Two programs with proud histories, mere shadows of themselves, depleted by injuries, attrition forcing them to their knees.
Louisville and Pittsburgh, each needing something good, anything positive, to cast off the shrouds enveloping their teams. The odds of anything good happening this season for the loser remote.
All this staggering U of L program needed was a game at Pittsburgh, with all the screaming meemies in the stands, in constant motion, going berserk, intimidating under normal circumstances, firing on all cylinders, hungry for a win. Like being thrown into a coliseum with raging unfed beasts hungry for red meat.
Pittsburgh would need more than that against a Louisville a team that was almost as uncertain and shaky.
- The unlikely difference maker would be one who was a long shot to play in this game. But there he was, Kyle Kuric, playing injured, seeing more daylight than he’s seen since before Christmas. Â Hitting five of nine three-point attempts, both his free throw attempts, coming through with 21 points and a steal.
- A memorable game for Kuric, topped off by an interview with Erin Andrews, a three-to-four-minute conversation, a long one for the quiet one, keeping it going as long as possible. Yeah, Kyle, it was really her.
- Peyton Siva kept shooting after his first shot missed the entire backboard. Maybe that was rock bottom, couldn’t get any worse, followed a few minutes later by a dunk, actually hitting a mid-range jump shot, and that familiar move to the basket actually working one more time. Maybe, just maybe, enough to move the confidence needle in the right direction.
- Gorgui Dieng managing to go almost an entire half before collecting his second foul, that’s progress. Learning to lean into his man, perhaps, containing bad instincts on defense. Looking more and more comfortable around the basket, a couple of those made baskets coming from finger rolls.
- Russ Smith is paying attention to Rick Pitino, rewarded with more than 32 minutes of playing time a second straight game. He’s so quick he gets away from himself at times, making six steals but giving up the ball by the same count. He brings excitement on both ends of the court.
- Elisha Justice providing capable relief for Siva for eight minutes, three assists, no turnovers. No indication that he’s doing anything but managing the offense, not looking for any shots.
U of L needed this one, not only to stave off the buzzards circling the program, but to begin the confidence-rebuilding process, eager to reassure themselves against Villanova, another wobbly program, at home on Wednesday.