Took four seasons but Jerry Smith may have a nickname that could stick. Or maybe not.
“Senior Bulldog” was the tag ascribed by Pat Forde, the ESPN writer serving in his first game as a TV color analyst. Probably because Smith is fearless, whether he’s going after a rebound or a loose ball, or driving in there among the trees.
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Nipping at the heels of Mike Rosario all game long, holding the three-point shooting specialist from Rutgers to a dismal one of nine from behind the arc. Breathing down Rosario’s neck he was, only one of the pushing and shoving matches between the two being whistled for a foul this game — and that call should have gone the other way.
Meanwhile, Smith, who has shouldered more than his share of heat, breaking out of a season-long slump, with four out of seven three-point shooting.
Seven rebounds not too shabby either.
- Jared Swopshire better be careful or some real expectations will be applied to him. Coming from “somewhere out there” to earth and Freedom Hall, the Jared hitting five of six field goals, grabbing eight rebounds, and five assists.
- Edgar Sosa gets it half the time, that he’s expected to be the creator for other people. But when he doesn’t, he’s either hitting one of those long-distance shots or creating chaos for his own team. Hey, six turnovers?
- How does Terrence Jennings manage to make so much improvement smoothly hitting those two or three footers (4 of 5) while not coming close to a loose ball in his nine minutes? Much more “individual instruction” coming to keep him from getting lost on the defensive end.
Louisville 76, Rutgers 60 Box Score
Big East officiating has deteriorated to the point that I consider it a plus when a game features only one or two calls that make me wonder who’s winning the game the ref in question is watching. Usually it’s at least a half dozen.
This reminds me of former U of L women’s coach Bud Childers’ comment when the women’s game went to three-person crews. Bud told me most coaches he knew opposed the move; whe I asked why, he said, “Because it’s hard enough to get two who know what they’re doing to work the same game.”
Nice rally by the Cars after Rutgers cut it to five in the second half. Whoever Pitino found to replace Smith and Swopshire and wear their jerseys yesterday I hope he hangs on to.
Seven out of eleven..now becomes five out of eight…looks doable. Georgetown, Syracuse (twice) thump us and let’s hope the rest are wins.
The foul call on Jerry was the worst call I can ever remember seeing. Some calls are so slam bam that even when they are terrible calls one can at least understand it. This was a case of Rosario having two hands on Jerry’s chest and pushing him backwards twice into another Rutgers player. It happened right in front of the official. I cannot conceive of what he was thinking. Absolutely horrible. The man should never be allowed on the floor again.
I agree. The call was so bad that it was difficult to believe. He should be called on the carpet when the game is reviewed by the Big East. Maybe a house cleaning is in order.