Another sleepy Sunday afternoon. Mediocre opponent. Neutral court. Poor shooting. Jerry Smith not starting. Terrence Williams not hitting. Been there.
Back to the big city, home territory for Earl Clark, Edgar Sosa, and Will Scott and the hangout for many Rick Pitino contacts. Madison Square Garden, scene of 10 losses in the last 11 visits.
Not pretty, but not déjà vu. Not this trip.
The jovial part of T-Will missing. Hitting three free throws for his only points but keeping his head up and into the game, knowing he’s the leader this time around, seven rebounds and eight assists. Invaluable.
Jerry Smith, he of the slow feet, hitting 11 of 11 free throws and leading all scorers with 21 points. Not starting, but not riding the bench much either, Pitino recognizing that he is indispensable in this kind of game.
Samardo Samuels unveiling some new moves, collecting nine points before catching an elbow in the mouth, losing two teeth, heading to a New York hospital for oral surgery. Pitino with his New York connections probably getting prompt medical attention for him. No sitting around in Manhattan emergency waiting rooms.
Terrence Jennings checking in, needing to be a force, playing big, pulling down the rebounds Louisville had to have, winding up with seven of them, five on the offensive end. Providing exactly the kind of raw talent and strength Louisville needed in a bruising toughest.eam-wins kind of game.
Andre McGee stepping back, sinking a 15-footer, giving the Cards an eight-point lead, making a three-possession game at the 1:57 mark.
Earl Clark making only two turnovers, progress. Twelve points and eight rebounds. Still, would have been a good day in front of family and friends to put the team on his shoulders. Maybe next time, has to happen soon, running out of regular season.
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Ugly? Uninspired? Forgettable?
Maybe so, but earlier in the season, the Cards would have lost this game. They didn’t have the heart or the moxy yet. After a humbling loss–after the emperor was found to be wearing no clothes–this was a watershed win.
This was every bit as good a win as all the others, given the circumstances–and I’m really encouraged for the rest of the season and especially the post-season.
Uninspired game…but I’ll take it! Please keep streaming the games. I visit regularly but didn’t read your post until today. Thanks!
Give credit to Earl and Jerry for this win this afternoon. About time they had games. Call this a very ugly, knockdown Big East game. It’s a win, though. Poor Samardo and his teeth.
Well, that was a pretty forgettable game but St. John’s gives people problems. Thanks for the streaming.