04-01-2005, 07:18 PM
Here is a column from espn.com about why Lousiville will win the NCAA tourny...What are your thoughts on this one?
In case you haven't noticed by now, King Rick's squad is and has been one of the hottest teams in the country for months.
Louisville has lost all but two games since we turned the page to 2005. Two. Louisville has come back on Cincinnati, Marquette and Memphis on the road. The Cardinals smacked Georgia Tech in the second round and then took out Washington in the Sweet 16 with an Otis George screen and physical play.
And then, in what Rick Pitino called his team's greatest comeback ever, the Cardiac Cards beat West Virginia after being down by 20 points. Louisville withstood 18 3-pointers and still won the game.
Pitino came to Louisville for this one purpose â get to a Final Four. He said the Cardinals' faithful had to be reminded that it takes time. This team wasn't supposed to be here, even by Pitino's standards, yet he made it in year four.
Sebastian Telfair, Donta Smith and Brian Johnson were supposed to be key members of the squad. Telfair and Smith, high school and JC signees respectively, went to the NBA and the burly Johnson never got off the pine after injuring his knee in the preseason.
Still, the patchwork and oft-injured Cards stuck it out and made their Conference USA run. Francisco Garcia, Taquan Dean, Larry O'Bannon, Ellis Myles, Juan Palacios and George are the core of a squad that never quit. Just like Pitino they worked hard, played hard and won the hard way.
Why stop now?
Why They'll Win It
This team is tough. Washington and West Virginia found out first-hand in Albuquerque how the Cardinals can keep taking punches and then deliver a knockout at the right time.
The Cardinals can score. Dean makes 3s. Garcia makes them just as fluidly. O'Bannon is a tough out on the perimeter or on a drive to the bucket. Palacios, Myles and George can finish inside with anyone left in this tournament. And the Cards can go two different ways on defense. Their calling card this season has been the 2-3 zone but against West Virginia the Cards went back to a pressing and trapping style of play that used to be Pitino's staple.
The Cards have the ability to play various styles. They can run if they have to and certainly are strong in a halfcourt set defensively with the zone. If they defend and board, they have a great shot to win.
Louisville shouldn't beat Illinois if the Illini play up to their potential. Illinois has been too good of late. But Louisville can take Illinois out of its game. The Cards have done it to plenty of folks this season and they did it in key spots to West Virginia. Louisville finds a way to take care of the intangibles.
This team has the karma thing down, too. They've been through so much over the course of the past two seasons â tragedies off the court and plenty of injuries and illnesses to players â that they seem destined to make a run at the title.
Who Could Stop Them?
Illinois and North Carolina certainly have the offense to run past Louisville. The Cardinals will give up 3s, just like they did against West Virginia. Illinois will make its share. But if the Cards can find a way to guard them, on the break and in the halfcourt, then they have a great shot to win. If they can't defend the Illini transition game and their perimeter shooting, then they're in trouble.
Louisville shouldn't get outrebounded by the Illini. If that occurs and it's just a guards game, the Cardinals have a legit shot to pull off the victory.
Pitino has also been in this situation more than Bruce Weber. There's no reason why Weber should get tight in a game of this magnitude since he's already played plenty of big-time games this season. But Pitino does have the experience to change up a few things if need be late in the game.
Louisville has the shooters, the passers and the defenders on the ball and inside, to pull off two more wins. Why would you doubt the Cardiac Cards now? You shouldn't.
In case you haven't noticed by now, King Rick's squad is and has been one of the hottest teams in the country for months.
Louisville has lost all but two games since we turned the page to 2005. Two. Louisville has come back on Cincinnati, Marquette and Memphis on the road. The Cardinals smacked Georgia Tech in the second round and then took out Washington in the Sweet 16 with an Otis George screen and physical play.
And then, in what Rick Pitino called his team's greatest comeback ever, the Cardiac Cards beat West Virginia after being down by 20 points. Louisville withstood 18 3-pointers and still won the game.
Pitino came to Louisville for this one purpose â get to a Final Four. He said the Cardinals' faithful had to be reminded that it takes time. This team wasn't supposed to be here, even by Pitino's standards, yet he made it in year four.
Sebastian Telfair, Donta Smith and Brian Johnson were supposed to be key members of the squad. Telfair and Smith, high school and JC signees respectively, went to the NBA and the burly Johnson never got off the pine after injuring his knee in the preseason.
Still, the patchwork and oft-injured Cards stuck it out and made their Conference USA run. Francisco Garcia, Taquan Dean, Larry O'Bannon, Ellis Myles, Juan Palacios and George are the core of a squad that never quit. Just like Pitino they worked hard, played hard and won the hard way.
Why stop now?
Why They'll Win It
This team is tough. Washington and West Virginia found out first-hand in Albuquerque how the Cardinals can keep taking punches and then deliver a knockout at the right time.
The Cardinals can score. Dean makes 3s. Garcia makes them just as fluidly. O'Bannon is a tough out on the perimeter or on a drive to the bucket. Palacios, Myles and George can finish inside with anyone left in this tournament. And the Cards can go two different ways on defense. Their calling card this season has been the 2-3 zone but against West Virginia the Cards went back to a pressing and trapping style of play that used to be Pitino's staple.
The Cards have the ability to play various styles. They can run if they have to and certainly are strong in a halfcourt set defensively with the zone. If they defend and board, they have a great shot to win.
Louisville shouldn't beat Illinois if the Illini play up to their potential. Illinois has been too good of late. But Louisville can take Illinois out of its game. The Cards have done it to plenty of folks this season and they did it in key spots to West Virginia. Louisville finds a way to take care of the intangibles.
This team has the karma thing down, too. They've been through so much over the course of the past two seasons â tragedies off the court and plenty of injuries and illnesses to players â that they seem destined to make a run at the title.
Who Could Stop Them?
Illinois and North Carolina certainly have the offense to run past Louisville. The Cardinals will give up 3s, just like they did against West Virginia. Illinois will make its share. But if the Cards can find a way to guard them, on the break and in the halfcourt, then they have a great shot to win. If they can't defend the Illini transition game and their perimeter shooting, then they're in trouble.
Louisville shouldn't get outrebounded by the Illini. If that occurs and it's just a guards game, the Cardinals have a legit shot to pull off the victory.
Pitino has also been in this situation more than Bruce Weber. There's no reason why Weber should get tight in a game of this magnitude since he's already played plenty of big-time games this season. But Pitino does have the experience to change up a few things if need be late in the game.
Louisville has the shooters, the passers and the defenders on the ball and inside, to pull off two more wins. Why would you doubt the Cardiac Cards now? You shouldn't.