Some games, even winning ones, leave a sour taste. Not fun to watch, just have to get through them.
A typical basketball game against DePaul for the University of Louisville, the 79-58 decision coming after another sluggish affair against a team that often turns in one of its better performances of the season against the Cardinals.
UofL’s flight arriving in Chicago in mid-afternoon because of Tuesday’s weather conditions, playing a late night game, the day’s routine altering their pre-game routine, and a mediocre opponent challenging their intensity levels. DePaul racing out to an 8-0 lead, jarring the team out of its lethargy.
Hello, this is DePaul folks and it’s never easy.
- Peyton Siva just happened to still be available as DePaul was reducing a 17-point deficit to a single digit in the closing minutes. Playing with four fouls, this time providing a calming presence, as well as some points. His 16 points and six assists notwithstanding.
- Russ Smith, with five assists, is still coming to grips with Rick Pitino’s insistance that he is an excellent passer, often passing up shots to find teammates, at other times running into obstacles beneath the basket. A landmark game for him, his 16 points putting him at the 1,0002-point level.
- Gorgui Dieng, his ears maybe still ringing from the flight, would manage only four rebounds.
- Chane Behanan would turn in the dunk of the year, his knee leveling the defender’s face, prompting one official to call a foul that would be overturned by his co-workers.
- Wayne Blackshear just hasn’t done well in his hometown Chicago, managing only one field goal.
- Montrezl Harrell probably had more fun than anyone with those dunks, each better than the last. Now back to working on those free throws.
Syracuse up next. Noon game Saturday. Get up early.
This was the rare game I couldn’t watch live on TV this year. It was shown on ESPNU last night, one channel not included in my over-priced cable package, but now can be viewed at ESPN3, (the first four minutes are a clear broadcast, hopefully the remainder is too.)
Always good to get a W, but, based on your report, I’m worried that we aren’t focused yet. In a year such as this one, we can win it all, but we have to be smart all of the time to get there. Let’s see what Saturday brings. More focus? Less fouling/mistakes/missed assignments? I hope they remind me of the 2012 BE tourney squad.
A major difference between this year and last year for both us fans and the team: we KNOW now we can win the BE tourney, even if not going into it with a stellar season record. We KNOW we can battle all the way to the Final Four. For all of us, expectations have certainly changed. Anything less and we will all crash, dismally. Last year’s FF was a “bonus,” this year, an “expectation.” Wow. What a difference in outlooks. Go Cards!