In 90 seconds midway through the second half Peyton Siva stole the show and the game.

Serving the Hall crowd a slice of the sublime,  the 6′  Siva first soared from nowhere to reject a sure layup by Bellarmine

and then seconds thereafter,  followed a missed layup by Jerry Smith with a lightning -quick reverse jam.

Yep. Mr. Siva stole the show again... (Pic by Ky Lures)

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The crowd ignited , and continued to flame and roar  as the replays of the two plays were broadcast.

Timeout was called after the dunk, and one of the officials walked to the  scorers table, leaned over and said  in a low voice to one of my friends manning that spot : ” You know. Sometimes you see something that just makes you want to say WOW .”

Yes, I’ve seen many a great one in my 40+ yrs of watching Card basketball and some pretty amazing athleticism.

That series by Siva ranked right up there with the best.

(Ck out this link to SportCenter’s top plays from last night–Siva’s block is #7, his reverse dunk is #2)

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4625289&categoryid=2378529

In the post game presser, Coach Pitino marveled at the sequence also, saying the Siva’s quickness surprised even him, as he just blew by players to the rim.

(In case you missed it–above is Coach Pitino’s halftime interview of Scotty Davenport of the Bellarmine game.)

Louisville looked much sharper than last game– good ball movement, good shot selection, and shooting .  Samardo Samuels and Preston Knowles came up big too.

Preston stops and pops for 3 of his 15 pts. PK was his usual sensational self, stuffing the stats with pts, 4 bounds, and dishing 3 A's.

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And Bellarmine is no slouch– they are a good , solid seasoned team, with some decent height and skill.

It was a very good outing for the Cards and bodes well for the future.

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

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622736979982/

and the Ladybirds…

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622738635916/

Also, as usual,   Sam4Gtr has allowed us to view his pics:

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

Gratuitous LadyBird shot... (Pic by Sam4Gtr)

I assure you:   This is NOT a rumor about Jon Gruden coming to U of L.

This is simply one man’s reasoned ruminations, one might say, as a business owner —and a former owner of a exec search firm.  If I was Tom Jurich, I would:

• Give my current Koach his 3rd year with certain expectations about the team at least  playing hard and showing progress.
• As TJ, I might even have seen a few good things in that defeat to UK. But …the second half of that Pitt game might have really pissed me off, since our team quit playing hard and in effect gave up.
• I would have decided to start the search process then, given the 1-2 record at that time, and the ugliness of the Pitt game.

• I’d concentrate on my #1 target, and make him an offer.  I think TJ’s #1 target is Gruden.  I think I’d offer him somewhere around, oh say,  $3.8 mil/yr.
• While negotiations are going on with #1 candidate,  I’d still be in on-going contact with my other top candidates too.
• If my top candidate  committed, I’d have him start lining up his staff right now, so they could hit the ground running immediately on recruiting, etc. as soon as a coaching change was announced.
• If the #1 target is indeed Jon Gruden,  I’d probably allow him to  make his brother, Jay Gruden, the OC, because of his proven track record and history with U of L.  I might also allow him to bring in  others he is familiar with, that have U of L connections and proven records of success– say someone like a Mark Sander.

• I would have Coach Nord handle most of the visits and contacts with recruits right now– he is the one most likely to be retained from the current coaching staff.  I’d have him emphasize the recruit is committing to U of L, not the coaching staff.

• Once negotiations are concluded with my #1 candidate, I’d be ready to announce it at any time–but I’d probably wait until the current Koach is statistically assured of a losing season.  This may occur as soon as after the Syracuse game, or almost surely after we play South Florida.
• So, if I was Jurich, I’d probably be ready to make my announcement as soon as the South Florida game…which happens to also be where my #1 target, Jon Gruden, lives.
• And if my #1 coaching candidate had committed to U of L by that South Florida game, well then  heck, I think I’d make my announcement then, just so I wouldn’t lose any time on recruitment.

Yep, now that I think about it some, that’s what I believe I would do if I was Tom Jurich…

Well, the Halloween Game was not quite the bizarro fest that many had imagined.  But it was scary nevertheless…

There was only a sprinkling of costumes, just a few  Bag Krag bags were to be seen,  there was no cold drizzling downpour–and walk-on QB Will Stein was not pummeled.  In fact, he performed capably,  guiding the Cards to a 21-13 win over Arkansas St.

