By Brandon Davis
Some student fans may think the remaining games on the University of Louisville men’s basketball team’s schedule is the easiest among the teams in the Big East still vying for the conference title. However, others may think the Cards may have a difficult test ahead.
As of last weekend, the Cards are currently among four teams with just two conference loses and tied for second with Marquette and Pittsburgh, who will play each other on March 4 . Connecticut sits atop the league despite falling at home to Panthers last week. This week the Huskies will travel to Marquette and still have to travel to Pitt for their regular season finale.
The Golden Eagles will also play Georgetown on the road before welcoming in Syracuse to close out their regular season.
With a game on the road against conference foe West Virginia along with a home show down with No. 11 Marquette, easy is the last word Pitino would use to describe the Cards’ final stretch.
“This is the toughest part of our schedule right now,” Rick Pitino, U of L head coach, said at a press conference last week. “You have three very difficult road games and two very tough home games.”
Pitino has been pleased by the increased productivity of his squad in practice recently. Though the road ahead through the rest of the regular season to the start of post season play could present quite the difficult task for the Cards, he is encouraged by how the team is starting to come together.
“I think that more responsibility has been taken by other members of the basketball team,” Pitino said. “I think things are just starting to click for us in terms of focus; in terms of young people coming around and understanding what it’s all about. And it’s been a long time coming.”
Following the Cards’ embarrassing 33 point loss at Notre Dame, Pitino stripped his team of their name brand Adidas practice gear and has since forced them to prepare in plain generic practice attire. Though Pitino’s method might seem a bit unusual, there was a message behind his approach.
“He explained to us that when you lose, this is what happens,” Andre McGee, senior point guard, said. “No one is on your bandwagon. You can’t afford great, name brand wear. When you lose you become generic and this is all you can afford.”
Though the team has earned their gear back by defeating Cincinnati on the road Saturday, according to McGee, getting back their usual practice attire might not be necessary.
“I think since we’ve been wearing the (practice) jerseys, guys have been coming in, different approach and attitude and work hard,” McGee said. “It doesn’t really make a difference to me. We could be out there in shirts and skins and I would go out there and lace them up and go as hard as I can.”
Cardinal Commitment Named to McDonald’s All-American Team
Future U of L Cardinal Peyton Siva was one of the 24 players in the country selected as a McDonald’s All-American. The 5-foot-11 point guard out of Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington is just the No. 19 future U of L player to receive such an honor.
“I always watched the McDonald’s All-American and hoped one day I would make it,” Siva said. “When I found from coach [Jason] Kerr, I’ve been excited about it ever since.”
Siva has led his team to 20-1 record while averaging more than 19 points, five assists and four rebounds a game.
His selection marks the second consecutive year in which the Cards have signed a McDonald’s All-American. Freshman center Samardo Samuels was named one last year, while junior forward Earl Clark is the only other current Cardinal to have been named to the team.
“Peyton is a very unique young man,” Pitino said. “And he deserves that very much because he’s got the total package. He’s a very good student; a very good person and a very good basketball player.”
