All Entries Tagged With: "Andre McGee"

Louisville-West Virginia Not Child’s Play

By Tom Stosberg

Anybody got some extra flak jackets Samardo Samuels and Terrence Jennings could borrow for a couple of hours? They promise to give them right back after Saturday.

One of those puny WWE smackdowns will seem like an afternoon in a church library compared to the Louisville-West Virginia basketball game at the cleverly named West Virginia University Coliseum.

About six years ago they put a new roof on the coliseum. Sorry. It’s coming off this weekend.

Sam Sam and T.J. will have their hands full banging with WVU’s biggies. The Mountaineers are led by DeSean Butler, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound senior averaging 16 points and 6.4 rebounds. He’s accompanied by a couple of sophomores who play like upperclassmen – 6-foot-9 Devin Ebanks and 6-foot-8 Kevin Jones, who are averaging 11.3 and 14.9 points, respectively, while pulling down eight rebounds apiece.

Oh, and their guys all have played a minimum of 30 minutes per game. So they know how to play together very well. I repeat, the two youngsters play like veterans.

The guards know how to find these guys. When sweet and lovable Bobby Huggins isn’t helping old ladies across the street, he’s teaching these studs how to block out under the basket.

Bring ‘em on. This just could be the game that our bigs get ticked off and tear down the backboards! Hope so. Go get ‘em, Cards!

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Sinking Expectations For Louisville Basketball

Can anyone come up with any reason to believe this University of Louisville basketball team is going to get better anytime soon? Probably peaked somewhere between the unbelievable ups and downs in the Villanova and Pittsburgh losses.

Drained emotionally and physically, unable to get anything going until the game is almost completely out of reach against Seton Hall. The home team relaxing, almost paying for it.

If Seton Hall is indicative of what to expect, there’s a huge vacuum of expectations.

More than a little discouraging.

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Louisville Absorbing Tough Lessons

Increasingly one gets the feeling that this season is one of preparation for seasons to come. Going chin to chin with the looks-deprived, muscle-bound, blue collars at Pittsburgh was a major challenge for this University of Louisville basketball team.

Leading most of the game, mixing it up, taking the blows, falling short, but learning what it takes for a team to win in this rugged conference. Not succeeding but taking note, even if grudgingly.

Initiation time for freshmen and sophomores on the road in the Big East gauntlet.

• Senior Edgar Sosa missing three straight free throws when they count the most. From that point on, just a matter of time. Senior Jerry Smith fouling a player who has hit between 45 and 50 straight free throws to the line for two automatics, sending the game into overtime. Senior Reginald Delk is a phantom player, out of sight until he hits a shot or commits a foul.

• Samardo Samuels benefiting from lessons learned and getting the ball more often, no longer intimidated by opposing brutes or fearful of hurting someone. He’s more aggressive, wanting the ball, not dribbling, taking it to the basket, earning every one of those 25 points the right way.

• Preston Knowles, or Preston! as he is known by some, plays with intensity and confidence. But most of all he wants to win. He knows no other way. Watch and learn, seniors.

• Peyton Siva back to playing tentative, like a typical freshmen, perhaps intimidated or beaten into submission by brutal play in college basketball these days. Never fear. Andre McGee will bring him around.

• Mike Marra will be a shooter. Give it time.

They’re also learning that a building full of jumping Duke wannabes and ugly T-shirts is more like the atmosphere at Chuckie Cheese’s than a college basketball arena. Students having the most visible seats can be a bad thing. Even embarrassing for the institution.

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Louisville Confident In Dissecting Providence

No letdown following the rivalry encounter in Lexington, a conflict which will be remembered more as a maelstrom than a basketball game.

Whatever it was, the University of Louisville players put it behind them — exhibiting no hangover effects, racing to a 14-0 lead. Those kind of leads rarely hold up, resulting in overconfidence, lack of intensity, and sloppy play for the early front runner.

With a few minutes to think about it at the half, Rick Pitino’s team methodically dissected a Providence team that is going to surprise a few Big East teams. When the three-point shots are going in, Louisville will be more than competitive.

• Most encouraging, Mike Marra getting a ton of playing time, with 26 minutes, hitting three of five three-point shots. Playing with confidence, showing no fear amidst the elbows around the basket. A possible new dimension in the offense.

• Edgar Sosa making it look ridiculously easy at times, collecting 26 points, four assists and five rebounds. If he can get used to being good, this team can be a good one.

• Jared Swopshire almost robotic, never showing emotion, even when someone is attempting to ram an elbow in his face. Keep tinkering with the controls, coaches, and he may become a finely-turned machine. Just don’t ask him to get excited about it.

• Jerry Smith spends too much time imitating a tough guy rather than focusing on basketball on most nights. Focused on basketball in the second half, collecting all of his 14 points.

• Much of Samardo Samuels’ value coming from his being double teamed by teams reading outdated scouting reports, freeing up other players to score. Sometimes, sometimes not. Still blowing too many easy ones this game but collecting 17 points and nine rebounds. How about those three assists?

• Terrence Jennings just isn’t paying attention much of the time he’s out there but when he does, he’s a nightmare on the defensive end.

• Preston Knowles making life miserable for opposing guards again, finding a three-pointer at a good time.  Keep taking care that thumb.

• Kyle Kuric, missing in action, was he limping during the handshakes? If not, he should get minutes every game.

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Paging Samardo Samuels

Somewhere within Samardo Samuels is the five-star player who was regarded as one of the top players in the country, the jewel of the University of Louisville’s 2008 basketball recruiting class: Strong on the boards, soft hands, pass catcher, rebounder, good shooter, and finisher. He needs to look within, find this guy and kick his rear end. If he fails to do so soon, any championship aspirations are probably for naught.

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