By Gavin Lapaille
University of Louisville men’s basketball senior center Terrance Farley always knew he would be a Cardinal. His family didn’t give him a choice.
“If I give you a tour of my family and I let you meet everyone they preach Cardinal all the time,” Farley said. “That’s what they are. No one is a Kentucky fan in my family.”
Farley, a first-team all-state selection at Pleasure Ridge Park high school, is one of two players on the team from Louisville. He had offers from the University of Tennessee, Indiana University and Florida State University but chose U of L early in the recruiting process because he wanted to stay home.
Farley said it is great that he was given the opportunity to continue his basketball career at Louisville.
“It’s great, it really is,” Farley said. “You get to be close to the people you love and you get to go to a school that you love. It’s a really great experience and a great feeling. It is unexplainable.”
When Farley first arrived on campus at U of L, he weighed only 210 pounds. In between his freshmen and sophomore year, Farley added 40 pounds to his 6 foot 10 frame. The effects began to show almost immediately. With his playing time doubling from the previous year. Farley proved himself as an effective shot blocker down in the paint. He has recorded 58 blocks in his career as a Cardinal, saying he would prefer a major block over a big time dunk any day.
With the injury to fellow senior center David Padgett, Farley’s role has increased the last few games. In the first game without Padgett, Farley totaled a season-high six points while grabbing four rebounds in 21 minutes of action in a win over the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
Still, Farley said there is no competition between him and Padgett.
“Everyone makes it sound like it is some kind of competition between me and DP, it isn’t a competition,” Farley said. “I’m wishing DP back with a speedy recovery because we all need him. It is one of those facts that we need him, everyone needs everyone on this team.”
U of L head coach Rick Pitino said Farley is a “big-time shot blocker” who has improved greatly over the years.
“That’s one guy, right now, that sticks out above everybody else that’s the most improved,” Pitino said during U of L’s media day. “He’s very passionate and playing good basketball.”
Even students can see the rapid change in Farley’s game.
“I could describe Farley as somebody who has improved enough to carry the load as Derrick Caracter’s backup,” junior computer information systems major Will Osbourne said. “His defensive game will continue to help the cards keep Louisville’s opponents from shooting good from the field.”
Farley said being a senior has been different but has definitely been an amazing experience for him. He does think this team has many more leaders than just the seniors.
“I think everyone expects for everyone to step up around here,” Farley said. “Everyone is a leader on this team. Everyone is capable of being a leader on any given night. From Preston [Knowles] to me, everyone is expected to be a leader.”
No matter how his final season in a Cardinal uniform goes, Farley said it has just been an honor to play for the U of L fans.
“I’m glad the fans have been behind me 100%,” Farley said. “They have shown me love and support, that’s what it is all about here.”
