Rick Pitino earned his 650th career win this afternoon as Louisville defeated South Florida 59-41. The Cardinals are now 21-5 overall and 9-4 in Big East play. Today’s win puts Louisville in fourth place in the Big East.
Russ Smith led Louisville’s balanced scoring attack with 15-points, connecting all seven of his free throw attempts. He also added six rebounds and four assists. Chane Behanan and Wayne Blackshear each chipped in with 12-points apiece. Four of Behanan’s five field goals were slam dunks. He also finished with four rebounds and three assists.
Kevin Ware came off the bench and gave the Cards a spark in the first half, scoring seven points early on. Gorgui Dieng only finished with four points, but he grabbed 10-rebounds and blocked five shots. Dieng is averaging 13.3 rebounds in his last three games. Peyton Siva had just one field goal, but dished out seven assists.
South Florida made a run midway through the second half cutting the lead to just six points, but Louisville turned up the pressure defensively and didn’t allow a USF field goal for nearly eight minutes. The Cards are off during the week and will host Seton Hall next Saturday for noon tip-off.
February 17, 2013 at 5:55 pm
Give Zack Price some min,will help Dieng and a big body in their when goes to the bench for a rest.free throw was a bit better this game.
February 17, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Nice win. Ware had probably his best game this year. I do miss our faster style of play, though. Seems harder for us to penetrate the lane lately while the defense tends to mob the guy with the ball too much, leaving teams with off rebound chances.
February 17, 2013 at 9:26 pm
Kevin Ware you are the man! Let the game come to you dude, if you didn’t force it so much you would get more points, your game is smooth.
February 17, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Yea but there’s a reason why price hasn’t played he’s not aggressive enough.
February 18, 2013 at 12:37 pm
I know Ware was doing really well, but man Blackshear! I don’t understand what Pitino’s problem is with giving him the green light or the permanent start at that position, cuz he is just a pure scorer. I’m wondering if Pitino is waiting for the tourney? Or next year, since he will be in a leadership roll? To let him lose. I mean he does it all: scores(three’s,dunks,15fter,freethrows), defense, rebounds, assists. Idk maybe I’m just too big of a fan of his lol
February 18, 2013 at 2:44 pm
Rick Pitino stated last year that Wayne Blackshear might be his best ever player yet he is somehow holding him back. This could be part of Pitino’s unique ability to get the most out of his players when it counts most.
February 18, 2013 at 5:14 pm
let blackshear and ware play they are beast . you let hancock shoot all those shots let them go hard .
February 18, 2013 at 6:55 pm
why isnt price playing ,other than he cant make a free throw ?