Dang, that Deng is good.
Rick Pitino has been telling anyone who will listen that Deng Adel is going to be a great basketball player at the University of Louisville. He’s said that about a lot of players over the years, and they rarely disappoint him.
Adel actually started the first two games this season, remember? Injured a knee early on, had to sit out a month, work his way back into shape, take his turn on the bench, play sparingly in January, and become a contributor in late February.
Pitino has been known to throw seldom-used players into critical situations at the most unexpected moments. Deng saw four minutes of action against Notre Dame and four minutes against Syracuse. Didn’t score in either of those games, but Pitino was watching, making mental notes.
Deng began growing up in the win over Duke, getting 28 minutes of playing time, pulling down five rebounds, making two assists and scoring 12 points.
Pitino apparently convinced, drawing a starting assignment against Pittsburgh, Deng making the coach a genius. Wowing his teammates at the 7:38 mark, Chinanu Onuaku screaming, after an awe-inspiring one-hand dunk serving notice that the UofL drought was over. Following that up with a 3-pointer and a layup less than two minutes later.
Deng finished the game with 12 points, seven rebounds, and an assist, along with a new level of respect from the head coach, his teammates and fans. Raising expectations in Louisville’s 67-60 win over Pittsburgh. Giving them something to look forward the final three games this year, and three more seasons for the freshman.
David Levitch also is familiar with getting thrust into the spotlight, prime time playing time, inserted midway through the first half. He would respond with eight points, including two 3-pointers, one of them a dagger at the 2:38 mark, giving UofL a three-point lead.
As is one Matz Stockman, the backup, backup seven-footer, who keeps looking more respectable all the time, another one of those guys Pitino says is really going to be good. Just three rebounds, two points and a block in this one but his time is coming as well.