A look at Louisville's potential first round opponents
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 1:29 PM EDT
in Basketball
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PrintThe feel on this Selection Sunday afternoon is different than any other since I've been doing this blog.
Louisville fans are sure that the Cards are in the field of 65, but no one is especially confident that they will be advancing past the tournament's opening weekend. You also get the sense that there isn't a considerable amount of tension in the hours leading up to the revealing of the bracket because the general consensus is that this team can beat badly or lose badly to any team that might pop up opposite their name. When that's the case, the nervousness surrounding potential opening round opponents is understandably diminished.
I think U of L will be no higher than an eight, and no lower than an 11 (my guess is ten). With that in mind, here's the list of their potential first round opponents:
BYU
Vanderbilt
Xavier
UTEP
Texas
Temple
St. Mary's
Missouri
Florida State
Oklahoma State
Gonzaga
San Diego State
Georgia Tech
Richmond
Northern Iowa
Clemson
California
Utah State
If it's any one outside these 18 teams, I'll be very surprised.
So out of that group, who do you want to see? Who do you not want to see? How do you feel about DeMarcus Cousins?
Discuss below.
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DO NOT WANT
BYU
Texas
Temple
St. Mary’s (unknown)
Florida State
San Diego State
Richmond
Northern Iowa
Utah State (unknown)
Vanderbilt
Xavier
UTEP
Georgia Tech
Clemson
California
Agree we’re probably a 10 but as it was pointed out to me by Adamjd86, UofL always gets underseeded. So I will go out on a limb and say we end up as an 11.
Most brackets that I've seen have us as a 9. I'd be happy with a 10.
I will just breathe a sigh of relief if we get in. I’m still nervous, even though I probably shouldn’t be.
And as we all know, this team has a high ceiling and a low floor. I don’t expect them to win even a game, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they won a couple.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 1:55 PM EDT reply actions
I want no part of UTEP
The last thing we need is to be cast as the villain in Caracter’s “redemption” montage. Barf.
Not afraid of DC.
Even though I think he is much more talented than Samardo. Pitino gameplans pretty well for opposing big men. Bring on anyone from C-USA.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm down with getting a 10 seed. I'd rather avoid the chance at a #1 seed
so early, but whatever.
I’d rather not see UTEP, Northern Iowa, Temple, Minnesota, and BYU
I think we'll be a 9
And put us in KY’s region. Why not? At least we’ll get another crack at them (maybe) and somebody can return Cousins’ favor and crack an elbow into his skull. I hate that guy more than is healthy.
I cannot remember a more dislikable UK team than this one.
My viewing span only covers about 25 years (started watching in ‘86), but really, I can’t remember a UK team with more dislikable characters than this one.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
They are pretty tough to watch....
….this is probably the first UK team whose national reputation matches its reputation among UofL fans.
Also, I think every time Dykes opens his mouth he makes people like UK less. The guy is really unbearable.
Vitale
Wow, he and Dykes having a haigiogoff. I’ve only watched Duke during this last UK timeout but Vitale should not be allowed to announce games coached by Coach K.
Vitale is bad
but Jimmy Dykes is the worst. Yes, he overtook Vitale in the homer department in my book. At least Dickie V didn’t announce every Duke game this year and suck on Coach K’s ball sack at every chance ever
Want
Vandy
Georgia Tech
California
Clemson
Michigan State
Kentucky
Mizzou
OK State
Gonzaga
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions
Don't Want (Teams that play Defense)
Florida State
BYU
Texas
Temple
Northern Iowa
Richmond
Utah State
San Diego State
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Also
OK State terrifies me. Who guards Anderson, even in the zone?
First round, give Pitino a week to scout/gameplan, we’ve got a shot. On Saturday/Sunday, they blow us out.
I was thinking Thur/Fri with OK State
and hoping Willard would scout them vice Mass
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Varnardo
Looks like he needs a breather. There’s still 13 minutes left, might think about using some timeouts now.
I want no part
Of any of the ACC schools. Also, Richmond scares me.
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 2:27 PM EDT reply actions
ACC seems high risk/high reward
ACC seems like the only teams we could pull a Stanford/Oklahoma/Arizona game on.
But they also have some Marquette/Nova type games in them.
Dykes is out of control.
If I were a fan of MSU, I’m sure I would be even more pissed. He cannot stop slobbering over UK.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 2:34 PM EDT reply actions
Watching UK this season makes me sick.
