By Charlie Leffler
Haunting Memories for Former Metro Coach
It was a comeback unlike any other in recent U of L history. Down six points with 32.5 seconds on the clock and people pouring for the exits the Cardinals did not blink and eye. A banked in three-pointer by Reece Gaines was followed by a steal of the inbounds pass by Erik Brown. Brown passed off to Brandon Bender who found a wide open Bryant Northern for the tying three.
When Tennessee’s Marc Haslip got a lay-in basket it left Louisville down by two-points with six seconds to go in the game. Without a thought of what to do, Bender quickly inbounded to Gaines who drove the length of the court and scored the winning three with 1.8 left on the game clock.
A last second shot by Hailslip bounced off the rim and preserved the miraculous win for the Cards. The last time Louisville made such a comeback was in 1987 at South Carolina. Down by 12 points with 2 minutes left in the game the team had pretty much conceded the match. But then a melee broke out at mid-court involving Louisville’s LaBradford Smith, Herbert Crook and several Gamecock players. As the fight moved towards the scorers’ table a South Carolina fan sneaked in a few punches of his own.
After everything was settled, both team shot a barrage of free throws, players and fans were ejected along with South Carolina coach George Felton.
The Gamecock coach could only watch from the lobby as Louisville’s Craig Hawley hit a mid-court shot at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. The Cards eventually pulled out a victory. Ironically, in attendance at last night’s game was George Felton who is now a scout for the Indianapolis Pacers.
It’s Not Over Til It’s Over Part I
Fans streamed for the exits with 35-seconds to go in the game because they saw little chance of victory with the Cards down by six points.
On the bench, head coach Rick Pitino was walking by his players and still giving instructions, but it appeared that even he had ceded the forgone conclusion.
“On the bench in the last couple of seconds the coach said if the game is over it’s because we didn’t do this and this and this,” said senior Joseph N’Sima. “At that moment Luke Whitehead said, ‘but coach, why is everybody leaving? It’s not over yet.’ And the coach said ‘it may not be.’ And then Luke said ‘No, it’s not over. Watch out.’ Luke saw it coming.”
The team learned a valuable lesson of ‘Never give up.’ “That’s our motto,” said Larry O’Bannon. “That’s what we stick to.”
It’s Not Over Part II
When Tennessee’s Thaydeus Holden made two free throws with 35-seconds to go and pushed the Volunteer lead to six, the Louisville fans began streaming for the exits.
Yet, the players on the Cardinal bench were not aware at the time, but they had a message to send to the fans who did not stick with them.
“I didn’t hear about it until after the game,” said Bryant Northern. “Someone said everybody started leaving. We’re down six or seven with a minute to go. Let them leave. There’s going to be doubters that keep doubting us. If you still doubt us after today then you shouldn’t be a U of L fan. If you’re going to stay with us, stay with us til the end. Sit in your seat. Enjoy the game. Stick with your team through the ups and downs. If you’re a true fan, stay with us until the game’s over.” “A lot of people stayed,” said Reece Gaines. “Those die-hard fans will stay and we appreciate that.”
Ironically there was nearly 15,000 cheering fans still in the stands fifteen minutes after the game was over.
It’s Not Over Til It’s Over Part III
No one could ever forget the unbelieveable shot that Duke made against Kentucky in the final seconds of the NCAA tournament in 1992. But, for a moment, with Louisville clinging to a one point lead and 1.8 seconds left on the clock, it appeared that Reece Gaines let it slip his mind.
After hitting the shot to go ahead, Gaines was on the court celebrating when Pitino called out to him. “Coach looked at me and I was so excited,” said Gaines. “He said, ‘Reece, what’re you doing, it’s not over.’ And I was, ‘Oh, yeah, Christian Latner.”
Foresight?
Even though the game came down to an unpredictable finish, it seems that Pitino may have had such an ending in mind all week during drills.
“The last three days in practice we were running last second plays,” said Northern. “Like, down by one with a minute to go. And I could of swore that it seemed like everyone was hitting last second shots. It seems like it’s been in our system all week, but to be in the clutch.”
“I didn’t even know what the score was,” said Northern. “I just took the three because I was wide open.”
“I didn’t eve know what the score was either,” said Gaines. “I just knew that we had to get some points up. I looked at the score and ‘We’re up by one?’ I didn’t even know. I thought I’d tied the game or we had to get another ball or something. I had no idea that I was hitting the game winning shot.”
