So much for getting better in February.
Still another of those defensive struggles for the University of Louisville, the 58-51 loss to South Florida, reaffirming that this U of L team is severely challenged offensively.
Puzzled fans once again shaking their heads at the scoreboard in the first half, wondering whether their team is capable of accumulating 20 points in the first 20 minutes.
USF is a good team, let’s get that out of the way.
The sad possiblity, however, is that Louisville may have peaked three weeks ago with that ridiculously easy 80-59 romp over UConn, suggesting that U of L was ready to make a patented February run. Look out Big East, here we come.
Instead, every game has been a struggle. The action, if one can call it that, is in slow motion, predictable, grinding, hard to stomach. The antithesis, the reverse, an upside down version of the image and legacy of U of L basketball. Pitino ball, what was that?
Peyton Siva still making some of the same mistakes, lazy passes, not seeing an open Kyle Kuric three feet away, finally frustrating Rick Pitino, sitting Siva for eight minutes in the second half. Impossible to take comfort in his decisionmaking abilities.
Gorgui Dieng is more frustrated by the way this American game is officiated than any beatings he takes around the basket.
One had to wonder whether Russ Smith has fully recovered since he was knocked around Sunday before getting jerked off the floor like a bale of hay by a teammate.
This team looks tired, beaten and frustrated, playing uninspired, lacking motivation, looking for answers. The needle was dangerously close to empty even in wins against West Virginia, DePaul and Pittsburgh. Not a team that resembles the one the coach said a couple of weeks ago was having so much fun in practice
Apparently no relief off the bench when Russ Smith is having an off game. Such hotshots as Wayne Blackshear, Kevin Ware and Angel Nunez not who we thought they were. Nobody knowing how good or bad they are except Rick Pitino. What’s fairly certain is that they’re not going to be much help this season.
Louisville was 5-3 in February. Not exactly a fizzle, Observer.
Sometimes progress is measured in ways other than in solely wins and losses my friend, something even Pitino seems to be admitting with his plans to shake things up. Doubtful he’ll change much, but we shall see. There was obvious deterioration in February. Hopefully March brings a turnaround.
Also, when Coach Rick does substitute with players, such as Blackshear, Nunez, and Ware, they aren’t in long enough to break a sweat or get into the flow of the game. Love Swop to death but he is NO where near the caliber of talent Behanan is and the substitution for him in the Cincy game when he sat for about 7 to 8 minutes and Swop played still leaves me scratching my head. U play to WIN the game and u do it with YOUR BEST PLAYERS.
With exception to that 3 I noticed chris do that pull up a cpl times when he had a lane for a lay in. But yea, its safe to say the team might be getting frustrated with random benching decisions that dont have anything to do with keeping guys fresh
Absolutely none, Tom. Chris Smith was keeping us in the game. Pulling him at that point defies any rational explanation. We’ve seen this happen a few times before. I think it’s a case of Pitino outsmarting himself, thinking he sees things that other people, especially fans, don’t see or understand. He’s right about that, by the way. We will never understand that move.
I missed most of the post game interviews & talk show discussions after last night’s game. Was there any discussion or explanation why C. Smith was pulled out of the game just as he was heating up, hitting some 3-pointers and such….to be replaced by an inexperienced freshman, who then contributed to some turnovers and a loss of the lead?
Charlie,
Let’s Remember the Seniors in this Positive Light…(with 70 pics of game too)
http://hellinthehall.com/2012/03/01/cards-lose-to-s-fla-but-lets-remember-the-seniors-in-this-positive-light/
When did CRP say that he was going to retire?