I’m really tired of everyone being proud of Demarcus Cousins every time he doesn’t fly off the handle and murder someone.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 2:42 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
It takes a lot of maturity to not assault people
Especially when you’re bigger than everyone.
Cousins is like Dexter.
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It looks like Cousins will have to murder someone to get a foul called.
Jesus, SEC. Be a little less obvious about tellin your officials who needs to win.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 2:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You'd think they'd want MSU to win
More teams in the dance.
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
It's the SEC.
Number one is all that matters.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 2:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
BYU – No Thanks
Vanderbilt – Please
Xavier – No thanks
UTEP – No thanks
Texas – No thanks
Temple – No thanks
St. Mary’s – No thanks
Missouri – I’ll take it
Florida State – I’ll take it
Oklahoma State- No thanks
Gonzaga – No thanks
San Diego State- No thanks
Georgia Tech – I’ll take it
Richmond – No thanks
Northern Iowa – No chance in hell
Clemson – Please
California – PRETTY PLEASE!
Utah State – NOPE
Seminole's defense scares me
Northern Iowa, Utah State and BYU are probably the teams I least want L’ville to play.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
JIMMY DYKES READS MINDS
Out of everyone on the court right now, John Wall wants the ball more than any of them.
6 free throws in the game with a minute left.
Awesome.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 3:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Miss and a three coming
/Darius Washingtoned
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 3:01 PM EDT reply actions
Wow - a team that actually prevents the other team from having a shot at the 3.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 3:04 PM EDT reply actions
that's why you don't do that
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly
Dumbest play in basketball
by CardsFan922 on Mar 14, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
thank god someone finally defeated that "strategy"
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Miss. St just cost themselves an NCAA tourney bid with that dumb shit. Hopefully those idiots who think this is a "good" strategy will go away now.
by CentreCard14 on Mar 14, 2010 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
UK has a huge rebounding advantage
They have shot the 3 terribly.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Count me among the idiots who think it is sometimes ok, but not against UK.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
WE TIED MISSISSIPPI STATE BITCHES!!!
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
agree
but there’s 5 minutes left. You’re the #2 team in the country. Miss St. sits on the bubble equator line.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Celebration = warranted
Storming the length of the court like world-beaters = over the top
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Wall
just admitted he thought they’d won the game.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions
jimmy dykes
will now hunt you down and kill you for pointing this out. watch your back mike.
CARDS RULE!!BRONCOS RULE!!GO LAKERS!!!
by esphurricane on Mar 14, 2010 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Kentucky
I want this team in the second round. Look at their SOS, look at their margin of victory against the weak SEC. We get up for big games. I would love another shot. It should be us who crushes their final four dreams.
Being opposite Kentucky
Would almost guarantee a first round loss. We don’t have the most mentally elite team.
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions
And we would all be so much more heartbroken by a first-round loss when we would have played UK in the second.
Would be like losing to Wake Forest and Tim D. in 1996 (a game we had won, and a game that bothered me for months).
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
only difference
is that I don’t think that UK team in 96 could be beat. This KY team has all the talent but a terrible game coach and a bunch of idiots
True. I didn't really think we could beat them in '96, even if I wanted a shot.
This year is very different.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions
1 seed or not, Duke misses the Final Four again.
Would love to see WVU as the 2 in their region. If we’re an 8/9, if we’re not in UK’s region, I would want to be in Duke’s (assuming they are a 1).
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
Duke is weak. I would say put us in ’Cuse’s bracket, but 3 wins in one season is incredibly tough. Gimme some Duke. I have hated them with an unhealthy passion ever since the end of the ‘86 Finals in Dallas. I was there in Reunion Arena, and let me tell you – their fans were arrogant sacks and the close-lining of Jeff Hall at the end of that game by one of their big white guys nearly started a brawl. Did you guys know that? It was seconds from becoming more an all-out fight than a celebration. Since I’m remembering, my buddies and I were walking back to our hotel after that game and some dude base jumped from a tall building in downtown Dallas. It was AWESOME! Right in front of us. Perfect ending!
So the weak SEC should get one less team in.
I’m not horrified by that.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 3:17 PM EDT reply actions
I don't know why, but I find it really really hard to care about the NBA
it is the one sport of the big 4 that I can’t really get into
I wish I could filter NHL, NBA and MLB news out of my sports media
Don’t care.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with MLB.
