Seems like an eternity until 9:40 p.m. on Friday when Louisville and Boise State tip off in Birmingham. Good thing for Rick Pitino: there’s a lot to work on between now and then to avoid an early exit.
One of the best things U of L has going for it is that Birmingham is 980 miles from New York City. Team chemistry suffers during those trips to the Northeast, sometimes taking a couple of games to get it back. No explanation was ever given for Earl Clark losing his starting position in the last game.
Opposing defenses have figured out that if you double up on David Padgett and keep him from handling the ball, the Cards’ offense will stall. He’s in the game for eight-minute stretches at most. Might want to consider other combinations or options.
Figure out where Clark really fits in the offense. If Clark is as good as he has looked in flashes, there should be more plays designed for him. He may be gone after this season; it will happen now or probably never.
Andre McGee should avoid layup attempts when there’s a defender within five feet of the basket. Make him the designated three-point shooter, he’s the only one that shooting them with confidence now.
Remind Jerry Smith that he is a coach’s son. He should be able to figure out what’s wrong with his shot … or simply call home.
Get Ellis Myles back, increase his case load; needs to include both Derrick Caracter and Edgar Sosa. Get them focused, keep them focused.
I agree with the recommendation for Ellis Myles. He needs to be on those cases full time. And some folks needs to start maturing real soon.