Rick Pitino does everything for a reason.
The technical foul has to happen. Everything is unraveling, Florida working its offense to perfection, getting every call, grabbing every loose ball, snaring most of the rebounds.
All Louisville shots falling short and bouncing off the lid, and there’s the fourth foul on Peyton Siva, igniting Pitino.
One … two … free throws on the Peyton Siva foul.
Three … four … free throws on the Pitino technical
Florida extending its lead to 58-47 at 10:56 (my wife is crying already).
But over on the sidelines, there’s Pitino still raving, straining his vocal chords, pouring out his heart and lungs, hoping to somehow get through to Karl Hess in the stripes.
Three more syllables, Pitino’s butt is headed for the locker room.
Meanwhile, Kyle Kuric is pulling his teammates together on the court, just a little adversity, been here before, gotta get through this. A man of few words, saving them for when they’re needed.
Enough of the misdirection, Russ Smith and Chane Behanan and company shocked into reality. Losing to an SEC team, getting taken to cleaners. Time to get serious, dump everything on the line.
Where’s Russ? There he is, sneaking down the lane for a layup, swishing a jump shot, sinking a free throw, down to eight. No quit, even with Florida pushing its lead back to 11 again at the 8:57 mark. The Gators would manage only five points the rest of the way.
Chane Behanan’s turn. Sink two free throws. Whoa, did he just make a three-point shot? Hey, where’d that turnaround jumper come from? His Kobe Bryant move, didn’t know he had one, but the shot finally putting Louisville over the hump and on top, 69-68, at 1:08.
Big Chane having quite a game, seven of 10 shots, two of two free throws, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Game still far from being decided, however.
Siva has run afoul five times too often so he’s out of there, hoping to avoid the CBS camera sweep of the bench.
So it’s back to Russ, managing the game, making a mysterious pass that the surprised Florida receiver immediately turns into a walk. Russ making up for the bobble, no sweat, sinking the two crucial free throws of his life.
Next year’s superstar Wayne Blackshear hitting one of two free throws to nail it. Louisville 72, Florida 68. Let the celebrating begin.
Pitino told them it would happen, no double talk this time, and it did. Just needed to make one more technical fix after having changed his game plan in the second half, getting everybody on the right road to New Orleans. School’s out, back to the Final Four for the ninth time in the program’s history.
Pitino explained his side of the story after the game.
“I’m yelling to Peyton Siva, why would you foul him, and the referee gives me a technical,” Pitino told Reggie Miller. “I’m yelling at my own player!”
The spark came from the players fighting for their tourney life in the last ten minutes of the game. The run was coming regardless of the coaching box violation.
Uh huh. You don’t know Pitino well do you? Enjoy whatever.
No i guess i dont. Go Cards!
The technical foul has to happen? Even Rick isn’t mad enough to get a tech on purpose to pump his guys up. This isn’t baseball, points are on the line. The tech was called because he was warned to stay off the court, not for arguing foul calls. The credit for the win lies with the players for not giving up.
I’m pretty certain Pitino was protesting the Siva foul at the time. For whatever reason, the technical foul was a turning point, that particular official using a flimsy excuse for calling it. We don’t disagree on what the players accomplished. Couldn’t have done it without them.
Gongrats to all the team and Coach P. Watching the games at home with the family, I’ve nicknamed Russ: “The Tasmanian Devil”. I mean, this guy is everywhere the ball is. Whenever the team needs a boost, I feel like screaming unleash the “Great Tas”
Keep up the good work
OK, Cards. You’ve come this far. Are you willing to go a little bit further? Just as UK got revenge on IU the second time around, can Louisville do the same in what appears to be a probable Cats v. Cards match-up in Bourbon Street City?
Stranger things could happen. Baylor just might upset UK.
We’re OK either way that one goes today. The city of Louisville and Cardinal fans worldwide have seven days to rejoice and celebrate. 68 enter, 4 come out.
Are you ready to go a little further? L-Yes!
Let’s give the lion’s share of the credit to the guys who dug deep, didn’t quit, always believed.
Did Rick plan to get a technical to wake up his guys? Doesn’t make any difference now. Amazing how ‘lucky’ a HOF-to-be coach is, isn’t it?
Time now to refill the tank, stay focused. Another game to play. Good time to be a Card fan!
One of the most memorable wins ever after the national championship wins. Won on sheer guts alone.
Nice recap Observer, You nailed it. Here we go, baby. See ya downtown. Bourbon Street here we come.
The man is amazing. I’ve had up and downs, and downs and ups in game but never one like this. The odds of us winning this game were even greater than what we’ve accomplished the past eight games. What an amazing basketball game. Final four, final four, final four, final four, here we come.
Whew! My tears of frustration, disappointment, but pride in these never-say-quit guys started midway in the second half, then turned gradually into tears of hope, then finally elation. And those 4 points from Rick’s T that I yelled cost us 4 points ended up being the final margin. That’s why you should never doubt a Hall of Fame coach. Whew! What a game. GO CARDS!
Them Cardiac CARDS!