By Brandon Davis
Though many University of Louisville fans probably watched last Monday’s national championship game dreaming about what could have been; the excitement these Cards provided throughout the 2008-09 season should not be overlooked.
Now that we’re a few weeks removed from initial feelings of disappointment after U of L fell to MSU in the Elite Eight, let’s take a step back and review some of the highs and lows of the season.
Pre-season Expectations:
U of L enters the season ranked as the third best team in the nation in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coach’s poll.
October 15, 2008- The “knee”
Cards fans breathe a sigh of relief after learning senior forward Terrence Williams will not miss substantial time after injuring his knee in a pick-up game. What many feared could have been a season ending injury to perhaps the Cards most important player turned out to be a non issue.
Williams went on to start every game and recorded career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals while averaging 34 minutes a game.
November 30, 2008- WKU
Ranked No. 3 in the country, U of L traveled to Nashville, TN to take on Western Kentucky in what most believed would be light work for the Cards. But the Hilltoppers had other ideas.
WKU held the Cards to just 27 percent shooting from the field and stunned the nation with a 68-54 upset. Williams paced the Cards with 19 points and nine rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to off-set his teams abysmal shooting display. U of L connected on just six of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc and was out rebounded 48-34.
After the game, head coach Rick Pitino ripped his team for their poor practice habits and said that they did not deserve to win. “You reap what you sow,” said Pitino.
January 4, 2009- UK Game- “Threeeee Sosa”
The Cards faced bitter rival Kentucky having dropped two of their last three games including one at home to UNLV on Jan. 31, which had many Cardinal fans questioning the teams’ focus. At that point of the season, a loss to the Wildcats would have been seriously detrimental to the both the team and the fan base.
After a horrendous start to his junior season, Pitino sat down with point guard Edgar Sosa and discussed the possibility of transferring to another program.
“We had a long talk. I said `Edgar, if I were you I would transfer now,'” Pitino told reporters. “I really think we’ll look at some schools that don’t play any defense. There aren’t too many, but there are a few I can pick out. I want you to think it over son. If you decide to come back, I am going to start you, but I want you to be happy and have fun playing the game of basketball.”
Sosa decided he wanted to stay and finish out his career as a Cardinal. He would go on to score a season high 18 points against the Wildcats and made what will go down as one of the most memorable shots in the history of the rivalry.
On U of L’s last possession in regulation, Sosa buried a 25-footer with just 2.8 seconds remaining to earn the Cards their second consecutive victory over Kentucky.
“I know that I can play this game and I know of the things I’m capable of doing on the court,” Sosa said afterwards. “Many people may think that ‘Sosa don’t got it no more’ or that freshman year was just a fluke. But I know what I can do.
January 4-31, 2009- A month to remember
The Cards would carry the momentum gained from the thrilling victory over the Wildcats throughout the entire month of January which matched U of L against top 25 competition four times.
Following a one point victory on the road at then No. 17 Villanova, the Cards came away with an overtime victory over then No. 13 Notre Dame, led by one of the most outstanding performances of entire season by Williams. T-Will put up career highs in both points (24) and rebounds (16) while dishing out eight assists against the Irish.
The Cards would then follow that up with a victory over No.1 Pittsburgh. On his 21st birthday, junior Earl Clark delivered a stellar performance scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He also nailed a game clinching jump shot with 45 seconds left to seal the victory.
U of L would go on to earn victories on the road against No. 8 Syracuse and at home over WVU.
March 7, 2009- Cards win first ever regular season Big East Championship
Four years after their finishing their inaugural Big East season as an NIT team, the Cards captured their first ever league title outright after defeating West Virginia for the second time in Morgantown 62-59.
T-Will led the Cards with an outstanding performance connecting on five straight three point baskets, including one in the final seconds of the first half to give his team a three point lead going into the locker-room. He finished with a game high 20 points to go along with his six rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
U of L finished the conference regular season having won 16 of their 18 league contests.
“I am real proud of our basketball team,” Pitino said after defeating WVU. “Not only for winning the Big East Championship in a year that could be the toughest since its inception, but to do it on the road in this kind of atmosphere.”
March 14, 2009- Cards win first ever Big East Tournament
The Cards captured their first ever Big East conference tournament championship after defeating No. 20 Syracuse 76-66 in Madison Square Garden.
Louisville also defeated Providence and No. 13 Villanova, who eventually made it to the Final Four. In their three wins in New York, U of L won by an average margin of 14 points.
“It means so much to the team since we got sent home the last three years and everybody said we can’t play in Madison Square Garden,” Williams said after U of L’s victory over the Orange in the finals. “So to come here and prove that wrong and say we’re in the toughest and to hold up that trophy and be a part of history of the Big East, it means a lot to us.”
Their Big East Championship sweep would earn the Cards the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, along with the schools first ever No. 1 ranking in both major polls.
NCAA Tourney
The Cards advanced to the Elite Eight for the second straight season after beating both Moorhead State and Siena in Dayton, Ohio, following their dismantling of No. 12 Arizona in the Sweet 16 103-64 in Indianapolis.
But the Cards would eventually fall just short of their quest to reach the Final Four after losing to Michigan State 64-52. Before losing to the Spartans, the Cards held the nations longest winning streak at 13.
Though coming up short of a trip to the Final Four was extremely disappointing to the players, coaches and fans, Pitino couldn’t help but be encouraged by the progress the team had made throughout the season.
“It took an incredible amount of hard work and extraordinary effort to do what we did,” Pitino said. “I think I’ll look back and say this was one of the most overachieving teams I’ve ever coached.”
Final Rankings
For the second consecutive season, the Cards finished the season ranked in the top 10 of the final ESPN/USA Today Poll at No. 5. A look at Next season
While the Cards’ will be without the services of go-to-guys like Clark, Williams and defensive standout Andre McGee, a nucleus of experienced young talent and a stellar incoming recruiting class will make them a force to be reckoned with next season.
Sosa, Jerry Smith and Reginald Delk will make up U of L’s senior class. They will be joined by junior-to-be defensive stud Preston Knowles, who finished the season among the top three point shooters in the Big East.
Crucial to next year’s squad will be the development of youngster’s such as Terrence Jennings and Samardo Samuels. Both Jennings and Samuels improved significantly throughout their freshmen campaigns and will be expected to take on even larger roles as sophomores.
“That’s the big difference, your senior [year] in high school to your freshman year, then your freshman year to your sophomore year, because you’ll know what to expect,” Knowles said.
According to Pitino, development will be the most significant dynamic of the 2009-10 season.
“That’s the X-factor of how good we’re going to be,” Pitino said. “There’s so much potential that has to be developed.”
