Unfortunately for Rick Pitino and the Louisville Cardinals, the No. 1 ranking lasted just one week. The Cards were in control for the most part of today’s game against Syracuse, but crumbled down the stretch, falling to the Orange by a score of 70-68.
There is no shame in losing to a team like Syracuse in January, but I think we can all agree that Louisville should have left their home floor with a victory today. A nearly 5-minute stretch without scoring late in the second half was the biggest difference.
Syracuse is a solid team, but they needed an unconscious performance from senior Brandon Triche and poor offensive performances from Gorgui Dieng and Peyton Siva to earn a win. Credit to Orange point guard Michael Carter-Williams for making big play defensively at the end of the game, but Louisville was still able to force him into eight turnovers.
This is without a doubt a humbling loss for the Cards. They can clearly bounce back from this and it could end up being something that really helps them down the stretch. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointing, but overall it’s a meaningless loss.
I’m as big of a Peyton Siva fan as anyone, but I don’t understand how the ball isn’t in Russ Smith’s hands at the end of the game. Russ is one of, if not the best play makers in the country.
Rick Pitino clearly wasn’t pleased with the loss…
January 19, 2013 at 8:34 pm
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January 19, 2013 at 8:56 pm
The ball definitely should have been in Russ Smith’s hands, Siva was having a poor shooting performance.
January 19, 2013 at 9:41 pm
It sucks that such a great game had to end the way it did. I don’t think Russ even touched it in the last minute.. Some bright points that can be taken out of this was blackshear and hancocks performance as well as the rebounding. I thought for at least the first half dieng play a great high post
January 19, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Siva needs to make up his mind if you drive to basket know what your going to do with the ball
January 19, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Siva was the MVP of the game—for Syracuse. Triche isn’t nearly as good as he looked today. And some of the worst officiating I’ve seen all year. If we played this game five times I beleive we win four of them. This was just that one game we lose, lets learn from it, pull our heads out of our butts, and go win a National Championship!!!
January 20, 2013 at 4:35 am
Well we get to see the rematch in a few weeks!!!
January 20, 2013 at 12:55 pm
(una)Ware didn’t help
January 20, 2013 at 1:44 pm
Siva can not shoot the set shot; left open he was able to take time deciding to shoot, and was able to take time shooting, he does not do well when he isn’t stepping into the shot. They did their homework on him, if he has the ball stay far enough away to tempt him to shoot, do not let him catch and shoot.
January 20, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Siva is a superstar, our leader and one fantastic young man. Sure he makes mistakes, who doesn’t. But he is a huge part of our team and key to our success. We love ya 3, keep playing hard.
January 20, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Siva had a bad shooting game but i still want to see the ball in his hands in the last seconds. He has won a lot of games for us and makes good decisions most of the time. It sucks to lose this game, especially since the refs made some really questionable calls against us but we will be just fine. We will steal one at their house when we play then next in March. Go Cards!!
January 21, 2013 at 2:31 pm
Am I the only one that expects more out of Behenan? I think he can play a little more physical and stronger! Watching him get layups blocked and pushed around under the basket frustrates me! Want to see him dunk more often like the monster he is!