By Charlie Leffler
Cincinnati- The Louisville Cardinals came into their first round C-USA matchup against TCU hoping that they would be able to run. After romping to a 110-86 win over the Horned Frogs, U of L probably felt they had been in a sprint competition. The contest set two new C-USA tournament records. It was not only the highest individual team point total but the 196 points was the highest combined total in tournament history.
Yet, the game was not one that was the result of a single contributor. Just as in their win over Charlotte to close out the regular season, it was a team effort that gave the Cards the victory. Louisville had five players score in double figures being led by junior Reese Gaines’s 30 points, 10 assists, and three steals.
“We were hoping to get that type of pace,” said Pitino. “We like to be risk takers this time of year.”
Though the first half had been filled with runs by both teams the most excitement did not occur until after the break. Coming onto the floor in the second half the Cards led 56-43. As expected, the first half for U of L had been dominated by junior Gaines who scored 20-first half points to go with his six assists. But Louisville has also gotten an offensive spark from freshman Larry O’Bannon and the rebounding of senior Joesph N’Sima. O’Bannon scored 11 points going 3-5 from three point range while N’Sima pulled down nine rebounds.
With the two players contributing so well it was only natural to expect them to pick up where they left off in the second half. Instead another players stepped up to be a major contributor.
Sophomore Bryant Northern came out in the second half on fire. After scoring six points before the break on 2-3 shooting Northern reeled off 13 straight points in the first two and a half minutes of the second period without missing a shot.
After O’Bannon tied up TCU’s Marlon Dumont on the Horned Frog’s first possession of the half, Northern came down the floor and drilled a three-pointer with confidence. After a pair of TCU missed threes the sophomore swooped inside for a short jumper. Back to back threes and another jumper by Northern and the lead was pushed to 69-47 by the 17:21 mark. By himself Northern had outscored TCU by nine. Northern finished the game with a new career high of 25 points without missing a shot in the second half. More importantly Northern only had one turnover in 23 frantic minutes of action.
“Honestly, I think making shots can happen to anyone,” said Northern. “Passing creates the shots. Reese, I think is the best player in the conference and everybody’s looking to stop him… that’s why people like me, Eric (Brown) and Larry (O’Bannon) hit shots.”
After not thinking too highly of Northern’s playing ability at the beginning of the season the coaching staff is now impressed with his play. “I just sit back and it’s like being a proud father with Bryant Northern develop to calling out plays and doing things from a leadership standpoint, “said Pitino.
Yet it was not the offense that impressed Pitino but he passing of his players. Louisville finished the game with 20 assists. “I thought Reese Gaines was a major factor along with Bryant, with their passing ability,” said Pitino. “I think Reese just dominated the game doing things unselfishly doing things to get his teammates shots.” Gaines finished the game with 10 assists and three steals.
Over the last few games the team has come together as a unit, but it is not a matter of confidence among the teammates. “I’ve always had confidence in my teammates,” said Gaines. “It just some night they were off, some nights I was off. But right now I have confidence in the fact that we’re going to bring effort every night and we’re going to play together and we’re going to be focused. That’s the difference between earlier and now.”
The win marked the first time Louisville has won in the post season in four years and the first of Gaines career. “No one knew but me,” said Gaines, “but I thought about it. It’s like ‘hey, I have won a postseason game since I’ve been here. To get one it feels good, but try to get more would be great for the school and four coach.”
“If you’d have said to me 18-11 right now with what we’ve been through…” said Pitino. “You have to understand what great people you have when you lose your center (Mohammed Lasage) whom they all love, you lose your back up guy, (Brandon Bender), you lose your point guard (Carlos Hurt), and they still hang tough and get better it’s quite a tribute to these people as young players.”
For Louisville had two players finish with 12 rebounds. Joseph N’Sima and Luke Whitehead who also scored 11 points. Ellis Myles finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. TCU was led by Junior Blount who poured in 31 points on 7-19 shooting including 14-16 from the free throw line.
The last time Louisville scored more points was on December 20, 1999 against Tennessee State when the Cards won 115-76.
The Cardinals advance to a second round mathup against No. 2 seed Marquette at 1:00 EST.
