Rick Pitino had to try a new approach, running out of patience with the lack of productivity from the center spot, going with a smaller lineup, actually emphasizing offense for a change.
Introducing a three-guard starting lineup for the first time this season, featuring Luke Hancock, Russ Smith and Chris Smith on the perimeter. Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear underneath.
More quickness, combined with a newfound intensity on defense and ferocity in pursuing loose balls, and less of Stephan Van Treese and Mangok Mathiang, resulting in a 71-63 win over Southern Methodist University before 21,237 fans at the KFC Yum! Center.
Twenty deflections, 10 steals to go with all those defensive stops during a tense six minutes at the end of the game. Ten three-pointers against a committed, aggressive SMU defense equally impressive.
Harrell and Smith turning in 38 minutes, with Montrezl turning in one of his more impressive performances, 13 rebounds, four blocks, and 12 points. Russ savoring the extra time as well, with six assists, four steals and 23 points.
Had he not committed two fouls and jammed a finger with nine minutes to go in the first half, Luke Hancock may have been right there with them in playing time. He would score 17 points with the finger bandaged in the second half, winding up with a total of 23 as well.
If Pitino can ever get Harrell into a proper offensive stance, as he noted after the game, that seven-foot-plus horizontal reach of his could make the smaller lineup even more effective. That would go well with all those rim-rattlers.
The sooner the better because SMU may be tough to handle at Dallas in March.