By Donnie Niehaus
Following wins over Cincinnati and Marquette, the U of L men’s basketball team has improved its record to 19-3, with a notable eight-game winning streak.
The play of freshman Juan Palacios and senior Larry O’Bannon has been a big spark for this team and has added two more offensive weapons to the already-deadly combo of Taquan Dean and Francisco Garcia.
The Cards don’t have time to relax as they turn their attention to the dangerous Memphis Tigers tomorrow night.
The Tigers, who are 13-9, have been a large disappointment this season. With the excellent trio consisting of freshman Darius Washington, sophomore Sean Banks, and junior Rodney Carney, many expect big things from John Calipari’s squad. But a grueling non-conference schedule and an early season suspension left the team in disarray.
After having a monster freshman year, Banks was supposed to be the catalyst for this young squad. However, his early-season suspension disrupted the team and created a lot of controversy this season.
Despite the team’s early struggles, they finally appear to be playing to their capabilities and may prove to be a tough match for the Cards.
The Tigers enter Freedom Hall with a four-game winning streak and much to prove. If the Tigers want a shot at the NCAA tournament, each game is precious and a quality win on the road at Louisville could greatly boost the team’s appeal.
One of the biggest concerns for the Cardinals will be stopping the three-headed monster of Washington, Banks and Carney. Each player averages more than 14 points and it seems each feeds off the others’ plays.
The battle of the freshmen –– Palacios and Washington –– could be the highlight of the game. Washington comes into the game as a legitimate contender for National Freshman of the Year, while the unkown Palacios has been working to make a name for himself.
One of the goals for the Cards will be to stop Washington’s penetration. Washington is capable of scoring and is known for his play-making abilities. He is responsible for getting the ball inside to Carney and Banks. If the Cards can limit his touches, the Tigers will be in trouble.
Aside from Banks, the Tigers have limited inside ability. If Otis George or Ellis Myles can draw early fouls from Banks, this can create many problems for the Tigers.
The Cards’ depth in the post has become a recent concern. With only two legitimate big men, the team needs to make sure they don’t get into foul trouble, a recent habit. If the Cards get into foul trouble, this could open some doors for the Tigers as Banks will manhandle anyone in the paint.
One thing that the Cards have to work on is getting Garcia going. With each game they play, the team’s star needs to step up and begin making shots more and more.
While he has honed his all around game, Garcia has been quiet in big games this year. Playing against the defensive prowess of Carney and Banks will give Garcia a chance to play against some big-time talent and better prepare the team for March.
The Cards had better be ready for a quality Memphis squad to come out pumped up. They are looking to silence critics and enhance their postseason credibility by knocking off one of the nation’s best at home.
A victory over Memphis would further solidify this U of L’s strengths and will be a great test for the Cards.
By DO
