Not the first rodeo for Rick Pitino, losing a player to self-inflicted wounds, his team forced to make adjustments, backed into a corner, challenged by adversity, seeking to remain relevant.
Never expect a Pitino-coached team to quietly fade away or throw in the towel under the worst of circumstance. “We don’t do that,” he said after the University of Louisville’s 81-59 win Florida State at Tallahassee.
Pitino did finally get what he has wanted from his team all season long — players listening, playing together, sharing the ball, banging the boards, and playing aggressive defense on both ends of the court. No hints of self pity, wounded egos, self-indulgence or pouting.
Quite the opposite, in fact, players having fun while methodically putting an opponent away. The highlight, probably the steal by Terry Rozier, throwing the basketball the length of the court for another thundering Montrezl Harrell dunk.
— A career day for Rozier with a total of nine assists, almost half of Louisville’s 20 assists, stepping up in that department at the right time. More than compensating for his mediocre shooting, three of 14 attempts for 10 points. Adding a much-needed dimension to his game at a crucial time in the season.
“I think that the thing that I loved about tonight’s performance — because Rozier wasn’t doing this early in the year — if he had a bad night offensively, it was affecting the facets of his game,” said Pitino. “Tonight he has nine assists, six steals and just played a great point guard’s game. He missed some shots that normally go in for him, and he didn’t let it bother him.
— This also may have been the game when Anton Gill finally got comfortable with the college game, going four of four from behind the three-point line, five of five overall, for 14 points in 12 minutes. More playing time straight ahead, Anton.
— One never wants to draw conclusions about whether a different Wayne Blackshear has shown up or not. But a possible indication may have been the sight of Blackshear flashing a rare smile during that second half. Blackshear driving the lane, creating shots on his own, not resisting or hesitating, knowing it has to come from him. Good for a game-high 18 points.
— Quentin Snider bringing back an approach at guard that encourages teammates to keep moving without the ball, an awareness, knowing that they will all be involved in the offense. Gaining confidence with 11 points and four assists in his third game as a starter.
— Montrezl Harrell maintaining high levels of energy, whether he’s on offense or defense, with 16 points and a steal. UofL will need more than four rebounds from him next week, however.
— Chinanu Onuaku, getting open, actually making two dunks. We saw that one of yours, too, Mangok Mathiang. A few more will go a long way, guys.
Anyone who wrote this team off after this past week needs to brush up on Rick Pitino’s history of dealing with adversity. He has written three books on the topic and knows whereof he speaks.
Seeing the team move without the ball was the most uplifting takeaway from the FSU game, in my mind. Given the “go for the 12 point shot”, “I got this”, superhero style in which the offense was run in the past, there was no need for the others to move around, because they knew they weren’t going to get the ball anyway. If that mentality lingered, Rozier and Snider wouldn’t have found the open man, and their combined 13 assists would have been more like “some assists and some turnovers”. That will eventually have very negative consequences for Snider. He and Donovan Mitchell could easily become the next tandem of guards that make Louisville a fun place to be, but in order to get back to the Siva/Smith way of doing things, we need to rid ourselves not only of the superhero… mentality, but also of its effects (no movement without the ball). A big step was taken in the right direction Saturday.
Agree on all counts. Good to see the old offensive approach back again.