Coach Rick Pitino is not happy. Practice sessions are going to be even more grueling for members of the University of Louisville basketball team following a sluggish 68-57 over North Carolina Wilmington.
Too much freelancing, players looking for shots instead of open teammates, not respecting the opponent until an 11-point lead is whittled down to two points with less than seven minutes to go in the game.
“Ego is edging greatness out of the locker room,” he said during a one minute, 46-second press conference.
That’s the second time Pitino has made the “ego” comment, the other occasion following the 45-33 win over Cleveland State four games ago. An undefeated record, proving nothing, creating some big heads apparently. Back to the whipping post one more time, hoping to make it stick this time around.
But what about Montrezl Harrell, with his 19 points, 17 rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist?
“The best of a bad lot,” snapped the coach in post-game show with Paul Rogers of WHAS. “They came back too full of themselves after the Indiana game. They will pay a price starting tomorrow.”
Players on Pitino-coached teams have often described his practices as very demanding, saying the games provide a much-welcomed break from the micro-managed chaos.
No one on this team is looking forward to the next five days, including the players, the assistant coaches, the strength coach, the trainers, the equipment managers, and the administrative staff. Everyone will pay.