Today was a busy news day for Louisville athletics and it started off with the Rick Pitino press conference where he introduced his new assistant coach Mike Balado. Rick talked about how it was important to keep the chemistry as well as the consistency of his coaching staff going forward, and said that it was a well thought out process hiring a new assistant. Coach Balado is fluent in the Spanish language and he hopes to be able to connect with recruits on the international stage that want to play in the United States. I think it is great that the coaching staff is thinking outside of the box, and hope to keep getting guys like Fransico Garcia and Edgar Sosa.
Coach Pitino on new assistant: “We’ve had great chemistry the last three years with our staff. We took our time hiring with this position.”
Coach Pitino: “By hiring Mike, who worked for Richard, I happened to watch Mike work on a number of occasions…It was an easy hire for me.”
Coach Pitino: “Mike is also fluent in Spanish…We’re already recruiting some Hispanic ball players.”
Assistant Coach Balado: “A lot of young kids on the international stage want to come to the United States. I’m excited to give them that opportunity.”
Coach Pitino also mentioned at his press conference that Luke Hancock and Russ Smith will be team captains next season and talked about a few of the guys and mentioned what he thought their roles on the team will be next season. I found it interesting that he mentioned how Montrezl Harrell was the one he has seen in the gym the most. I think that kid is gonna take his game to a whole new level and will end up being one of the best players on the floor next season. Coach also talked about how recruiting had always been a little challenging because of the competition he had on the team but says that with the recent success of the program that recruiting has gotten much easier and feels like kids are more attracted to Louisville now. The schedule was mentioned in the press conference and Coach Pitino talked about how we would be in some limbo next year due to us having to play in a make shift league before entering the ACC in 2014. We do have UK, UNC and it was hinted that IU may also be on next years slate.
Coach Pitino: “Luke Hancock and Russ Smith will be captains next year.”
Coach Pitino: “Chane is kind of the Pied Piper on the basketball team…Chane’s the guy that rallies the troops.”
Coach Pitino: “To accomplish our goals we needed Russ to score. And now Russ knows we don’t need that anymore.”
Coach Pitino: “Montrezl has probably been the player in the gym the most right now. These guys are very hungry.”
Coach Pitino: “Recruiting for us is never easy because of the competition we have. But it’s become easier because of our brand & success we’ve had.”
Coach Pitino: “Next year will be in limbo a little bit…but it will still be a very very competitive league.”
Coach Pitino: “The schedule going forward is great for our fans…It’s going to be really great for other sports as well joining the ACC.”
Coach Pitino ended his press conference today talking about how great the last three years has been for the basketball program and how he hoped that the run can continue into the future. With it being Derby week Coach had to talk about his horses and the run for the roses this weekend. He also mentioned that we might be hearing about a horse being named for another popular basketball player “Three Point Luke.” I do like that name a lot!
Coach Pitino on what this week is like for him: “I haven’t experienced the horse part yet…I’m hoping to get out there Wednesday morning.”
Coach Pitino on horse Siva: “Siva is going to run Wednesday.”
Coach Pitino on the Derby: “The Derby is a lot of traffic. And sometimes the best horses don’t win the Derby. The horse in the least amount of trouble wins.”
Coach Pitino ends press conference by welcoming Mike Balado. He also thanks media: “It’s been a fun 3 years and we hope it can continue for long time.”
Coach Pitino mentioned in his press conference today that the Cards would face UNC next year. Louisville and North Carolina will headline the 2013 Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament. The tournament is put on by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be played for the third season at the Mohegan Sun arena in Connecticut. The tournament also will include Fairfield, Hartford, Richmond, Holy Cross, Hofstra, and Belmont. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Tip-Off Tournament features college basketball’s top programs. For twenty-five years, the Tip-Off Classic was the inaguaral start of the college hoops season. For the past several years, the Tip-Off Tournament, delivers top ranked basketball in November. Last year No. 3 Ohio State beat Washington in the championship game of the season’s tournament. The 2011 tournament was won by eventual national champion Kentucky.
For more information on the 2013 Hall of Fame Tip Off visit website here:
Today ESPN.com and CBSsports.com came out with their early pre-season college basketball polls for next year. I usually don’t get too excited about these early polls but when they have The University of Kentucky ranked #1 and The University of Louisville ranked #2 that will get a rise. I had a dermatology appointment today and even the Doctor and I shared a little fan fodder about the looming 2014 basketball season. He was a UK fan and I’m just glad he was gentle. I don’t agree that a group of untested AAU studs should be ranked ahead of a group of grizzled veterans but do agree that both teams do deserve to be in the top 5 entering next season. Just hard to imagine any media members not having the defending champs at the top to start the season. I just don’t understand the logic behind it not being like that. But who knows maybe they will see the light and change their minds as the summer wears on.
Here is our ranking and what they had to say:
CBSSPORTS.com:
ESPN.com:
There was also another pre-season poll that came out today and unlike the basketball poll the school down the road isn’t in this conversation. ESPN.com released their early top 25 football poll today and our Louisville Cards are ranked 4th. This is great news especailly if the polls end up looking like this to start the season. Even with the weak schedule one has to think that if the football team goes undefeated starting the season in the top 5 that they will get the shot to play in the main Bowl Game. How awesome would it be to play in that game? Below is the ranking and what they had to say about our upcoming football season.
Like I said earlier Cards fans, it was a pretty busy day in the Cardinal Nation. It is great to share in the enjoyment and excitement of one of the greatest athletic programs in the country. And I’m looking forward to another exciting sports year to get under way. GO CARDS!
