Miami was going to be ready for the University of Louisville’s vaunted pressing defense, anticipating, preparing, wanting to see it, going with four guards in the starting lineup.
Shouldn’t been so obvious, not against a Hall of Fame coach. Rick Pitino didn’t run the full court press all night long. Louisville never trailed, prevailing 63-55 over a good Miami team.
The decision not to employ the press was a good one for another reason, ensuring the staying power of his guards, Chris Jones and Terry Rozier, who would play 40 and 38 minutes, respectively, in an endurance contest.
Jones would have one of his better around nights for a Louisville point guard. He was everywhere, limiting Angel Rodriguez to five points while scoring 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds, making five assists and six steals.
“He never get tired,” said Pitino. “He’s like a bulldog out there.”
Another thing Jones does well is find Rozier, the go-to player when the game is on the line as it was during the last 10 minutes, with Miami continuing to cut into Louisville’s lead, down to three at one point.
Rozier is such a complete offensive player, always under control, always a threat, one wonders what might have been had he seen more than 17 minutes in that final NCAA game last season. But that’s another story.
Rozier would lead all scorers with 22 points, grab six rebounds and make three steals himself.
A brutal night for Montrezl Harrell, so used to being the force, getting floored twice, UofL fans with visions of the season floating away, waiting, hoping, praying for him to get up. He will, thankfully, getting right back into the fray. He will score 18 points and grab nine rebounds.
Yes, that was Wayne Blackshear driving, making that basket, after Miami had reduced the lead to three points with 2:06 on the clock. Seven points for the night, including a 3-pointer for UofL’s opening basket.