Monthly Archives: March 2015

The Beak Basketball Breakdown: The Cavaliers (Senior Day)

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Saturday is set up to be a very special day in the KFC Yum Center. Not only are we celebrating the efforts of two great players in Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear, but there is also a pretty good team in #2 Virginia coming to town. This will be another opportunity to get a great quality win before the selection and seeding process next weekend. Our Cardinals will also ultimately be playing for a double bye in next week’s ACC Tournament. Louisville trails Virginia 3-6 in this series, but has won two of the last three meetings. Virginia prevailed 52-47 in Charlottesville earlier this season.

Video | Rick Pitino previews Virginia game

The Cavaliers will be looking to extend their nine-game winning streak. Virginia is averaging 65.8 points on 46.3% shooting from the field, and 36% shooting from the three. They are being led this season by Malcolm Brogdon (13.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.6 apg), Anthony Gill (11.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 0.9 apg), Darion Atkins (7.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.7 apg), Darion Atkins (7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 0.7 apg), and London Perrantes (6.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 4.7 apg). The Cavaliers are 13-0 on the road this season.

Defensively, Virginia is allowing 50 points a game, 35.5% shooting from the field and 30.2% shooting from the three. They have given up 60 or less points in eight straight games. They have held six teams under 40 points this season.

Virginia’s 2014-15 OVERALL Rankings Offense | Defense

OFFENSE
-POINTS PER GAME
65.8
214th
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
37.1
54th
OVERALL
-ASSISTS PER GAME
13.1
135th
OVERALL
-FIELD GOAL PCT
.463
61st
OVERALL

DEFENSE
-POINTS ALLOWED
50.0
1st
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
26.5
14th
OVERALL
-BLOCKS PER GAME
4.4
66th
OVERALL
-STEALS PER GAME
5.4
273rd
OVERALL

Virginia’s 2014-15 Kenpom Rankings
Overall- #3
Defense Adjustment Efficiency
-84.2 ranks 1st
Offense Adjustment Efficiency
-112.4 ranks 28th
-Per Kenpom’s game prediction he has Virginia winning the game 56-53 based on his indexes.

Our Cardinals need a big win after splitting their last eight games. They are averaging 69.9 points on 43% shooting from the field, and 30.7% from the three. Terry Rozier is averaging 17.2 points and 2.8 assists; Montrezl Harrell is averaging 15.6 points and 9.3 rebounds. Wayne Blackshear is the third double-digit scorer averaging 10.7 points and 4.6 rebounds. Chinanu Onuaku has been gradually improving all season and is grabbing five rebounds a game. Despite an encouraging effort in the FSU game the Louisville bench was held scoreless against Notre Dame. The 5 spot combined for 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 turnovers and 11 fouls vs. Notre Dame.

Mango, Shaqquan, Anas, Jaylen and Anton have to become a bigger part of the Louisville team over the next couple of weeks. It’s imperative to this team’s tournament success in my opinion. We may see these guys play more due to the recent news that Coach Pitino plans on changing his system especially on the defensive end. The main reason some of the younger guys haven’t seen the floor was due to their defensive execution. One would think a simplified defense would mean more playing time. Currently the Louisville defense is allowing 59.3 points a game, 38.5% shooting from the field and 28.5% shooting from the three. They have given up 59 or less points in six of their last 10 games.

It’s always a good thing when you can get a game like this to end a regular season. A quality opponent can get a team prepared for the tough weeks ahead as tournament play starts. This Virginia team is a very good opponent to close the season with and they do a lot of things well. They will challenge our Cardinals in every facet of the game on Saturday and we’ll see if the Cards can start trending upward.

I do think our guys answer the call on Senior Day as they will be riding a wave of emotions from the festivities. I also think these guys will respond to the “system change” that Coach Pitino has made. I think they will play a little looser and will play harder not having to worry about making mistakes on the defensive end of the floor. I’m looking forward to being right in the middle of it all. Going to be a great day! Go Cards!

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 60 Virginia 53

Louisville Senior Day a Waning Moment and the End of an EraL

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We have reached the part of the college basketball season where teams are winding up conference play and ramping up for the post season tournaments. Years of hard work hang in the balance as seniors across the country near the end of their college basketball careers, and programs across the country are having their Senior Night/Day ceremonies.

