Then we need a scheme adjustment which puts us in better position to get rebounds. How can a poor shooting team get so many rebounds against a zone?
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
Due to lack of size (and weak-rebounding big men), we have to gang rebound.
We didn’t do that last night. Our guards don’t understand the importance of getting in there and mixing it up on the defensive glass. In fact, nobody really seems to understand it. If all 5 of our defensive players would crash, we could at least hold our own against a good rebounding team like Cincy (and they have to rebound, because they sure can’t shoot). But instead, whenever a shot goes up, most of our guys stand and watch from wherever they happen to be on the court.
I go for rebounds with more effort than that in pickup games; it really isn’t that complicated. The rebounding effort was just pitiful.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 11, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
I think the hoops at the Garden are bent or something
I couldn’t believe a few shots that popped out. Maybe it was only the we were shooting at in the second half, that would actually make perfect sense.
by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Mar 11, 2010 11:53 AM EST up reply actions
For me the game was absolutely over when after a missed 3 by Cincy
Delk and Swop both stood still and watched a Cincy guard WALK up and grab the ball. This wasn’t a mis-communication moment where both thought the other was going to get it. It was simply a lack of motivation.
by Remote Cardinal on Mar 11, 2010 11:36 AM EST reply actions
Yep.
Scholarship athletes: play hard every game, please.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 11, 2010 12:03 PM EST up reply actions
AND ANOTHER THING!!
The 2-3 botched oops. Sosa had Jennings WIDE OPEN for an entry pass and lay-in, but decided to go around one more screen so he could “oop” to #23. Problem was the oop was deflected and Cincy got a free layup. Siva got yanked for one too that also led to a freebie for Cincy. As fun as alley-oops are, this team should be BANNED from ooping for the rest of the season.
Honestly, Cincy didn’t win this game as much as we lost it. They rebounded well and that is mostly them, but our inept offense had squat to do with their defense.
by Remote Cardinal on Mar 11, 2010 11:37 AM EST reply actions
i’m not convinced that getting outrebounded by a ton precludes this team from winning a basketball game (see 2nd uconn game). i thought this game started going wobbly when sosa went 1-5 in the second half.
twice.
that told me that they were getting out of the offense too early, which told me they were going to be jacking up some bad shots, which meant we were going to stop shooting well, which was going to allow cincy back in the game. and as evidenced, of the 25 points scored in the second half, 22 of those were by sosa or samuels and the other 3 came with precious few seconds left in the half by delk, and it was his first shot of the half. and i think there is the story. this team is so focused on scoring that if the ball doesn’t go down the well it affects the other parts of their games. plus having only 2 people essentially scoring for your team when the shots are falling doesn’t help either.
what i am truly surprised by is that there was a legit chance of winning the game (or at least tieing it up and sending it to ot) at the end despite playing some godawful basketball for 20 minutes.
count me in as one of those fans who is wating for this season to come to a blissful conclusion rapidly or if they get their sh*t together, ending in indy.
one more thing...
your point guard scores 28 but has 3 assists? i’m not saying that’s a bad stat line. but that is a terrible line if you’re the senior point guard. sosa focused too much on impressing la familia who were probably in the stands and forgot about distributing.
I think the game went wobbly when we came out shooting on fire but still had a slim lead due to Cincy’s offensive rebounding. We got overly cocky because our shots were falling, but ignored the fact that Cincy was shooting horribly but were still in the game.
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
+1
This observation made me really uncomfortable at halftime. It was a lot like the G’town game. We shoot lights out in the first half, but only to claim a marginally comfortable lead. And again, it was only a marginal lead b/c nobody seemed interested in securing a rebound.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 11, 2010 2:37 PM EST up reply actions
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