However…. here comes the really scary part:  Only half of Papa John’s stadium was filled for this game.

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When we reached our max # in attendance–about 10 minutes after kickoff , as usual — there was an OFFICIAL attendance announced by Paul Rodgers of just over 21,000.  I took the photo above with my iphone at this time.  This was the smallest crowd in the history of the stadium.

At halftime, with the game still much in doubt–and the sun  now out full– the crowd was down to 1/3 full (12,000).    With still nice weather and 4 minutes remaining –and Ark St driving for a potential tying TD– there were at most 3,000 people in the whole stadium–I kid you not.

Third String, walk-on QB Will Stein points to supporters after the Cards' first TD. At 5'8" or thereabouts, Will is easily the shortest--and only--starting QB in FBS under 6' tall this season.

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To top it off, Eric Crawford comes into the post game presser and shows me a pic he took of the B & W Club just as the game ended–it was VACANT and they were already VACUUMING.

Never have seen  either of these things before…..

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

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622581404037/

I’ll select and post certain shots tomorrow…

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Scott Long was (logically) Stein's fav target in 3rd down situations, and led the Cards with 6 receptions.

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I could describe the turning points in the game and sling stats at you.  But I’ll let others regurgitate that–frankly, we’re past most of that now in this season, aren’t we really?

Our three victories have all been struggles against middling teams in mid-major conferences –or below.   The last umpteen Big East teams over the last two seasons have annihilated us by a average of more than 20 pts per game.

This will be a losing season–again.  We all know this stone-cold fact now.

Trent Guy was his usual multi-purpose threat, padding his kickoff return duties with 4 pass receptions.

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Just as Koach swings slowly in the wind, so do we as fans.  The games?  Sadly, almost meaningless as we slog toward a  3-9 or 4-8 quagmire.

As best we can, we celebrate  certain players and the rare glimpses of greatness –or of at least great effort.

But now it takes real effort for  ardent fans to watch this train wreck in slow motion… and that is the greatest sadness and shame, when we have witnessed far better over more than a decade.

And things are about to get much tougher again, with a little visit to WVU and a certain Mr. Devine looming.

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Blue chip freshman Darius Ashley leaped into the end zone at the end of a 26 yd run , for the Cards' first score. He added another TD later to lead U of L.

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Some interesting comments from the Arkansas AD and members of his party who saw Papa John’s for the first time.

Ark St. has played practice dummy for many of the best teams in the nation as it turns out– they’ve played at Tennessee,  Alabama, and Michigan.

And yet, after mentioning those storied, large stadiums, they all marveled at Papa John’s stadium and the facilities thye had seen on their visit.

“All of those seats have chair backs to them, ” one of them exclaimed. “You go to Tennessee,  there’s a lot of people, but you have to sit on a wood bench.”

Well, fellow Card fans…we’ve got chair backs going for us, big time….

There were a few that wore costumes....

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A few words about the player who probably came away feeling the worst from last night’s game.

Barefoot kicker Ryan Payne missed two field goals, both within 40 yds.  He has to hit those , no excuses.

A little background though:  Ryan battled swine flu all week.  Wasn’t even sure he could/would play.  Had 103 fever at game time.

Koach had him try his first field goal in the second half  from 36 yds–which is near his max of about 43 yds.

When he missed that one, it obviously shook him…and then the next one soon thereafter  was to clinch the game.

It would have made more sense letting Ryan hit the chip shot at the end of the first half, to give a sick player some  confidence first, and when frankly common sense said to go for 3 anyway.  He had made all his extra point tries, so why not?  As it turned out , the Card didn’t make it on the low % 4th down try and it was a big momentum killer right before half time.  And the Cards did not score in the second half.

Or…in place of a sick player, why not use Chris Philpott, who was obviously healthy and kicking off, and who had been #1 field goal kicker right up to his first game suspension.

Questionable   Koaching IMO did not help Ryan Payne tonight…

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The post -game presser:

Let me say that even the press is going through the motions at this point. The questioning is half-hearted.  The interest luke-warm.

Everyone knows the Koach is a dead man walking–  we watch him play his forced role and  listen to him respectfully as we play our own roles, politely as we wait.  I do not think the questioning will be tough until K has  lost enough games to insure another losing season.  Then the press fangs may come out some.

For having just won a game, K looked strangely upset and irritated at this presser.