Biggest waste of airtime ever. It should basically be on CNBC, because all it’s about is who invested the most money in players and roids this year.
But the NBA gives me pretty dunks and the NHL gives me Canadians fighting, so they can stick around.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 3:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Same
All things baseball/MLB bores me to tears (162 games x 4 hour+ games / 8 minutes of actual playing time = no thanks)
I might be able to get behind NHL if I could even tell if someone scored and didn’t require an announcer telling me, even in HD. I need like an arrow following the puck or a digital green trail on the puck or confetti and fireworks to shoot from the the goal when it goes in
I think the reasons I can’t get involved with the NBA is the combination of our state not having a team (although I like the NFL even without a team), their regular season being so damn long with 7-game playoffs (5 would be just fine), and the fact that there are only about 5 good teams
Great Thing
About this is that all this conference tournament stuff is almost over. We dont have to aganize over Wednesday anymore and watch other teams win. We get at least one more game to watch our team. I can’t wait
ALSO
For those of you with Tivo/DVRs, go back to Bledsoe’s second free throw. Check out where John Wall (who started behind the 3 point line) is when the free throw hits the rim.
This year.
2010. This year will live on in my memory as THE year that my hatred for UK boiled over. It started when Calipari took the job, intensified when Cousins famously made an ass of himself against Swopshire, but it took an entire season of bullshit and douchebaggery to cement my eternal hate for this band of blue-clad bums.
If they all left tomorrow, it would be too soon. If they became the first number one in history to lose to a 16, it wouldn’t be enough. I honestly have never been as annoyed by anything as I have been about the 2009-2010 Kentucky Wildcats. Maybe it’s the fact that my mom (who hasn’t watched UK since Tubby’s first year) made sure every game this season was blaring when I was home, maybe it was the elbow, maybe it was the games played at Freedom Hall for no good reason. I don’t know, nor do I care; every Card fan has their moment when they realize their true disdain for the guys in blue and white, and I just had mine.
Please let justice be swift and sweet, basketball gods.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 3:30 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Thought Cousins went over the line today
Wearing Swopshire’s tooth in his nose like that was uncalled for.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Calipari: "I'll take talent over experience every time in March"
Calipari: Zero national championships.
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
And two vacated Final Fours.
BOOM.
by CARD_G6 on Mar 14, 2010 3:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This is why he is a coach
with ZERO championships and his only close calls were vacated due to the fact he is an obvious cheater. Luckily, with all his Nike connections and NCAA/ESPN connections, he can arrange for himself to look like the good guy and have random celebrities at the game with no affiliation to UK. Can’t wait til this idiotic quote bites him just like his “talented” team last year lost to “experienced” Missouri, and so on and so forth. The guy’s the a**hole of college basketball’s armpit. I guess you could say I’m not a huge fan.
also it was his young talented team that choked against kansas experienced team.
CARDS RULE!!BRONCOS RULE!!GO LAKERS!!!
by esphurricane on Mar 14, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope springs eternal
But I gotta tell you… I think if the matchups are right, we could be a Sweet Sixteen dancer. There just isn’t a dominant team this year. Kansas I guess comes close, but that’s it. The other #1 seeds are all gonna be teams we can beat. Seriously, we can beat UK and Duke and that’s not even a stretch. And we know we can beat ‘Cuse. I’m actually kinda excited. If we make the Sweet Sixteen, this will have been a very successful season, imo.
Asking anything from this team beyond a 1 game stretch is demanding alot
If they can at least win their first round game that would currently exceed our expectations of this team. If they made it to the Sweet Sixteen, my heart would explode from shock
OK
I sort of agree. But you gotta know that Pitino will already be formulating a game plan for the 1-seed game if we draw the 8/9 slot. The 1’s gonna win that game 99.99999% of the time. And when you give Pitino time to scout and ponder and make plans, he has a big advantage. It’s that short span between games that trips him up when he can’t comfortably plan ahead for the next opponent.
If our first game was against a #1 seed, I would agree
but Rick can’t look ahead in the tournament, no coach can, especially not with this team. He wouldn’t dream of spending any time on a second round team when there is a potentially dangerous 8/9 seed team standing in the way. He won’t even talk about it until the first game is over and done with. (look back at the build-up to the UK game) This team can fold on you at the drop of a hat unexpectedly, especially if shots aren’t falling.
