Category Archives: Louisville basketball

No Looking Ahead To Next Year

Posted on by

One of the things fans look forward as the basketball opens is a first look at the incoming freshmen. They are, after all, the future of the program. So much for that tradition: Attrition has struck the class big time.

The NCAA Clearinghouse didn’t live up to its name once again, failing to clear George Goode, a 6-foot-8, 205-pounder lacking a couple of high school credits. The doctors are at least a year away from allowing 7-foot-2 Clarence Holloway anywhere near a basketball court. That leaves only Preston Knowles, a guard from Winchester that Pitino says plays good defense, and Lee Steiden, a walk on guard from St. X.

Fast forward to next season: David Padgett, Juan Palacios and Terrance Farley will have graduated. At least three starters could jump to the NBA. Pitino will be practically starting all over again, with a team that will essentially include eight or nine people new to the college scene. Some of the incoming frosh will have extraordinary talent but also much to learn.

But that’s next year. The cup is full of talented veterans right now, and there’s every reason for U of L fans to live for the moment.

* * *

The U of L marketing staff has outdone itself this year with the basketball schedule posters. They are larger than usual, 18 x 24 inches, and on a heavier paper stock. The design is classic, a real keeper. You can pick them up at Thornton’s locations while they last. A nod, too, to V. G. Reed & Sons Printing Company for the quality.

Pitino Making Good On Promise

Posted on by

One thing is clear after two exhibition games: This year’s basketball Cards are light years ahead of any Rick Pitino team since he arrived in Louisville in 2001. He appears to finally have all the pieces together for what could be a special season.

Few coaches could have survived the challenges of his first few seasons. The program was plagued by a lack of talented veterans, few recruits in the pipeline, and players with eligibility and discipline issues. Then came the disappointments of talented recruits skipping college for the pros, accompanied by the crushing blow of injuries to key players. The coach was even dealing with personal health issues at one point.

It’s hard to believe that some skeptics were questioning whether Pitino had lost his touch and desire to win as recently as last season, despite having guided the Cards to the Final Four during the 2004-05. That, of course, was before they won 12 of the last 15 regular season games last year.

Pitino is making good on his promise “to return the Cards to national prominence.” It’s going to be fun to watch.

* * *

Here’s a must see video to tide U of L fans over until the regular basketball season officially begins against Hartford on Nov. 17:

Round Ball?

Posted on by


Don’t look now but basketball is breathing down our necks already. The Cards tip off the season on Monday in a exhibition game against Carleton University at Freedom Hall. Hope nobody is expecting U of L to just roll over the visitors. Carleton is a basketball powerhouse in Canada, having won five straight national championships. Anything less than a romp could ignite another round of Pitino bashings.

Slow starts in opening exhibition games in recent years against Georgetown College and Bellarmine University have done just that, setting a negative tone before the season officially got under way.

* * *

Football is tops, basketball a close second in my book. The affinity for all things U of L actually began with basketball, however. I was a 13-year-old during the 1955-56 season, following Louisville games on radio even though I lived in Big Blue territory, only 11 miles from Lexington.

The Cards started off that season winning nine games in a row before losing a heart breaker to Ed Diddle’s Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, a perennial power in those days. I could have used Diddle’s trademark red towel to dry my tears after the loss.. The Cards recovered quickly, however, achieving a 26-3 record, including the National Invitation Tournament trophy, then the most prestigious prize in college basketball.

They defeated Dayton in the NIT championship, their third win over that top 10-ranked team that year. The game was, in fact, one of U of L’s first televised games. I missed the telecast but heard it on the radio. My headache was gone after the game.

* * *

Fellow fan and blogger Tom Heiser, who continues to impress me with his exceptional mastery of the English language (I learn at least one new word almost every time I visit his CJ fan blog) got me pumped up for the upcoming season with this summation:

It shouldn’t come as a surprise if U of L is exerting high pressure on the national barometer. Their midseason transformation from an error-prone youth corps to an unselfish, role-oriented upstart didn’t go unnoticed — from their tourney ranking to early pre-season rankings in the top 10.

Round Ball?

Posted on by
Reply


Don’t look now but basketball is breathing down our necks already. The Cards tip off the season on Monday in a exhibition game against Carleton University at Freedom Hall. Hope nobody is expecting U of L to just roll over the visitors. Carleton is a basketball powerhouse in Canada, having won five straight national championships. Anything less than a romp could ignite another round of Pitino bashings.

Slow starts in opening exhibition games in recent years against Georgetown College and Bellarmine University have done just that, setting a negative tone before the season officially got under way.

* * *

Football is tops, basketball a close second in my book. The affinity for all things U of L actually began with basketball, however. I was a 13-year-old during the 1955-56 season, following Louisville games on radio even though I lived in Big Blue territory, only 11 miles from Lexington.

The Cards started off that season winning nine games in a row before losing a heart breaker to Ed Diddle’s Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, a perennial power in those days. I could have used Diddle’s trademark red towel to dry my tears after the loss.. The Cards recovered quickly, however, achieving a 26-3 record, including the National Invitation Tournament trophy, then the most prestigious prize in college basketball.

They defeated Dayton in the NIT championship, their third win over that top 10-ranked team that year. The game was, in fact, one of U of L’s first televised games. I missed the telecast but heard it on the radio. My headache was gone after the game.

* * *

Fellow fan and blogger Tom Heiser, who continues to impress me with his exceptional mastery of the English language (I learn at least one new word almost every time I visit his CJ fan blog) got me pumped up for the upcoming season with this summation:

It shouldn’t come as a surprise if U of L is exerting high pressure on the national barometer. Their midseason transformation from an error-prone youth corps to an unselfish, role-oriented upstart didn’t go unnoticed — from their tourney ranking to early pre-season rankings in the top 10.