As Will Stein was being interviewed, he poked his head in and with a pissed look on his face, made a motion to Rocco to move things along faster –which I hadn’t seen him do before.

Then, when he came in, he still looked pissed, while answering questions. I even asked him if anything irritated him about the game, and he said no, that we had won, and then he showed one of his few forced smiles of the press conference.

He took few questions, and then cut off any further questions quite abruptly.

The man looks under strain — a lot of strain.

…….And we all swing with him slowly as this sad season grinds on…..

For the big games,

the Hall rocks  big…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugV-dDNyT_w&feature=related

By popular request, we at Hell in the Hall will present a some of  the best shots of the LadyBirds from the games every so often (when I remember to…)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622688393604/

It felt good to be in the Hall again, didn’t it?

This year’s gift of basketball was unwrapped  last night, and the Cards began their  final season in Freedom Hall with a 80-68 win over nearby Georgetown College.

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Freshman Peyton Siva electrified the crowd, jetting by opponents, dishing 8 A's , and displaying aggressive leadership with his in-your-face D in the second half to spark the Cards over G-Town (Pic by KyLures)

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

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622686550624/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622688393604/

Also,  Sam4Gtr kindly allows us access to his excellent pics too:

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

I’ll select and post certain shots for this articles after I get some caffeine in me….

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I really like openers with perennially tough and feisty in-state rivals like G-Town –pre-season ranked #7 NAIA and with  several Louisville and Kentucky guys on their roster.  You know it’s one of the games of their year–in certain cases, their lives and future basketball memories.

Hell, at the half,  Georgetown led 35-31 , had rebounded us even ( though 2″ shorter per man), and looked a step quicker and more disciplined than the Cards on offense.  They wanted this game.

Kyle Kuric drew raves from Coach Pitino in the post game presser for his "constant motion" on O and D--and his key contributions of 15 pts and 7 big boards. (Pic by KyLures)

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In the second half, U of L finally caught them with a wave of defensive intensity by Peyton Siva and Preston Knowles, and then gunned it in the last 6 minutes to pull away by the deceivingly wide final margin when Georgetown’s legs finally gave out.

Siva dished 8 assists, clicking on some game breaking ones with Kuric. (Pic by Sam4Gtr.)

Let truly great, good ‘ol boy head  coach Happy Osbourne of Georgetown tell you a thing or two:

” I can’t tell you how much this means to our school. Our whole campus was excited. Our whole town was excited. I can’t thank Coach Pitino enough.

You guys come here all the time. It may just be another place to you guys. (Louisville natives) Crutcher and Hamilton got a chance to come here and start and play in front of their hometown. You know it’s a thrill for those guys.”

Some other insights from Happy that I  totally agree with:

“A big key for them (U of L)  is who steps up at the four spot. Swopshire, Buckles and those guys have got to do it……”

Jared Swopshire looked like he had muscled up in the off-season, and it showed up in the game stats with 10 bounds. (Pic by KyLures)

“Peyton Siva is going to be a super guard for them and a great leader.”

“When Georgetown and Louisville play, it’s ugly. We’re both going to push. We’re both going to press. It’s going to be physical, but it’s going to be fun.”

Let me add that it was a very loooonnng game.  2 1/2 hours and 60 fouls long.  The officials called 29 in the first half–and never let up.

As with any opener,  it’s so early that you have to be reading tea leaves to reach any  long-term conclusions,  but…

Pluses I saw clearly at court-side:

Jared Swopshire holds his own in the paint much better, and has been hitting the weights obviously.  He may still be over-classed against better players than Georgetown’s–but I think he has a huge upside.

As obviously does Kyle Kuric , who Pitino raved about in the post-game presser, and who was in constant motion with 15 points and a big 7 bounds.

Peyton Siva will be one of the great ones at U of L– at some point, perhaps even this year. Every time he entered the game, he amped both the offense with his speed and assists,  and the defense with swarming in -your-face pressure .  His leadership kept Louisville close in the first half, and helped burst the game open in the second, with a defensive assist from Preston Knowles.

Samardo Samuels is still solid– he can still score a bunch and can also rebound if he wants to–like he did  in the second half.

