Hell in the Hall – Louisville Sports Blog

In the post game press conference after tonight’s victory over Appalachian St.–and a sweep of the three day, three  game mini-tourney– Coach Pitino was well pleased with the results.

Not just the winning–but the key point of this whole tourney: Making progress for a young team.

And the Cards did show that.

In the first game, the 3 pt sharp-shooting from the big W over Arkansas disappeared, as the Cards got sloppy with lazy /non-existent ball movement –either  in-out or swinging it around crisply.

So shot selection suffered–which led to poor shooting percentage. And the inability to apply the D press as often.

It all degenerated into a lot of challenged 3′s that didn’t fall.

And although the Cards prevailed 69-56 over ETSU, it was a looonng time before Pitino came into the press room from the locker room.  He was grumpily not pleased, with ether  ball movement or the lack of rebounding–the Cards got out-rebounded by 11 boards in the second half by  a much smaller ETSU team that was without their best player, who was injured.

Coach took about three questions, we all sensed he was pissed, so that was it.  And what more could be said–it was an awful game and a step backward from the previous game against Arkansas.

The next game the Cards were focused–and had to be–against a scrappy and talented    Morgan St.  squad.  The Cards erased most of their key errors from the previous game, stayed in control most of the game–and shot a large # of free throws and made over 80% in a fairly clutch, close-game situation.

In the final contest, U of L routed  Appalachian St. 80-53 .  Coach Pitino was pleased with the effort.  He felt the movement and shot selection were sharp again — and this was reflected in over  50% shooting by the Cards.

Coach singled out Jared Swopshire many times across all the games.  He feels Swop is stronger but still too lean.  Has mentioned more than once he thinks Swop  will have an NBA career if he continues to improve and stays 4 yrs.

BTW– Louisville is now 4-0 for the first time in 14 yrs.  That kinda surprised me.

My main concern after viewing all the games this season? Lack of strong  rebounding and  inside game against big, physical teams–like in the Big East.  Samuels is very good , but unless Jennings steps up big like last yr (remember him on Harangody at the Hall !) , we will not be able to bang with the big boys and I think we will often be forced to settle for 3 balls.

We need somebody–anybody–to dedicate themselves to rebounding besides just the center too.  Like Luke Whitehead did a few years back. Remember–when he finally totally focused on rebounding he was a 6’5″ machine of a bounder. Maybe Swop or Kuric can do it…

Tomorrow I’ll pick out and post some pics –and maybe provide a few more insights from personally being on press row and at the post-game pressers.  Meanwhile ck out these pic sets:

Matt (KyKures) snapped photos for Hell in the Hall as usual:

Game One: Eastern Tennessee State (ETSU)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622726309337/

Game Two: Morgan State (covered by Sam4Gtr–see below)

Game Three:  Appalachian State

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622865775814/

and the Ladybirds  via KyLures’ separate section,  so you don’t have to search too hard  :-)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622851053684/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622741641621/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Also, as usual,   Sam4Gtr has allowed us to view his excellent game and LadyBird pics:

ETSU
http://s602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/samhunterphoto/Mens%20BBall%20E%20Tennesee/

Morgan St.
http://s602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/samhunterphoto/Mens%20BBall%20Morgan%20State/

Appy St.

http://s602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/samhunterphoto/Mens%20BBall%20AP%20State/