On Saturday the University of Louisville will honor one senior Wayne Blackshear, and Montrezl Harrell who will be leaving the program early to pursue his NBA career… These guys will lace em up in that locker room for the last time, will come charging out of that tunnel to the Alma mater for the last time, and will get the love and admiration from the Yum Center crowd for the last time.

Cardinal fans will celebrate the contributions of these guys, recognizing the significant role they have played in this program, especially in the last three years where they have claimed two Big East Championships, an AAC Championship, two Final Fours and a National Title. These guys like the last group we sent out had their fair share of winning. Ceremonies like on Saturday are part of the process that allows closure for the seniors and a passing of the torch to the underclassmen. But they really are bittersweet and I never look forward to saying good-bye to our players.

In successful programs like the University Louisville the players leave but the tradition never graduates. This program is rich and vibrant because many guys like Wayne and Montrezl have cared enough to give their very best. There are still many chapters that have yet to be written, but these guys have added to the outstanding tradition of Cardinal basketball.

Montrezl Harrell said the best basketball advice he was ever given was to never give up. Not only has he never given up on this team or this program he is one of the hardest workers you’ll ever see on a basketball court. I heard an announcer in one of the U18 basketball games where Montrezl won a gold medal for this country call him “Enthusiasm Personified”. This announcer also said that he had never seen a player go as hard as Montrezl. That enthusiastic attitude on the basketball court has resulted in Harrell being the program leader in one of the most enthusiastic plays in the game the slam dunk.

He became the UofL career leader in dunks with seven slams against Indiana on Dec. 9, passing Pervis Ellison. He has 63 this season and currently has 204 dunks in his Louisville career. Harrell’s school-record 97 dunks last year shattered the Cards’ single-season mark by 38 slams. This along with his never give up mentality will be the legacy he leaves behind. Things always seem to work out in the long run. Louisville wasn’t Harrell’s first college choice but will forever be his home. Thanks for all of your hard work Trez and all those highlights that will be a part of Cardinal lore forever.

Wayne Blackshear said the best basketball advice he was ever given was to stay positive. He has taken that advice and applied it into his last four years as a Louisville Cardinal. He has had his fair share of tough luck during his college career. Struggling through two years of shoulder injuries and constant criticism Wayne has always stayed the course and maintained a positive attitude. He’s a guy that has never had attitude issues with his team or his coach, and has been an honor student in the classroom. He may not be known for his all-star play on a basketball court but Wayne is an all-star at life. These are the kind of guys that every coach wants on his team and the kind of player every fan wants to cheer for.

Louisville adapted the “Louisville First Cardinal forever” motto during Wayne’s four years here, and there isn’t a player that has come through the program that has epitomized that more. Wayne in the face of high expectations and adversity has always put his teammates first and showed courageous leadership. In four years he has also shown great perseverance and has become one of the rocks of the program. He has done it through nothing but hard work. And I thank you Wayne most of all for your character. Nobody better symbolizes the best of what the Louisville basketball program stands for than you.

We will honor Montrezl and Wayne on Saturday in the final home game of their careers, but the program will continue to count on their leadership. We’ll surely miss these guys but will never forget them. Their departure will be the end of an era as they are the only remaining participants from the 2013 title game, but their legacy will always be just a glance towards the rafters at that National Title banner.

Wayne Blackshear and Montrezl Harrell Louisville First Cardinals Forever…

Jay Bilas Goes from Flop Furious to Flop Funny

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I never thought I’d see the day when a former Duke basketball player becomes one of the biggest Kentucky Wildcat homers on the planet, but that is what has happened with ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. Bilas’s recent love affair with John Calipari’s latest NBA training camp rivals that of former SEC analyst Jimmy Dykes who always sounded like a giddy school girl when doing UK games.

Bilas’s love affair with the Wildcats even led him to go on a personal crusade against a former Louisville player for flopping during the annual Battle of the Bluegrass game. Bilas who is paid to call games in an objective manner didn’t hold back during the television broadcast and let his disgust for the flop be heard across the country. He even took to twitter to acknowledge his disgust.

