Eight grueling days of practice under Rick Pitino during the nine-day layoff for the University of Louisville basketball team, second time in the past month.

Who will win the 13 Deniz Kilich look-alike contest?
Who will win the Deniz Kilich look-alike contest?

No fun, not with the coach analyzing every move, so much time for personal attention, providing direct feedback, over and over and over again. The trip to Philadelphia finally providing a break from the practices, weather conditions postponing competition for a day.

The Cardinals were ready to break the monotony, play an actual game, with the coach confined to the sideline, not breathing in their faces. Ready to do something different, put all that personal instruction to work. Making it look easy with a 82-58 trouncing of Temple on the Owls’ home court.

Pitino, too, maybe having too much time to think during the break, explore creative approaches. The coach showing up for the game in a three-piece suit but, whoa, has he not shaved in a while? Fuzzy TV reception it wasn’t. Pitino with a scraggly look, maybe the water pipes had broken at the hotel? Nah, they just don’t want to shave until they lose another game.

The Hall of Fame coach, the one who got the tattoo after winning his second national championship, wanting to grow a beard? Cabin fever, maybe? Should be interesting to watch as the days go by. Guessing here that Stephan Van Treese will win the Mountain Man Award, the player most closely resembling Deniz Kilich, the former West Virginia player.

The most unlikely individual to go without shaving, for even a day, Pitino once again going out of his way to be unpredictable, choosing the variance over the obvious, wanting this team to have its own identity, knowing March is less than two weeks away.

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Montrezl Harrell continuing to get stronger, submitting six dunks for serious consideration on Sportscenter, possibly landing two or three spots in the top 10 in one night. He only needs two dunks to surpass the season record of 59, currently owned by Chane Behanan from last season and Pervis Ellison during the 1987-88 season.

His 10 rebounds, six on the offensive board, and four blocks most satisfying to Pitino, with all the hours they probably worked on those facets of his game during the latest layoff.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.