Preston Knowles Gets Call Instead (Surprise)

Glad the observer qualified Rick Pitino’s remarks about Peyton Siva starting. The coach is again doing the opposite of what he said Tuesday he would do. Looks like he’s going with Preston Knowles at second guard and staying with Edgar Sosa at the point. At least, RP is consistent.

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Louisville Misses Finish Line

The pre-game motivational stuff from Rick Pitino, Terrence Williams, Andre McGee and company was enough to get their Louisville team sufficiently pumped for the first 15 minutes or so. Somewhere around that point, however, Jay Wright would do a little motivating of his own, collecting a technical foul, shaking up his players and the guys wearing stripes.

Before Wright stormed the floor, this was a Louisville team reminiscent of some of the great ones in headliner games, the kind Cards would usually win, turning fans into fanatics. Whether it was adrenaline-inspired, simply an apparition or a preview of things to come, U of L’s performance before Jay Wright’s theatrics provide encouragement for what lies ahead.

• Samardo Samuels, with a different look in his eyes, playing like coaches and fans had hoped he was capable, aggressive, going after the ball, not getting pushed around. Hitting an oh-my-God hook shot, hitting all four shots he takes, including 13 of 13 free throws. Samuels gained considerable respect in this game. Now if his teammates can get him the ball often, he’s ready and willing.

• Peyton Siva, now that his wrist is better and he’s gotten over the newby syndrome, displayed why he was so highly touted coming out of high school. Two great steals, questionably classified as fouls, could have turned the game at the end. He knows his way down the lane, twisting and turning, somehow getting the ball to Samuels. He’s only just begun.

• Jerry Smith, as the person next to me observed, will either do something spectacular and incredibly stupid, just often enough that fans have come to expect it. One nice three-point shot but he remains in a shooting slump, hitting one of six shot attempts.  Six rebounds but five turnovers? Something’s not right.

• Preston Knowles looking like a player who actually has a few flaws, making surprising turnovers, missing those surprising shots he has hit so often fans have come to count on them. No doubt those qualities will return.

• Jared Swopshire, getting in foul trouble too early, just not enough of him to go around.

• Kyle Kuric is fearless around the boards. Find your shot, Kyle, soon.

Rick Pitino, fearless wearing the white suit. He had this team ready to play. Some just couldn’t finish.

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Easing Into Louisville Basketball

Goodbye college football season.

No big games this weekend. The regular season all but done. The coaching issue  resolved at the University of Louisville. No more Steve Kragthorpe to kick around. Get a life and move on to other interests.

Those passionate about their football have little choice but to switch gears, focus on basketball. Shouldn’t be that difficult at a “basketball school,” right?

Wouldn’t be:

• If it wasn’t one of those seasons already plagued by injuries. Preston Knowles, Peyton Siva, Jerry Smith and, now, George Goode? Knowles and Siva may return this weekend.
• If U of L’s current big men didn’t play like small forwards. Coached by two of the game’s great coaches and teachers, and 20 to 25 hours in the gym a week apparently not enough.
• If Rick Pitino’s teams weren’t so slow leaving the gate, having already incurred two losses, with the Western Kentucky hurdle just a week away.
• If the rest of the Big East weren’t so strong, with six teams in the top 20 — Villanova, No. 3; West Virginia, No. 6; Syracuse, No. 7; UConn, No. 14; Georgetown, No. 15; and Cincinnati, No. 19.
• If the Lexington school didn’t look like it was going to go undefeated during the regular season, with only the Southeastern Conference presenting the only challenge now.
• If one could be dead certain Rick Pitino’s team would make one of those classic Rick Pitino late season runs. Seems highly unlikely at this point, but stranger things have happened.

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The fact that Jeff Walz’ women’s basketball team is getting off to a rocky start doesn’t make the transition to basketball any easier. The 5-3 Lady Card take on IUPUI at 2 p.m. Sunday at Freedom Hall.

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Darrell Griffith will be signing autographs of the Freedom Hall print at the Kroger on Central Avenue, across from Jim Patterson Stadium, from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday.

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Louisville Basketball Brings Expectations

Here we go again.

The University of Louisville basketball season arrives for real. And, yes, some lofty expectations accompany the season opener against Arkansas. Fans have quickly become accustomed to Elite Eights. Never mind that the analysts aren’t as optimistic.

Don’t doubt that it will take a while for this group to find its legs. A team doesn’t lose the likes of Terrence Williams, Earl Clark and Andre McGee and pick up where it left off. These departures, remember, included the top two scorers and a defensive legend.

• Throw in the entire Rick Pitino playbook from game one along with all of the Ralph Willard wrinkles, and there’s a huge learning curve ahead. Some heads are spinning, and ears are ringing.
• The really big questions about this team are the big guys. Samardo Samuels needs to have developed threefold during the off season to become an offensive force. Unless he has changed, Terrence Jennings is physical, but lacks coordination, predictability, consistency.
• Jared Swopshire has the fluidity and the body but not the confidence or shooting ability, at least not last season. Kyle Kuric plays like a big man trapped in a 6-foot-4 body. He would control the boards otherwise.
• Jerry Smith may be in the best shape of his career if reports of all the extra effort over the summer are accurate. If Smith returns in freshman form, he could erase the memory of those ball fakes.
• If it’s true that Edgar Sosa is a different person with a different mindset, it would be the third straight season.
• The only thing certain is that Preston Knowles and Peyton Siva will be instrumental in any success Louisville enjoys this season. Everything else is speculation.

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A check of the roster indicates that former equipment manager Tim Sypher is now director of the Yum Center, and Vincent (Vinny) Tatum, former president of basketball operations, is now managing the equipment.  All in the family, the growth process.

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The Lady Cards take on Hartford University on the road tonight after their narrow weekend win over Dayton. See Sonja’s take here.

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Siva Smooth As Silk

By Paul Sykes

Peyton Siva is only six feet.  Shhh….don’t tell him. He plays like a seven footer when the opportunity arises. A soaring second half swat of a Bellarmine drive to the basket got the crowd roaring.

Then, moments later Siva slams in a reverse dunk following a Jerry Smith missed layup. The only thing comparable to the two big plays? His ear-to-ear grin on the bench during the final minutes of the game. They grow ‘em pretty good in Seattle, don’t they?

• A sign of things to come? Rick Pitino started both Terrance Jennings and Samardo Samuels. Although the combination didn’t last long, the two-big men, three-guard lineup. Knowles, Sosa and Smith didn’t disappoint in the opening minutes.
• Peyton loves Samardo. Several great passes to the big guy for easy hoops. May not be as easy once Big East play begins but good to see the chemistry.
• Siva will drive, thanks for asking. He made a couple of great penetrating drives from the top of the circle for easy layups.
• Preston Knowles will punish you when left open for the three. He’s probably better known for his defensive intensity but looked smooth on several long-range bombs.
• Steve Van Treese saw his first action and the big guy didn’t disappoint. Still learning the ropes and the sets but he goes to the boards with authority. Walk on Chris Brickley also hit the court for a few dribbles.
• Scott Davenport may have missed his best chance to ever defeat Rick Pitino in Louisville’s 88-65 exhibition win.

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