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Friday Morning Cardinal News And Notes

Those are the Ballard kids with about as accurate a summary of this week in Louisville as you're ever going to see.

By Mike Rutherford

I_medium The Louisville women's basketball team is now 23-3 after handing Virginia Tech its 7th straight loss Thursday night.

I_medium Your preview of the Louisville baseball team's weekend series with Arkansas State.

I_medium The Cards fall all the way to No. 21 in Luke Winn's latest power rankings for Sports Illustrated.

I_medium After forcing fewer than 8 turnovers in back-to-back games for the first time since turnovers became a tracked statistic in 1969, this Louisville team knows it needs to do better by getting its deflections up.

The lack of deflections is not a new issue this season, and neither are Louisville's defensive problems. In other words, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Louisville (20-6, 8-5 in the ACC) only nabbed two steals at Syracuse, or that Syracuse only turned the ball over seven times.

"We need to get back to causing more turnovers and causing more chaos on the defensive end," said Harrell, who recorded U of L's only two steals.

"We're known for defense that causes chaos and having people being sped up and not running their plays. This year, we haven't been too tuned in."

I_medium Bob Knight yelling at kids to sit down during a game he was calling on ESPN2 is pretty much all you need to know about Thursday night in college hoops.

I_medium U of L has its first ACC championship.

I_medium The CBS folks talk about (video) their Cardinal concerns.

I_medium Nunes is a Magician looks at the five biggest takeaways from Syracuse's upset of Louisville on Wednesday.

I_medium Tim Duncan joins the rest of the thinking world in being a Gorgui Dieng fan.

His development up to this point isn't luck. It's hard work and dedication. He's been honest in explaining that he enjoys watching film on guys like Dirk Nowitzki (he's done the "Dirk" shot more than once), Tim Duncan (a fan of his rip-through move) and LaMarcus Aldridge (appreciates his jumper).

"He's been great," Duncan said on Friday afternoon in New York. "I really like his game. He's really steady, very deliberate. He's improved his midrange jump shot. He's solid defensively. He doesn't try to get outside of himself. I really like what I've seen from him."

I_medium U of L football has canceled its scheduled junior day for this weekend because of the winter weather.

I_medium Former Card Angel Nunez has been granted an extra year of eligibility and is now reportedly looking to transfer out of Gonzaga. He's averaging just 3.4 ppg for the third-ranked Bulldogs this season.

I_medium Deadspin takes Seth Davis to task for promoting "cancer-fighting" products that don't work.

I_medium DeVante Parker credits his close-knit family for much of his success.

I_medium Sometimes this state is the worst.

I_medium The 2015 U of L baseball media guide is now available for online viewing.

I_medium It appears Luke Hancock is currently fifth in scoring in his Greek professional league. He's also wearing one of the coolest uniforms I've ever seen.

I_medium Cat Barber would like you to know that he did not wipe a booger on Montrezl Harrell.

I_medium Brian Brohm has re-signed with CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

I_medium Katie George's big winter continued this week by being one of four U of L athletes honored with 2015 Weaver-James-Corrigan postgraduate scholarship awards. Grant Donovan (football), Erin Yenney (women's soccer) and Andrew Stewart (men's cross country) were the other Cardinal recipients.

I_medium Three U of L men's soccer players have been named to the All-ACC Academic Team.

I_medium God this week is the worst.

I_medium DeVante Parker and the Oakland Raiders have both confirmed that the two have talked.

I_medium A Kentucky fan went ahead and updated the UK basketball Wikipedia page to include winning the 2015 national championship because of course they did. At this point if they don't win it, I'm not sure what's going to happen to these people.

I_medium Kyle Funkhouser gets some USA Baseball love.

ON THE MOUND:

Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, Jr., Louisville
W (1-0), 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 12 SO

Kyle Funkhouser (Oak Forest, Ill.) matched his career high with 12 strikeouts and retired the final 20 batters he faced in a dazzling one-hit, one-walk performance for the preseason USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award nominee. Facing heavy expectations as a unanimous preseason All-American, the right-hander gave up a one-out single in the first inning followed by his lone walk before striking out back-to-back hitters to end the opening frame. He would not allow another baserunner, firing seven scoreless innings in Louisville's 5-1 victory over Alabama State.

I_medium Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier both go in round 10 of Sports Illustrated's college basketball all-star draft.

I_medium This is lovely.

I_medium Our good friends over at Camp Quality Kentuckiana, a year-round support program and summer camp for local children dealing with cancer, has been selected as the beneficiary of the 18th annual Cardinal Classic golf scramble in April. For more information on the tournament and how to sign up, visit the website.

I_medium Athlon says Louisville has the second best basketball-football coaching tandem in the ACC, trailing only Duke.

2. Louisville

Football: Bobby Petrino | Basketball: Rick Pitino

The Petrino/Pitino duo is back at Louisville for the first time since 2006. Having both coaches is still a boon for the Cardinals. Petrino went 9-4 and finished in the top 25 in his first season back with the Cardinals, a notable feat considering the revolving door at quarterback and that it was the football program's indoctrination into the ACC. Petrino has finished in the top 25 in six of 10 seasons as a head coach, including four times in five total seasons at Louisville. Pitino has seven Final Fours and two national championships, including the 2013 title.

It's the same top two the publication had in their rankings last year.

I_medium Take the Belgium comments lightly at your own risk, Chris.

I_medium Almost a year after drafting Teddy Bridgewater, the Vikings execs are still feeling pretty good about it.

I_medium Gerald Christian recorded 28 bench press reps, the most of any tight end at the combine on Thursday.

I_medium National Football Post takes a closer look at DeVante Parker.

I_medium Again....this week.

Not your fault, David.

I_medium Gerod Holliman is one of the players with the most to lose at the combine. I'd say he's probably got a decent amount to gain as well. That's a logical assumption if the first statement is accurate.

I_medium Syracuse players credited a halftime defensive adjustment for their win on Wednesday.

"We kept them outside and we still challenged the 3-point shooters," Boeheim said. "We just did a better job of keeping them out of the lane. Once they get in the lane, you get the pass to the low post, you get the runners in there. We just did a better job of keeping them out of the lane. That was the difference."

"I thought Kaleb and Trev did a good job on the dribble-drive, just keeping people in front," Gbinije said. "They got some heat for it obviously before tonight, but tonight they did a good job."

Joseph has drawn the most complaints, but he has had plenty of company in allowing quicker, smarter guards to gain an angle and push into the lane. SU, too, clamped down in the second half on Montrezl Harrell, smothering him on the low blocks whenever he touched it. Harrell, who finished with 15 points, scored just three in the second half.

"Tonight we made stops, and that was the biggest thing for us," Joseph said. "I think we were just a lot more aggressive defensively. We took a lot more pride on the defensive side. That's how we let all the other big games slip away from us. We've proven to ourselves time and time again that we belong in these games, but during crunch time it all comes down to defense."

I_medium The Cards are down to 20th in CBS' rankings.

I_medium Congrats, Samuel, your day has finally arrived.

I_medium Some updated stats on former Cards playing all over the world.

I_medium And finally, Rick Pitino will hold his pre-Miami press conference this afternoon at 2 p.m.

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