The Cards could be the number one college basketball team in the country on Monday afternoon when the new rankings come out. And they played like the number one team today putting a thrashing on the South Florida Bulls 64-38. The Cards have now won 10 straight and their 15th game overall. They are now 3-0 in Big East play. South Florida drops to 0-3 and are now 2-40 all-time against teams ranked in the top 10.

Coach Stan Heath on Louisville: “That was a wow, that’s a very good team.””They keep bringing guys in and bringing guys in, changing defenses from zone to man.””They’re legitimate to win it all.”

Last year the Cards were booed off of the court at the end of the South Florida game as they lost on senior day 58-51. But today, perhaps with revenge on their minds came out early and took the bull by the horns and never let go. Louisville now leads this series 26 to 4, and held the Bulls to their lowest Big East point total ever. I mentioned in my pregame breakdown that the Cardinal front-court players would have to step up big today and boy did they ever. Gorgui Dieng had 12 points, and 16 boards. It was Dieng’s 4th double-double of the year and his 3rd in a row having one in every Big East game so far. Chane Behanan in his return from an ankle injury had 7 points and 12 rebounds. It was Behanan’s 3 game with double digit rebounds for the season. Freshman Montrezl Harrell got the start today and provided some valuable minutes scoring 2 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. Cards scored 36 of their 64 points in the paint. It was a huge day for senior Peyton Siva as he led all scorers with 17 points and became the 64th Louisville player to reach the 1000 mark. Russ had a productive but quite day with 8 points. The Louisville bench had a big day today with 21 points.

The Cards came into this game today ranked 2nd nationally in turnover margin at +8.1 and forcing 20.3 turnovers a game. They are scoring 34% of their points this season off of those turnovers. Today they forced the Bulls into 17 turnovers and scored 17 points off of those turnovers. The Cards came into this game today ranked 3rd nationally in steals with 11.5 per game with Siva and Smith averaging 4.8 of those. Today the Cards got 6 steals and Siva had 3 of those. Smith didn’t have any steals today. Another thing mentioned in my pregame breakdown was the fact that South Florida had done such a poor job on the glass in their previous Big East games. That trend continued today as the Cards out-rebounded them 49 to 24. The Cards really looked good today on the defensive end of the floor in what might have been their best defensive outing of the season. Coach Pitino was really happy with the defensive effort today saying “We’re getting a lot better at the defensive end. From Seton Hall halftime to now, I can’t be any more pleased.” He also said of the defense “As a team, we had a group of young men start the Seton Hall game, and came out of it as a group of tough men.”

With a Michigan loss tomorrow its a pretty sure bet that the Cards will be the number one team in the country come Monday. But they won’t get long to enjoy it as they have to travel to Hartford for a Big Monday match-up with a UCONN team that is have a very decent season of their own. They just beat Notre Dame today ending their long home winning streak. Will be a very tough road battle but just another night in the Big East.

There are no easy wins when college basketball reaches this point in the season. Conference play is a different monster and what seems to be a mismatch often isn’t when the ball is tipped, especially on the road. Tonight was another perfect example of that as the Seton Hall Pirates hung tough with the Cards only to fall at the end 73-58.

With this Cardinal team I never feel like they are in danger of losing a game. They always seem to find a way to dig it out and get the job done. They have so many weapons and have so many ways of using them. Our Cards lacked their usual sharpness tonight but were able to win their 9th straight and 14th overall. They did it behind another solid defensive effort getting 12 steals and forcing 16 turnovers. They also held the Pirates to just 34.7% shooting from the field. The Cards were also able to hold the Pirates offensive catalyst Fuquan Edwin to just 13 points and most of those came when the game was out of reach. He came into this game averaging 18 points (fourth best in the Big East). Luke Hancock and Montrezl Harrell followed their defensive game plan perfectly keeping Edwin from getting his usual looks at the basket.

The Cards who struggled at times themselves to make baskets due to Seton Hall’s effective defense were able to win this one going away thanks to a second half surge that was spurred by two big three point shots from Luke Hancock. He would finish with 7 points and from a big play and defensive aspect had one of his best games of the season in my opinion. With Chane Behanan out of the line up Gorgui and Montrezl really stepped up their play tonight. Dieng led all scores with a season high 16 points and he also recorded his second and consecutive double-double as he grabbed 14 rebounds. Harrell tied his career best with 14 points and he grabbed 3 rebounds. The Cards back court duo of Siva and Smith were held to 4 of 17 shooting and just 18 points between them, but did do a great job at getting other guys involved as they had 13 assist. They also rebounded the ball well grabbing 11 between them.

It wasn’t pretty at times tonight but like I mentioned earlier it never really felt like the Cards were ever going to lose this game. I don’t remember a season ever feeling as confident in a group as I do this one. And it’s just January. I can only imagine what this group is going to look like after they are completely fine tuned. And that’s what I love about the Big East conference. You know it is going to get these guys prepared for that final run.

Our Cards will now bring their 2-0 Big East record back to the friendly confines of the KFC Yum Center for a 4PM match-up Saturday with South Florida.

Last night on a national stage, the University of Louisville football program shocked the world. And showed them that basketball is not the only thing in Louisville worthy of national stature. Louisville (11-2, 5-2 Big East) dominated every aspect and nearly every moment of the game, leaving Florida (11-2, 7-1 SEC) shell-shocked, 33-23. The victory was all the more impressive in that it came at the expense of one of college football’s more storied programs. It was one of Florida’s worst drubbings in a bowl game.

Florida was just simply unable to match the Louisville intensity in this game. Our Cards came into this one with a chip on their shoulder and with something to prove. They wanted to shock the world and they wanted to get this win for their coach and their city. This group of young men has made their impact and their names will now live forever in Cardinal Lore. Just like that group in 1991 they have vaulted this program to that next level. Their next goal is obvious as they should be ranked in the Top 10 to start next season and will be in the conversation and mix for a national championship.

“This program is on a collision course with the national championship. The only variable is time.” -Howard Schnellenberger

Last night our #4 ranked Cards won their first Big East basketball game for their 8th straight victory putting away the Providence Friars 80-62 in front of 21,305 fans at the KFC Yum Center. The Big East opener is a big deal but last night it was an appetizer to the much-anticipated Sugar Bowl. I do not think I have ever wanted a basketball game to be over so quickly. And folks were running to the exits of the Yum Center to get to the local watering holes to watch the big football game.

Coach Pitino: “We’re continuing to win with offense, But our defense is nowhere near where we want it to be.” “Once our defense catches up to our offense, we have a chance to be a really special team.”

A big reason for the Cards offensive output this season is Russ Smith. Last night he had another big game coming off the bench scoring 23 points, grabbing 4 rebounds with 3 assist. He was 4-5 from 3-point range. It was an impressive offensive night for the Cards as four other players would score in double digits. Chane with 10 points , Peyton with 10 points, Luke with 11 points, and Gorgui with 11 points. Gorgui had his first double double of the season as he also had 11 rebounds. The Cards had 22 assist and only 8 turnovers. Wayne and Kevin had a few good plays between them but I still don’t think they have reached anywhere near their potential this season. And I know I keep harping on these guys but it’s only because I know we will need their efforts if we are to win a National Title.

And I know that Coach said that the offense is ahead of the defense but it wasn’t awful. The Cards forced the Friars into 16 turnovers and scored 27 points off them. They also had 10 steals. Our backcourt players had their share of foul trouble again in this one as Ware had 3, Smith had 3 and Siva had 4. Really hope to see this area improve in the next couple of weeks.

Cards will get this weekend off then head to New Jersey next Wednesday for a battle with Seton Hall.