Yes, Samardo Samuels was a beast as usual, bulling his way for 20 pts and 11 boards to lead the Cards. He didn't display the mid-range jumper that he needs--but against smaller Georgetown, he didn't need to....(Pic by KyLures)

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Some concerns:

Terrence Jennings does not appear to have improved at all–and he showed that in the few minutes he was in.  But again–his upside is huge.  He will be a key this season, for good or for bad…

Our rebounding still did not impress me, any more than last year.  Samardo still does not dominate here.  Neither did TJ.  Georgetown rebounded us even in the first half. As Happy noted, the 4 spot will be a key, and Swop and Kuric appear to be the leading candidates so far.

Yep, Preston was there in force on D. Three quick fouls limited his time in the first half, but in the second his D helped spring a W for the Cards. (Pic by Sam4Gtr)

Our perimeter shooting is still  inconsistent.  Pitino stated it was the opening night  jitters and that this is one of his best shooting teams.  But, Coach has said this same thing the last few years, and yet we have been inconsistent.  I’ll have to see the proof on that one.

Overall, I think this team will be fun to watch, but will lose it’s share of games early–and maybe late too.  I don’t see Elite 8’s or final 4’s this year–but I see a ton of potential that will take us potentially to a Sweet 16 this yr–and then really do some damage the following years, if Samardo and TJ come back, and we get the monster class of recruits expected these next few years.

Peyton and Preston will be fun to watch on defense.

Siva again-- yes, this young man could be a great one....(Pic by KyLures)

Peyton will be fun to watch–period.

Some final thoughts from Coach Pitino:

“I think our offense is going to be very good. Last year at this time, we probably had seven or eight sets in, right now we have two. We’ve just got to go very slowly with these guys because they’re so young.”

“On Peyton Siva: He’s been turning the ball over too much. But he plays so hard, he’s so aggressive, you’ve got to give him his due. He’s trying to make plays, if you start harnessing him, he’s got to learn from his mistakes. I have no problem with him. He’s going to be a great player some day, one of the best I’ve ever coached at that position.

Gratuitous Ladybird shot...

Sam4Gtr is a talented young photographer who allows Hell in the Hall to use his photos.  Below are some of his photos–and his first hand impressions–from Media Day for the BBall team 2009-2010 version:

Co-Captain and brand new father, Jerry Smith, poses with Coach Pitino.

On Co-Captain, Edgar Sosa shown above:"Seems incredibly infatuated with Rick, which is a good thing. If he doesn't want to let Rick down, that can't be bad." Sam4Gtr

On new little big man Peyton Siva: "The most athletic guy on the team and one that loves to play some D and spread the ball." Sam4Gtr

More from Mike Lombardi on the Gruden situation.

Read this–does this sound like someone (umm, TJ) gave this to Lombardi in writing???

I think the Man is speaking now….

http://www.nationalfootballpos…for-Gruden.html

Courtesy of Sarasota-card at Card Chronicle

Damn it,  a man  can dream, can’t he?

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/10/14/louisville-sets-its-sight-on-gruden-for-possible-opening/

The University of Louisville has pegged Jon Gruden as its No. 1 candidate should the school decide to fire coach Steve Kragthorpe, sources told NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi.

Gruden went 95-81 in 11 seasons with the Oakland Raiders (1998-2001) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-08). He led the Bucs to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory over the Raiders in his first season after leaving Oakland and lasted seven years in Tampa Bay before he was fired.

Gruden has never been a college head coach, but he served as an assistant at Tennessee (1986-87), Southeast Missouri State (1988), Pacific (1989) and Pittsburgh (1991). And his brother, Jay, played quarterback at Louisville from 1985 to 1988.

The Cards finally grabbed their second W this season, coming from behind with just over 2 minutes to go, to nail So. Miss 25-23 in the waning seconds on Ryan Payne’s barefoot 32 yd field goal.

Payne’s game-winner– his  first try at one ever–was set up by Trent Guy’s sizzling kick-off return of 64 yds with 2:13 to go, after So. Miss had retaken the lead 23-22 on  it’s own strong 80 yd drive.

Before that, Scott Long had changed the game momentum entirely with  a U of L record 92 yd touchdown pass reception, as the Cards overcame a 16-7 halftime lead –and dominance–by USM.

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All eyes up...

Good ! and bro-hug time...

An elated--and relieved--Ryan Payne after the game winner.

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BTW, it is well known and groaned that U of L has had its problems with making field goals.  But Ryan Payne is Louisville’s “Rudy’– a walk-on with no scholarship.  He has played football –high school or college– only 2 yrs.  He was a soccer star before that.  Even though he has been a walk-on now for two yrs, he has been thrust into the limelight both years, when scholarship players failed.