Bilas’s rant sparked up a series of attacks from all over social media and he had everyone bashing this flop. National media swarmed to the story like flies to dung, and the UK fan base had a field day. They even got their kids in the mix with a Claymation version of the flop. Even it made its way around the national rags.

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For about two weeks all we heard is about that horrible, disgusting flop. I mean how, why, it was a crime against college basketball and Jay Bilas created an angry mob over it.

On Tuesday night I decided against my better judgment to actually sit through a UK SEC basketball game. I have to admit that it was a very entertaining game and Georgia put up a gutsy effort even though the deck was clearly stacked in the Cats favor. It would have been better had it not been for the incessant rambling about UK’s greatness by Jay Bilas.

The most perplexing moment for me was when Andrew Harrison pulled off what was perhaps one of the best flops of the college basketball season. It was a flop that would rival that of a former Louisville player back in December. I was expecting Jay Bilas to have another meltdown and announce his utter disgust for flopping. But that didn’t happen and in fact Bilas found the Harrison flop to be amusing. That’s right he chuckled as if it was one of the funniest things he’d ever seen. It was quite the opposite reaction from the outrage he displayed back in December.

Did Jay Bilas take an anger management class to deal with his rage against the flop? Where was the outrage?

Folks it’s very obvious that Jay has turned into that guy. Who knows where it all went wrong. Jay used to be one of the best basketball guys on TV. He knows the game better than any of those other ESPN talking heads and yet he chooses to be a blind homer for the Kentucky Wildcats. Seriously how does this happen?

Guess we can just add Jay Bilas’s name to the list of things John Calipari has ruined in College basketball. Jay Bilas once a great player and analyst now will be known as Jay BIAS. Sad indeed… Guess it won’t be long until he’s writing articles for KSR.

The Beak Basketball Breakdown: The Irish

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It’s hard to believe that we have almost reached the end of another Cardinal basketball season. There are two games left and both are at the Yum Center. Both games will be great teams. First up is Notre Dame on Wednesday night. They are predicting a winter storm for our area but the action will be hot when the Irish and Cardinals renew their rivalry. Louisville leads this series 20-12 and has won 15 of the last 20. But here’s the real story in this rivalry. Eight of the last 15 games have been decided in overtime. I know you remember some of these crazy back and forth battles and you can almost bet that we’ll see another one on Wednesday night. At least this one will be a 7:00 start so we won’t get to bed that late. Both of these teams have secured their spots in the tourney and this game will be about bettering their seeds and getting that double bye in Greensboro next week. Notre Dame is 12-4 in conference play and ranked 3rd in the ACC. Louisville is 11-6 in conference play ranked 4th in the ACC.

COACH PITINO TALKS ABOUT NOTRE DAME GAME

Notre Dame has had eight days to prepare for this one since losing their last game against Syracuse. They have won three of their last four. They are averaging 79 points a game on 50.8% shooting from the field, and 39.4% shooting from the three. They are averaging 8.6 three-pointers a game. They are led by Jerian Grant (16.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 6.6 apg), Pat Connaughton (13.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.5 agp) Zach Auguste (12.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 0.7 apg), Demetrius Jackson (12.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 2.9 apg), and Steve Vasturia (9.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.8 apg). Five Fighting Irish players are averaging at least 9.2 points per game this season.

On defense Notre Dame is holding their opponents to an average of 65.4 points a game on 42.5% shooting. The Fighting Irish average 6.8 steals a game and have a turnover margin of 2.1. Notre Dame is ranked 27th in the RPI Standings and has played the 126th ranked SOS.

Notre Dame’s 2014-15 Overall Rankings Offense | Defense

OFFENSE
-POINTS PER GAME
70.2
106th
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
38.8
16th
OVERALL
-ASSISTS PER GAME
11.8
243rd
OVERALL
-FIELD GOAL PCT
.431
200th
OVERALL

DEFENSE
-POINTS ALLOWED
58.9
18th
OVERALL
-REBOUNDS PER GAME
25.7
43rd
OVERALL
-BLOCKS PER GAME
5.8
11th
OVERALL
-STEALS PER GAME
8.3
15th
OVERALL

Notre Dame 2014-15 Kenpom Rankings
Overall- #18
Defense Adjustment Efficiency
-101.2 ranks 150th
Offense Adjustment Efficiency
-120.1 ranks 4th
-Per Kenpom’s game prediction he has Louisville winning the game 71-66 based on his indexes.

Our Cardinals have won three straight heading into this battle with Notre Dame. They are averaging 70 points a game on 43.1% shooting from the field and 30.9% shooting from the three. The Cards are led by the big three Terry Rozier (17.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.7 apg), Montrezl Harrell (15.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.2 apg) and Wayne Blackshear (10.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.3 apg). The bench is coming around and stepped up big during the last game to the tune of 22 points. Chinanu, Anton, and Quentin are averaging 8.9 points, and 7.3 rebounds.

Defensively the Cardinals average 11.8 turnovers per game and grab 13.07 offensive rebounds a game. They are holding their opponents to an average of 58.9 points a game on 38.1% shooting. The Cardinals average 8.3 steals a game and 5.8 blocks a game. The defensive effort has really improved over the last three games and they have held their last three opponents to an average of 54.3 points.

Our Cardinals are going to need all of the offense and defense they can get on Wednesday night. The Irish are one of the best scoring teams in the country and can really light it up when they get on a roll. I think our guys will have an athletic advantage in the post with Montrezl and on the perimeter with Rozier. If Wayne plays like he has been then they will also have trouble with him on the wing. Hopefully Chinanu, Anton and Quentin will continue to build upon their last couple of outings as well. I would like to see Shaqquan find his groove in one of these last games of the season as I feel we will need him for the tourney run. In the tourney games especially the conference tourney the more subs the better with so little down time between games.

This is one of the tougher games on our schedule because Notre Dame is well coached and they play so well on both ends of the floor. It is always a great battle when these teams meet and I don’t expect anything different this time. I think our Cards are finding their rhythm at the right time and they have their eye on the prize. They will win this battle.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 80 Notre Dame 73

Cards go “March”ing on

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We are just a few weeks away from college basketball’s craziest time of the year. March Madness is the best time of the year and some teams rise to the occasion while others find themselves on the outside looking in. It’s the time of the year when we witness magical moments and ultimate heart break. For the fourth straight year our Cardinals have secured themselves a part in the Madness and after a big win today they are looking to head into the month of March with a full head of steam.

After the tumultuous month of February our young Cardinals have looked adversity in the face and today made a statement by going into Tallahassee and thumping Florida State by 22 points. Watching them today reminded me of this quote: “Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down”. The players on this Louisville team are all on that bus together and today looked like a team ready to ride it towards success.

The Cardinals have now won three straight and today they used the concept of “team ball” to score the highest point total since scoring 81 points on January 28th at Boston College. Five players scored in double figures, Wayne Blackshear leading the way with 18 points, Montrezl Harrell with 18 points along with his 200th dunk of his career, Anton Gill with 14 points the best since his birthday performance back in December against FIU, Quentin Snider with 10 points his second double figure game of his career, and Terry Rozier with 10 points. The Cards got the highest total of the season with 22 points from the bench, and finished with 20 assists on 31 made baskets. That assist total was the second highest of the season.

The Cardinals found their mojo again on the defensive side of the floor with 37 deflections, and 10 steals. The Cardinals forced 21 turnovers and tied a season high with 32 points off those turnovers. They entered the game today averaging 14.6 turnovers. It was great seeing these guys get it together on offense but good defense is the ultimate sign that these guys are ready to play hard. Defense is about attitude, and it’s time to bring it. No fears and no regrets! Go all in! These guys today played with a passion and desire on this side of the floor.

As I’ve grown older I’ve learned that life is a series of beginnings and endings. This serves to prepare us for some of life’s greatest challenges. We need to taste the sweetness of new beginnings and the bitterness that sometimes comes with saying good bye. These young Cardinals have grown up over the last couple of weeks. I believe that great triumph will come from their good-bye and that they will continue to embrace their new beginning. Go Cards!

ANTON GILL FSU POST-GAME

WAYNE BLACKSHEAR FSU POST-GAME

MONTREZL HARRELL FSU POST-GAME

TERRY ROZIER FSU POST-GAME