All Entries Tagged With: "Mike Marra"
Mike Marra Delivers
“Coach lets me know if I’m open, I shoot it, because that’s what I do. I can’t hesitate, or else that’s just going to make it harder to make the shot.”
– Mike Marra, after collecting four three-pointers and four rebounds (including
a possible game saver) in the University of Louisville’s 66-60 win over Syracuse.
Fans May Still Be Able To Get Tickets
To That Last Freedom Hall Game Yet
by Tom Stosberg
Let’s clear one thing up. The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) isn’t such a bad thing. It’s televised. And usually it’s on Tuesdays when they don’t have the real good stuff like tools and computers on QVC or Home Shopping Network.
Plus they play in some big arenas. Okay, so lots of fans do like to come disguised as empty seats. But, c’mon! They don’t make a lot of noise so you can really hear the kinds of things the coaches tell the players that got them to the NIT.
Here’s another good thing. There are not nearly as many people watching the NIT on TV, so if you’re in a sports joint, you can have the place pretty much to yourself. They might even give you some extra chicken wings just to keep you there. Zowie.
If the University of Louisville basketball team can just hang on and make it to the NIT, there’s a possibility that Edgar Sosa and Mike Marra might be able to play in front of some family members … IF they can win more than two games. Or maybe Wisconsin will make the NIT and Jerry Smith could play in front of some of his folks. Zowie again.
Our “big” men will be able to show off their three-inch verticals and just to make it really exciting one of the Cards may even set the fan base on fire by actually dunking a basketball during an actual game.
Oh, I’m absolutely goosey over the whole thing…the possibilities of an extra game in Freedom Hall. I can already smell the caramel corn. Maybe this time there won’t be an ice rink under the floor causing condensation on the court. But if there is, what the heck. It’s NIT Tournament time!
Does basketball get much better than this? Well, actually, it does.
Lutz Tightens Grip On Freedom Hall
Bobby Lutz has a special place in his heart for Freedom Hall, and will be sorry to see the facility relegated to a virtual registry of historic places. In fact, he will be among the high bidders if they auction memorabilia from the fabled venue.
His Charlotte teams have dominated the University of Louisville basketball team here. He owns a 9-6 lifetime record against U of L and the likes of Denny Crum and Rick Pitino, with more than half of those wins on Denny Crum Court. He also won a C-USA Tournament championship at Freedom Hall.
Sandwiched between UNLV and a bunch of no names this season, Charlotte reminded U of L of how often the local folks failed to respect Lutz teams during the C-USA days, running circles around the injury-plagued Cards while administering a 22-point beating.
- Pitino’s team playing like Pitino looks with the droopy eyes. Rick replacing the Breathsaver mints with Hall’s Mentho-Lyptus, unwrapping a fresh cough drop every time the camera turns his way.
- Samardo Samuels, bounding about like the Dean’s Milk Chugger. Unable to motor about without falling over himself or whoever fronts him, making the easy shots look impossibly difficult. His backup, Terrence Jennings, equally unable to navigate.
- Jared Swopshire just can’t get over his resemblance to Barack Obama, unable to make a quick decision, move to his right, make an uncontested shot or complete an unaltered pass.
- Mike Marra living up to Louisville’s reputation in recent years as a poor three-point shooting team, he with the jinx of being tabbed the best high school shooter Pitino has ever seen.
- Edgar Sosa still managing to look improved but he will never take control of a game like he did three years ago against Texas A&M, proving it against sub par competition.
For Starters, A Win Over Arkansas
Good way to start the basketball season, against an undermanned opponent that will get much better when all the suspensions are lifted, making a University of Louisville 96-66 win over Arkansas difficult for the NCAA tournament selection committee to overlook in March.
- A deserved pasting for John Pelphrey, the Kentucky mountain man. Pelphrey having mental contortions, losing to the school he hates the most, coached by Rick Pitino, the man and coach he idolizes.
- Jared Swopshire the pleasant surprise. One never knows what Pitino is trying to accomplish when he says a player is the most improved. He was right for once, Swopshire a force on the boards with 13 rebounds. Good form on that three-pointer as well.
- Pitino may have been right, too, about Edgar Sosa being a changed man. Not one sulk to go with his five assists, three rebounds and 12 points. Played with high levels of confidence.
- Not a good debut for Mike Marra who Pitino said was the best high school shooter he has ever seen, not coming close on any of his four shots.
- The inside game still needs lots and lots of work, because it doesn’t come naturally for Samardo Samuels. Still playing far below the rim, getting pushed around. Not an offensive threat against legitimate teams when it counts.
- Reginald Delk didn’t let a year on the bench shake his psyche, 18 points for scoring honors. A role player playing his role to perfection.
- Peyton Siva providing a little preview of many good things to come with that reverse layup while taking a pounding.
Breaking In A New Basketball Season
By Paul Sykes
Offering a brief respite from the trials and tribulations of a football season gone awry, Rick Pitino’s University of Louisville basketball team begins the 2009-10 season with an exhibition game against Georgetown College tonight in Freedom Hall. The 7 p.m. tip will be televised locally on WHAS.
Things to watch:
- Early season blahs? The Cards are notorious for getting off to slow starts at the beginning on basketball season. Georgetown is a perennial NAIA power that gave the Cardinals fits in 2006 and last year. The 2006 game saw the Tigers narrowly lose 94-92 and last year they pulled within two with less than a minute go to before UofL pulled away 74-67.
- Guard play. Edgar Sosa and Jerry Smith will likely get the start for the Cards but Preston Knowles and freshman Peyton Siva should see plenty of playing time. The foursome has looked impressive in practice and in the Red/White game and they’ll get the chance to play against a school that has been practicing since August.
- Newcomers. In addition to Siva, Pitino expects to give Rakeem (rock) Buckles, Mike Marra and Stephan Van Treese generous court time to get them ready for regular season play. The three could be in the battle for starting roles, competing against Reginald Delk and Jared Swopshire at the “3″ and “4″.
- Life after Earl. The Cards will need to find playmakers and rebounders since Clark, Terrence Williams and Andre McGee have graduated. Besides Preston Knowles, the Cards have no proven defensive stoppers and there are questions about the team’s ability to guard people without help.