This season, Ryan has been instrumental in both victories this year and has now converted on 7 out of 10– including his longest–a 42 ydr– and now this game winner.  He is one of the few “feel -good” stories of this difficult season. See the sidebars on this site for my interview with Ryan.

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Vic Anderson got more touches this game, leading the ground assault with 90 yds--and averaging 6.2 yds/carry. He hobbled into the post game presser with a smile on his face, and an ice pack on his knee--minor strain, nothing serious.

Strangely, Ryan was not one of the 5 players Koach chose to talk at the presser.  He was not asked to speak to the press in the other victory either, in which he played a key role.   Not sure why….

I had a chance to talk to Ryan after his victory lap with the other players around the stadium. He naturally was  beaming from the testosterone and the rare glory of a game-winner.

He grinned and laughed: “Yeah, I was REALLY nervous when I went  out there.  I knew when they (USM) scored that I might get to do it.  So I started warming up and  concentrate.  And when Trent returned that kick-off, I figured, yeah, it’s  going to  be up to me.”

I left him living a walk-on’s dream–signing autographs and having pics taken with pretty girls…

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Scott Long was upended on this catch--but hung on-- for one of his career high 5 catches for 146 yds. He also changed the whole momentum of the game with his 92 yd reception and TD that finally grabbed the lead for the Cards in the key 3rd qtr.

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Matt (kylures) took the pics for Hell in the Hall– here’s the link to about a zillion pics he took of last night’s game.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylures/sets/72157622435292597/

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QB Adam Froman was effective running the ball (4 carries for 19 yrds), as well as throwing (14-26 and 1 TD with 1 interception.)

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The size of the crowd for a homecoming game on a perfect autumn evening was depressingly sparse, with only about 3/4 of the stadium filled.  And by the end of the game–a game with an exciting finish, mind you–  a good half of the stadium was empty.  The fans still there, though, had migrated down toward the field and were raucous at the end and in victory.

Related to this:  I tried to give my 2 Brown & Williamson Club tix away for 5 hrs before the game….no takers.  Never happened before….

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Trent Guy at the post game presser; Guy gunned it for 64 yds to set up the winning FG, on a specially designed play.

Where was Jurich?  Well, right there in his box as usual, thank you, seemingly sewn into his signature black turtleneck.

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Yes, there was a football game played.  And another game was also being played all night long in the press box and at the post-game presser.

This latter game circled carefully about the 2 ton pink elephant in the room– “rumors.”

I was at the post-game presser.

K stated everything u would expect him to say when not questioned too hard: Said he was staying “for the long haul.”  Said he was hired to do a job and was going to do it.  Repeated again that he and TJ had not “talked.”

But… no one really put him on the spot with specific questions–such as 1)what “long haul” really meant now, 2)whether there had been ANY  contact whatsoever  between either him or his representatives and with U of L or its representatives concerning his employment, or 3) even if a candidate search was indeed going on.

Naw, I didn’t go there either, although I and others were sorely tempted I’m sure, but….

After a come-from-behind, feel good moment like the end of the game–after so many losses– I believe no one in that presser wanted to push too hard with pointed hard questions.  C-J’s Eric Crawford and others danced around the issue, asking  K and each of the players how they “dealt” with “it”. (“It” being very vaguely defined as “the rumors.”)  Eric was the most probing, and at least got K to go on record that he wasn’t thinking about going anywhere, anytime soon.

K allowed that “it” did affect his family– he mentioned his wife in particular, and  said it was hard on his family.

Obviously also  the players were at least aware of  “it’– Vic was the most specific, stating he had received numerous texts but he just ignored them, and he and the team were not going to worry about them “until they heard something official.”  This last comment raised a few eyebrows.

There was NEVER  a direct statement by K or any of the players that these rumors were absolutely false –or that K would be back next yr. The players simply stated that they supported K and were ignoring “it”.

As had already been pointed out by top insiders throughout Card Land on the message boards and blogs,  K will most likely stay through this season–so this presser contained  really no big surprise.  If we had lost the game by 20–as it appeared we might do at halftime–then the presser might have been a lot different –and tougher–I believe.

K bought himself some lessening of the intense pressure of  “it” with this temporary feel-good 2 pt victory over a middling C-USA team, without it’s starting QB.

But let me assure you:    “it” ain’t going way…

A well deserved victory lap...