Any time less than five points separate two Big East teams with four minutes to go, anything can happen, positive or negative, anything but passive.
Fans lose all sense of control, forced to accept whatever fate chooses to throw in their collective lap that day. The frantic finishes are so wild, so unpredictable and so commonplace no one is shocked or surprised by any outcome.
[quote]
UConn playing its best basketball of the season since the return of Jim Calhoun, looking good winning its last three games, ready to exact revenge, senior night, pumped, having its way, drumming Louisville 39-26 late in the first half.
But wait. One knows what happens more often than not in Louisville games. The team with the lead eases up a bit, the team behind turns on the defensive pressure. A couple of unexpected three-pointers from a surprising source, a turnover or two, and a bank shot at the halftime buzzer and Rick Pitino’s team trails by only five points.
Game on again, despite having thrown in the proverbial tower at the big screen just a few minutes earlier, having perceived no chance, no prayer of surviving the UConn onslaught.
Fast forward to midway in the second half, Louisville leading by six points at some point, knowing all the while the game will be decided at the horn.
Edgar Sosa, with all his ups and downs, indicating the game will be in his hands. At 29 seconds, it is obvious: He will make the move, and he does with 11 seconds to go. Running the gauntlet with all the swiping hands beneath the basket. Throwing up a shot between all the bodies and outstretched hands. Swish.
Too early, eight seconds left. Kemba Walker, with 28 points from all kinds of shots, with the ball, making the mad dash. Hello, Kemba, I’m Samardo Samuels, get that thing out of here. Hey ball, I’m Preston Knowles, boom, get out of here.
Louisville wins 78-76. Back in the NCAA tournament chase for a couple of days.
The one thing certain is the Louisville-Marquette game Tuesday will be decided on a buzzer beater.
Edgar just isn’t skilled enough to be an NBA point guard and probably won’t get a look at being a “2′ in the bigs. Still, he’ll always have a fond spot in my memory for the big game against Texas A&M as a freshman, the dagger against UK and the layup against UConn.
Let’s hope he has some magic left for the rest of this season.
Debby you are on to something. You just never know when
Sosa will be on or off. The sport casters were often referencing Coach P as stating Sosa has been overlooked for his future prospects – however, there is not enough consistency in his performance to warrant anything else as far as I can see.~~~~
CRP has looked at times like he does not know what lineup to play, but I think I’m starting to get what he is up to. The lineup that came back from 13 down, Kuric, Siva, Knowles, Delk(Swopshire) and Samardo was fantastic they play VERY well together. THIS is the most productive group he has. At least with Sosa we have about a 50/50 chance for him to hit the big one at the end of the game. I agree with the coach, he needs to be in the game at the end.
I’ve said it here and on other boards. This team perplexes me. They play down to their opponents level when said opponent isn’t a quality team. They are on when the competition is fierce. Georgetown came in here and punched UL in the mouth. First time all season in one of these games, the Cards didn’t seem to want to fight back. Something happened between last Thursday and yesterday. I hope this team is finally starting to get the message because if they don’t, it could be early out in the Big East Tournament or the big dance. Take this effort against UConn and roll with it, Cardinals. Next stop? Milwaukee and date with Marquette. Go CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I gritted my teeth and almost gave up after the 1st half.
I got such a sinking feeling – then by the last 15 minutes of the second half —- I stopped everything and couldn’t take my eyes away from the TV.
What A win!!! —- Go Cards!
Oh, that Sosa. How many times have we said, Oh,no. There he goes again, driving in to the basket, seemingly out of control. This season, however, he has made believers out of us (most of the time). And those “Cardiac Cards” did it again. Another two-games in one, but this time, the better half was the winning half! As the saying goes, “when they are good, they are very very good, but when they are bad, they are horrid.” Still, as ever, GO CARDS!!!
The rebounding margin was incredibly ridiculous…UConn advantage. But, take a Kuric steal, a Sosa “why is he doing…GOOD SHOT!” and Jennings block at the end and amazingly Louisville gets out of Storrs with the most improbable of wins.
Cardinal basketball. Never predictable, never boring and maybe now headed to the Big Dance.
Give Kuric and Knowles credit for banging down big threes when they were really needed. Jerry with a “are you kidding me” double figure first half performance. And…give Louisville one that even had Pitino surprised.
How we did this I will never ever know. But I will take it, baby. Go Cards!
In the Big East all away wins are a big deal! We won at UConn, so we are still alive! Good win, young road-warriors!
Not if Kitts watches the replay with you.