A Monday awakening was inevitable.
The flaws so visible during an overdue win over the weekend were in full evidence. The perception of a rejuvenated Louisville basketball team was destined to meet head on with reality. The relief from the downward spiral all too brief.
U of L’s aggressive defense, one personified by excessive hacking, slapping, pushing and shoving, is largely effective because officials can’t possibly make all the calls, letting many of them go. The approach may keep Louisville in many games but when a team employs that style, there should be an extra emphasis on free-throw shooting. Marquette makes free throw shooting look so easy, Louisville so hard, any free throw that goes in a surprise.
A typical Louisville-Marquette finish was plausible but not possible with the way the Golden Eagles were taking advantage of free-throw opportunities and Louisville turnovers.
Peyton Siva trying to do too much, as usual, but getting less and less done. Those trips down the lane have been shut off entirely. He finds himself twirling in circles, desperation taking over trying to find open teammates. He has allowed himself to be intimidated by his own slump, unwilling to shoot unless forced, unable to hit even the most open shots.
Russ Smith taking it to the opposition but he’s out of control more often than not, relying more on instinct than any coaching. Those instincts may serve him well on the playground, but there are severe consequences under the bright lights.
All the injuries have taken their toll, obviously. We have to wonder, however, how much this group of player heeds the expertise Rick Pitino shares with them. The backward slide continues.
But it was a good weekend, nice while it lasted.
My co-worker, a cradle Catholic, is convinced it’s the Pope getting back at Pitino for his indescretions. He has a point: Georgetown, Providence, Notre Dame, Marquette….all Catholic schools! 😉
Who am I to argue?
Someone should tell His Holiness it’s no big thing.
TXCARD addresses the elephant in the room.
Why hasn’t Rick Pitino been able to recruit better players?
Or at least one functional point guard?
There is no one on the bench to replace Siva that would not be exposed in Big East play. That is the problem with this team. After the WKU game one of the ESPN analysts was asked why Louisville was struggling. His response was that he did not think that there was a lot of talent on the team and they were over achieving by being undefeated. Pitino tried to cover his recruiting failures by declaring last year a bridge season, but the talent is no better this year than last year. Just the same players a year older with a recruiting class that resulted in an injury, a developing player and two that are not even close to being productive players (Pitino’s words). Russ Smith has the highest level of confidence in his ability to play combined with absoutely no understanding of what it really takes to be a great player. If Smith is the answer, then it is no wonder that the team is where it is. Look at the very best teams in the country. Do any have a number one, two or three player that plays like Russ Smith? Pitino has to put up with Smith’s wild inconsistancy because there is no one else. Pitino’s failure is not in his coaching, practices or style of play. It is simply his inability to recruit at the highest level. The talent on this team is no better than most teams in the Big East or any of the major conferences.
Agreed but I also have to question his refusal to make adjustments. I realize the parts aren’t there but other than letting Russ go Russ he hasn’t tried anything new.
I agree but Pitino is going to stick with what he believes is the only path to success. From what I have seen this year, I find it hard to believe that Nunez and Price could perform any worse than what Swopshire and Buckles have provided.
I think that’s defense. Nunez has no clue. Last night he was 0-2 and a TO on three possessions which I believe were consecutive. And he whiffed on D twice pawing the air not even close to the guy who went by him. This is not to say he won’t be a good player but right now……..
Derek Willis to the Cards? Hope so.
My comments about Siva over the last few weeks have been more than confirmed. He needs to be riding the bench so productive players get the playing time. I’m repeating myself – he’s a liability!
A team’s performane always reflect the attitude of the coach. And team usually play like they pratice also!
Yes, this tem has flaws, but so does the coach and his recruiting! We are paying Pitino one of the vwry highest salaries in college basketbal, but we are not one of the to[ programs in college basketball. So the question beckons to be aske, is Louisville getting its money worth out of Rick Pitino?
This is getting old. Cards dropping like a rock in the rankings. And, I’ve been saying for weeks, Siva needs to be out of the starting line-up…maybe give him 5 minutes of playing time. He is pathetic. In 37 minutes today, he gets 2 points and 3 turnovers. I’d take Russ Smith (20 points) or Chris Smith (19) any time over Siva. Over the last 4 games, Siva has played 141 minutes, scored 16 points and 15 turnovers. Russ has 50 points and Chris 57 over the same four games. Pathetic.
And not one point has come from a jump shot. Only layups or free throws. Nah, scratch that. Even with his drives to the hole he has shot only two free throws in the four games. And he missed both.
Sugar coat it any way you wish but this team has a great number of weaknesses, cannot shoot free throws, resembles a M*A*S*H unit, and has a coach who doesn’t want to make adjustments when his plan isn’t working. Thank goodness we are becoming a football school.