What's Wrong With the Cardinals?

by tkyuofl on Jan 17, 2012 1:55 PM EST

It's starting to feel more and more like an NIT year, my friends.

It's quite possible, as much as it pains me to say this for my hatred of everything John Calipari, that the Cardinals need to enroll in his school of "defending without fouling." There are a number of bad plays, bad shot attempts early in the shot clock, and turnovers that keep hampering us every game, but realistically, here's what you need to know about last night:

Louisville: 4 for 10 from the free throw line
Marquette: 16 for 18 from the free throw line
= Marquette +12 from the charity stripe

There's more than the 11 point difference on the score board last night RIGHT THERE. Louisville hit one more shot from the field that Marquette did, and Marquette hit one more three than Louisville did, but the Golden Eagles attempted nearly twice as many free throws as we did, and hit FOUR TIMES as many.

*Why aren't we getting to the line?
*Why aren't we consistently hitting freebies when we do get there? (Against DePaul: almost 80%, against Marquette, 40%)
*Why do ALL of our opponents get into the bonus before the under 12 media timeout in both halves???
*Why do ALL of our opponents shoot 2x as many freebies or more than we do?

You HAVE TO make the free ones, especially with a team like this that doesn't hit the 3 consistently.

I also write about the Cardinals for Examiner.com
Links to my other stuff:
http://www.examiner.com/louisville-cardinals-in-louisville/troy-yount
http://www.examiner.com/louisville-cardinals-in-louisville/louisville-falls-at-marquette-63-74
http://www.examiner.com/louisville-cardinals-in-louisville/the-big-east-expansion-as-of-12-23-2011-review?cid=PROD-redesign-right-next

Poll

Be honest, how do you feel about Pitino right now?

I think it's time for him to move on.

27 votes

People are overreacting, every coach has a down year.

16 votes

Pitino is Louisville's best option, he's there until his contract expires.

17 votes

60 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I stopped reading at NIT.

by johnnyjoejohnson on Jan 17, 2012 2:25 PM EST reply actions

I skipped to the comments

by ptichenor1 on Jan 17, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

I said I'd call everyone an asshole who wrote stuff like this, but I think its time to admit it was an empty threat.

Everyone’s frustrated. The team looks like shit. I wish I could read something about UL today that made me feel good about the future or something. Unfortunately. there’s nothing out there.

by johnnyjoejohnson on Jan 17, 2012 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

HERE'S A POSITIVE GOING FORWARD

Russ Smith. Seriously, the kid could be great if he stays in school and keeps growing.

I had a chance to watch Angel Nunez play in the Derby City Classic, and he looked like the second coming of Francisco Garcia in that game. It hasn’t translated in his appearances on the court yet, but I am holding out hope.

by tkyuofl on Jan 17, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

I'm just looking at the year so far

I’d love to think we’re 14-5, we’re a top 25 team, but the reality is we’ve lost five out of seven, we won’t be ranked on Monday unless we destroy Pittsburgh by 40+ on Saturday, and we have zero signature wins. Butler is tied for fifth place in the Horizon, Ohio is tied for seventh in the MAC, and Memphis is a game back in Conference-USA.

If Louisville continues to lose at this rate, I don’t see a way we make the NCAA Tournament.

by tkyuofl on Jan 17, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Blah blah blah.

by CardinalDude on Jan 17, 2012 3:14 PM EST reply actions

The voters seem to think it's time for Pitino to go

I feel like that’s an overreaction, am I wrong?

I feel like Pitino definitely looks weathered, like a man beaten down the last couple years, but surely he can turn things around?

by tkyuofl on Jan 17, 2012 4:04 PM EST reply actions

Funny though,

The majority opinion during the off season and up to the current tribulation was how rejuvenated and engaged CRP appeared.

by ptichenor1 on Jan 18, 2012 7:22 AM EST up reply actions

seems to me

the voting indicates things are ok with pitino where he is

the voting options arent black and white far as “yes he needs to go” or “no he needs to stay”. Add the second two and compare to the first? 31-25 in favor of “stay”.

by twistedwedge on Jan 18, 2012 9:59 AM EST up reply actions

yeah but half of the "stay" votes

are really just saying there’s no better option (the implication being that if there was a better option, he should move on). we shouldn’t settle.

by wscii on Jan 21, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions

Like the free throw info

Why keep fouling if the other team is going to keep hitting? Sometimes fouls are the best move to prevent an easy basket, make them go to the stripe and earn it. On the road, that’s probably not the best option. Against a good free throw shooting team, that’s probably not the best option. In those two situations, you might as well let them shoot the gimme basket, let them make it, and move on. Never ever should a foul be committed when a player if further out from the basket. It’s just not worth it. The likely hood of it going it is likely about 50%. Just ride the odds.

by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Jan 17, 2012 5:36 PM EST reply actions

Pitino teams foul

It was true at UK and it is true here. The upside is pressure D and steals, the downside is sending the opponent to the line. It worked really well in the comeback against LSU and Shaq. Not so well against Marquette.

by cbcard on Jan 17, 2012 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

Rule change comes into play here too.

Used to be every foul after the 6th was a 1 and 1. Now fouls 7,8 and 9 are 1 and 1, but from the 10th on they are all 2 shots. so fouling now gives the opponent more guaranteed free throw opportunities than before. Also, there is much less pressure on a kid shooting 2 than there is needing to make the front end of a 1 and 1, or getting nothing.

by Carolina Cardinal on Jan 21, 2012 6:13 PM EST up reply actions