Yeah
I’m saying that Pitino will know later today who his 1st and 2nd round opponents will be. 1st for sure, of course, and 2nd almost as sure. It’s the only time in the tourney you can make that kind of prediction as a coach with virtual certainty. And I think Pitino will at least be looking ahead and plotting for the 1-seed (if we get the 8/9 slot). I am not saying he’ll do anything to hint at this fact to the team. I’m saying he will do this himself in the wee hours, etc. Obviously to the team he’ll be nothing but focused on the 1st round opponent non-stop.
Just realized my buddy was shooting the UK game on the baseline
Missed an obvious “Send it in to overtime” joke (BW3s).
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
still love the implication of that commercial
that BW3’s is involved in a vast sports-fixing conspiracy
In Vegas
BW3s have sportsbooks (Leroys)
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm hoping we get shipped to Syracuse
Karma
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 4:16 PM EDT reply actions
I just read the quote from Calipari above...Did he really say that?
I cannot tell you how much I hate him
The way this is shaping up
The 6s and 3s are going to be significantly weaker than the 7s and 2s.
C’mon 11-seed.
by Mike Rutherford on Mar 14, 2010 4:22 PM EDT reply actions
I don't care where we end up
but please, basketball gods, give us a good matchup in the 1st round. Nobody who plays in-your-face man defense, please. Maybe a team that plays a soft 2-3 zone. Yeah. A Boeheim protege. That’s the ticket.
I am truly going to be happy just to get in this year, assuming we do.
And I am continuing to knock on wood, even though we appear to be a lock.
I just look at what UConn and UNC have gone through this year with comparable personnel losses, and I look back on some of the tough losses this team had in December, and I feel fortunate to be in this position. Yes, this team has been frustrating, and yes, there have been times when I thought they underachieved, but 20 wins against a top 5 schedule ain’t bad. Rebuilding years can be rougher than this one.
by cardsinindy2010 on Mar 14, 2010 4:36 PM EDT reply actions
Problem is
Will we be rebuilding again next year? They are going to have to improve a lot to make the tournament next year. That is what worries me
i'm sure you all saw it..
but how about the UT player being ejected for elbowing Cousins while running through that screen yesterday. anybody else laugh at that?
I laughed at the Dykes comment about Calipari having patience for Cousins.
And it wasn’t in the learning-the-game sense, but in the he-has-anger-issues sense.
I just hope we play as the lower seed in all games. Otherwise I think we will have mental issues.
RP loves
being the underdog and so does this team.
by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Mar 14, 2010 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
My take
WANT (in order):
1. Utah State (no way they beat us)
2. Florida State (somehow these guys win games)
3. Oklahoma State
4. San Diego State
5. Clemson (although Purnell could be hungry considering he’s like 0-8 in the NCAA)
6. Texas (UofL always plays undisciplined teams well)
7. Vanderbilt (have seen multiple games and haven’t been impressed}
8. UTEP (I agree with the DC-revenge-barf storyline but these guys cant beat us)
9. Missouri (crazy pressing team that we can beat)
10. St. Mary’s (not impressed at all by these guys)
11. Northern Iowa (just a really solid team, but we can pressure them)
12. California (Pac10=not good)
Don’t Want
1. Richmond (a good shooting PG who doesn’t turn it over = season over for UofL [see also Lucas, Kalin and Lawson, Ty]
2. Georgia Tech (we all know SS’s track record against bigger, stronger big guys)
3. BYU (it may just be me, but UofL NEVER beats BYU)
4. Gonzaga (I’m normally short Gonzaga but the 2000 7/10 game still makes me sick
5. Xavier (The 7/10 game from 2004 also makes me sick, but I think UofL’s zone matches up well against these guys who like to drive)
6. Temple (I don’t think UofL beats Temple either}
Also, can somebody answer me this? UofL was the “overall #1 seed” last year. Can someone tell me what that got us? The way I saw it, it almost put us vs. Ohio St. in Dayton in the 2nd round and then we got Michigan St. in Indy.
I definitely feel like BYU has our #
But according to uoflsports.com, our all-time record vs. BYU is 2-1. It also says the last time we faced them was in 1994. So who knows…
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Lunardi predicts L'ville as a 9 seed vs. OK State
With a 2nd round potential matchup vs. UK
by UL is my hot hot sex on Mar 14, 2010 5:16 PM EDT reply actions
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