- Tale of two halves. After trailing by six at halftime, the Cards outscored UCONN by 21 points in the second half (45-24). The Huskies were also held under 26% from the field in the second half.
- Russ Smith played all 20 minutes in the first half en route to a 23 point performance after 33 total minutes.
- After getting very little opportunity in the first half, Chane Behanan exploded in the second half and finished one rebound shy of a double-double with nine rebounds and 16 points.
- The 15 point victory over UCONN came with virtually no help off the bench from the power forward and center positions. Not from lack of effort, but lack of minutes. Chane Behanan played 36 of the 40 minutes and Gorgui Dieng an unreal 39 minutes. The two combined for 22 points and 25 rebounds.
- Louisville continues to be dominant defensively. Ten steals, 16 forced turnovers, four blocks and held the Huskies to under 40% shooting from the field.
- Cards very close to their season average of 15.8 free throw attempts at 71.3 % going 11-15 for 73.3%. This number appears to gradually be improving as the season progresses. Would love to see the Cards near an 80% average by the time post-season rolls around.
- Peyton Siva once again in early foul trouble was virtually a non-factor in the first half. Pretty good stat line with 11 points, four assists, three steals and three rebounds in just 22 minutes.
- Official Karl Hess did not call a technical foul on Rick Pitino and went hardly noticed.
- Prior to the match-up against UCONN Louisville has averaged 14.9 assists on 27.5 made field goals (54%). Against the Huskies the Cards finished 13 assists on 29 made field goals (44.8%).
January 15, 2013 at 8:46 am
Love that Hess was kept in check, I cringed when I saw he was calling the game.
We are playing smart, and Pitino’s attitude on that late time out was perhaps the first time he has appeared both supportive and instructive, not that he isn’t those things, he just showed that his intent at that moment was to give them something new to use out there. The following play looked different, and both of those things are welcome signs for the future.