Cards Tame The Mustangs

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(USA Today)

The Cards came in to the AAC battle with SMU today desperate for a quality win and looking to get things back on track. It was mission accomplished as the Cardinals beat the Mustangs 71-63. The win today gave the Cardinals their 3rd win in the AAC but more importantly gave them that all important win over a top 50 RPI opponent. Cards improve to 14-3 on the season and 3-1 in the AAC.

Today was the first time all season that I had seen any resemblance of the great defense Louisville is known for playing. Coach Pitino would say after the game: “It’s rare you see as good a team statistically as SMU. Our 1st half defense was the best I’ve seen all year. 2nd half, we fatigued.” The guys actually looked like they knew where they were supposed to be and what they were supposed to be doing. They looked much more in sync than they really have all season. Maybe Coach Pitino finally reached this group after that loss to Memphis. Just maybe that game was the wake-up call they needed. Coach Pitino after the game: “We talked a lot this week about unbridled enthusiasm. Just being the best team we could be.” Pitino said he told them “Stop trying to live up to last year’s team. Be yourself. Stop trying to be last year’s team, because we’re not.” Today it looks like they got the message and got a very good win over a very good SMU team.

Russ and Luke looked and acted like the leaders of this team today leading the way with 23 points each. It was a new career high for Luke and he has now played two very good games with his shooting touch looking like it’s finally coming around. Pitino on Luke after the game: “not until the last two games has Luke been 100%.” then says jokingly “his defense isn’t 100% but that has nothing to do with his Achilles (laughs).” I’m just glad that jump shot is coming around.
Russ made some mistakes today and did look out of control on some of his plays to the basket but he had that look in his eyes that he did not want to lose the game and was going to do whatever he could do to keep that from happening. That’s the Russ that I love!
Montrezl had a double-double today with 12 points and 13 rebounds and backed up his words after that last game coming out today with a lot of purpose and passion. The Cards got out-rebounded 48-35 and would have really been in trouble without Harrell’s effort on the glass.
Terry Rozier had 8 points with 5 rebounds today and got extended minutes with Chris Jones out with a hip injury. Every time I see Rozier play I get giddy thinking about the contributions this kid is going to have during his Cardinal career and I think he could be one of the best we’ve seen. Coach Pitino said this about him after the game: “The best thing about Terry Rozier is his professional attitude. Never gets high, never gets low. He’s going to be a great player.”

There were some areas of concern today against SMU. The Cards got out rebounded 48-35 and shot just 52.4% from Free throw line. But those things aside this group took a good step forward and it really was a great win. This SMU team is one that you’ll be seeing make a deep run in March and was by far the best team statistically that Louisville has played this season. I hope the guys can keep building on this one as they head into the grind of the conference schedule. Coach Pitino after the game: “we are going to lose games, that is OK, we just need to keep getting better all the way until March.”

The other attraction today was the first-ever collegiate meeting between Hall of Famers Pitino and Brown, who brought 2,554 combined victories and three NCAA titles into the contest. Congrats to Coach Pitino for taking the first college victory in this Hall of Fame match-up.

Coach Pitino After Win Over SMU: