Sports: March 2008 Archives
11:05 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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There's a reason why some people think North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough should be the national player of the year. He seems to make all the big play at all the right times. When Louisville had tied the game at 59 UNC went to Hansbrough. He put them on his back scoring 11 points in a 10 minute span. He has 28 for the game. Even when you think he's way too far out to make a shot, he somehow gets it done. He's been the difference tonight. Louisv...
10:44 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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With 5:36 left to play the Cards trail UNC 64-68. After beind down 12 at the half the Cards have stormed back. Earl Clark's free throw with 10:21 left tied the game at 59. But UNC has gone to Junior all american Tyler Hansbrough. He has seven points in the last five minutes and 24 for the game to give the Tarheels the lead.
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10:19 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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With 11:13 left to play Louisville has cut the Tarheel lead to 55-59. They had closed to within one on a Jerry Smith three pointer with 11:44 left to play. Smith has been off the hook scoring 17 points on 7-10 shooting. He's 3-5 from three ball range.
Another key has been offensive rebounding. The Cards are now getting after it on the glass and creating second chance opportunities. They have 10 offensive rebounds to Carolina's 14.
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9:41 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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With 3:53 left to play in the first half North Carolina leads Louisville 31-24. The Tarheels have been quicker to the ball and more aggressive on the glass. They're outrebounding the Cards 15-7, and 8-3 on the offensive glass. Carolina has 12 second chance points while the Cards have only 5. Louisville is shooting the ball at a respectable rate (52.6%) but so are the Tarheels (53.8%).
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9:41 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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The North Carolina Tarheels are running the Cardinals out of the gym. Even on made baskets the Tarheels are pushing it up the floor for easy scores. They have 12 fastbreak points to Louisville's six. And they lead 12-5 in second chance points. The numbers tell the story of the game. Carolina is shooting better than 58% and they hold the rebounding edge 18-11. Those numbers spell DOOM if you're the Cardinals.
Turnovers also plaguing the...
9:12 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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With 11:43 left to go in the first half the Tarheels lead the Cards 17-12. Norrth Carolina has been crisp on offense and are owning the boards. They already have 6 offensive rebounds, that's more than Louisville has total. Also the Cards offense seems to be bottled up by the Tarheels defense. If the offensive execution and rebounding does not improve it could be a long night for the Cardinals.
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8:53 PM Sat, Mar 29, 2008 | Permalink
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Less than 10 minutes before the Cards and Tarheels tip off the crowd has worked itself into a frenzy. This game has all the drama. Two legendary coaches in Roy Williams and Rick Pitino going head to head. Two of the hottest teams in the tournament squaring off. A Final Four trip on the line. It really doesn't get much bigger than this. There seems to be a large contingent of UofL fans who bought tickets from Tennessee fans the other night. The...
12:10 AM Fri, Mar 28, 2008 | Permalink
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With 3:00 left to play Louisville leads Tennessee 71-57. Terrence Williams and Earl Clark have fueled the Cards second half run. Clark has 15 and Williams has had an all around good game with 12 points, 8 rebounds and two assists.
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11:43 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
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With 10:12 left in the game Louisville leads Tennessee 52-44. The Volunteers cut it to a one point lead at 37-36 but Louisville responded with a 15-5 run. Earl Clark has finally come to life scoring nine second half points so far and holding Vols leading scorer Chris Lofton in check.
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11:01 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
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After being down 24-8 the Tennessee Volunteers used a 15-4 run to close the gap. At the half the Cards lead the Vols 37-30. It's been sloppy on both sides of the ball. Louisville has more turnovers (14) than field goals (12). The saving grace for the Cards is that Tennessee is also coughing it up with 11 turnovers. They're also being outrebounded by Louisville 23-15.
From an aesthetic standpoint it's been an ugly game. Both teams seem...
11:01 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
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After being down 24-8 the Tennessee Volunteers used a 15-4 run to close the gap. At the half the Cards lead the Vols 37-30. It's been sloppy on both sides of the ball. Louisville has more turnovers (14) than field goals (12). The saving grace for the Cards is that Tennessee is also coughing it up with 11 turnovers. They're also being outrebounded by Louisville 23-15.
From an aesthetic standpoint it's been an ugly game. Both teams seem...
10:26 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
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With 8:57 to play Louisville leads Tennessee 24-8. The Cards aren't playing their best basketball but they're still having their way with the Volunteers. Despite nine turnovers the Louisville defense has been able to lock up the Volunteers holding them to close to 30% shooting. Terrence Williams brought the house down with a thunderous dunk to cap off an 18-1 Louisville run.
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9:10 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
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Louisville's Sweet 16 game against the Volunteers should be one of the most entertaining in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams like to get up and down and put pressure on the floor. Vols coach Bruce Pearl says he doesn't want a track meet , but that may be his teams best chance at winning. Louisville has shown they can play a solid half court game. When the Volunteers get bogged down in possession basketball they struggle. They're offense is simp...
8:57 PM Thu, Mar 27, 2008 | Permalink
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As soon as Washington State walked into the Bobcats Arena building they were already trailing the Tarheels. Even though the Coug fans represented by making the trek from Pullman, Washington to Charlotte, they were easily outnumbered. I would estimate the crowd to be made up of roughly 90% Tarheel fans and the other 10% Wazzu, Tennessee, and Louisville. This is easily a home game for the Tarheels, and the Cougars really had no shot of beating N...
7:23 PM Sun, Mar 23, 2008 | Permalink
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The Cards are going to the Sweet 16 since for the first time since their 2005 Final Four berth. With less than ten minutes to go in the first half Louisville broke this one open with a 19-2 run. They never look back as they win 78-48.
Off to see what Rick Pitino and the Cards have to say about their big win. Check back for more updates later.
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7:09 PM Sun, Mar 23, 2008 | Permalink
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With 9:47 left to play the Cardinals are schooling the Sooners 66-38. This one is firmly in hand and the UofL faithful sense a victory. They're going crazy here at the BJCC Arena with chants of C-A-R-D-S. It's been a total team effort with Jerry smith (12 points) and Earl Clark (11 points) leading the way. The most telling stat is the Cards are shooting nearly 58% from the field. Whatever Rick Pitino said to his team before the game he needs t...
6:17 PM Sun, Mar 23, 2008 | Permalink
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There's not much to say about the Cards 44-22 halftime lead over Oklahoma but wow!!! Behind a 19-2 run, and 26-8 run to end the half Louisville leads the Sooners 44-22. What was thought to be a great matchup between contrasting styles has turned into a laugher. Things are going so well for the Cards even Terrance Farley is showing off his offensive skills. He unveiled a wicked jump hook over Longar Longar for perhaps his best post move ever. A...
6:11 PM Sun, Mar 23, 2008 | Permalink
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With 4:19 left to go in the first half the Cardinals are crushing the Sooners 37-16. They're on 19-2 run and it's their defense fueling the inferno. They've forced nine turnovers and have four steals. On the flip side they have only one turnover. Jerry Smith seems to have found his shooting stroke. He has a team high 10 points on 4-7 shooting.
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5:51 PM Sun, Mar 23, 2008 | Permalink
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With 10:41 left to play in the first half the Cards lead the Sooners 18-12. What sticks out about this game is the intensity on every possession. There have been a number of players hitting the deck diving for loose balls. Louisville is definitely playing like a pack of hungry wolves. The Sooner fans sitting behind me are just as intense. They have no problem letting the ref know about a call he made. Oklahoma is in this game thanks to four th...
1:58 PM Sat, Mar 22, 2008 | Permalink
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While sitting in Surin West, a Thai restaurant in the 5 Points section of Birmingham, I thought I'd reflect on the Cards 79-61 win over Boise State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. I really thought the Broncos were going to give the Cardinals problems, but that's why I report on sports and don't actually play or coach. Shows you how much I know.
This was the kind of performance Louisville needed to show their fans and everyon...
11:19 PM Fri, Mar 21, 2008 | Permalink
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With 8:25 left to go in the game the Cards lead the Broncos 66-50. The story of this game so far has been the Cards ability to put the ball in the hole. They're shooting nearly 57% from the floor and 52% from three. They've been able to get open looks because they're sharing the ball. On 25 made field goals they have 13 assists. Earl Clark and Juan Palacios lead the way with 13 points each.
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10:37 PM Fri, Mar 21, 2008 | Permalink
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With 20 minutes left to play in this first round NCAAA Tournament game the Louisville Cardinals lead Boise State 44-31. The key to the first half has been the Cards shooting. They're on a torrid pace. They're shooting 57% from the field and a whooping 8-14 from behind the three point line. The Broncos on the other hand are shooting a respectable 50%, but they're only 3-8 from three. Senior sharpshooter Tyler Tiedeman is keeping them in the gam...
10:15 PM Fri, Mar 21, 2008 | Permalink
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With 7:05 left to go in the first half Louisville leads Boise State 30-19. While Boise State shoots nearly 40 percent from three on the season, the Cards are the ones shooting the lights out in the gym. The Cards are 6-9 from downtown and seem to be clicking on all cylinders. They're 12-19 overall from the field. The Broncos on the other hand are 8-19. One concern for the Cards. Turnovers. Six early ones seem to be keeping BSU in the game.
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9:12 PM Fri, Mar 21, 2008 | Permalink
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Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino calls the Boise State Broncos his most difficult first round matchup in the NCAA Tournament as a head coach. After watching the Broncos practice and studying their stats I may agree with him. The Broncos are scary good on offense. Look at the numbers. They shoot 50.9% from the field (2nd best in the country), nearly 40 percent from three point land, and they start four seniors. No matter what team they'r...
12:08 AM Thu, Mar 20, 2008 | Permalink
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You have to wonder about the NCAA's claim over the last few years that they were going to try to keep NCAA tournament teams closer to home in the early rounds.
Sure Kentucky/Marquette is a great TV game for the second slot on day one of the tournament, but do they really have to play it out here in Anaheim California? I don't really think of So-Cal as the South, but I guess people who live in San Fransisco do.
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9:42 PM Sun, Mar 16, 2008 | Permalink
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Everywhere you look for the next few weeks, you'll see brackets. You'll be dreaming about those little lines, those little numbers, that all feed into the Final Four. But who will occupy those Final Four spots..
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2:06 PM Sat, Mar 15, 2008 | Permalink
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Why not play more?
The Kentucky Wildcats and the Georgia Bulldogs are headed to overtime tied at 50. Both teams are hoping to live to see *the same day*. The winner will play again at 8:30 tonight.
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1:36 PM Sat, Mar 15, 2008 | Permalink
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So far it has been a slow and kind of an ugly second half. With 10:07 to play it's back and forth with Georgia currently holding a 34-33 lead. But if you think it's ugly inside, check outside the gates.
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12:52 PM Sat, Mar 15, 2008 | Permalink
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After a slow start Kentucky has clawed it's way back into the SEC Tournament game against Georgia. Joe Crawford hit the only Kentucky field goal in the first ten minutes of action with a three pointer. But it was a Perry Stevenson dunk right at the 10:00 minute mark that got the Wildcats back on track.
K
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6:52 AM Fri, Mar 14, 2008 | Permalink
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The Kentucky Wildcats got a gift in Atlanta Georgia before they even set foot on the floor. Thee Ole' Miss Rebels and Georgia Bulldogs battled into the wee hours of Friday morning for a shot to face Kentucky in the second round. Ultimately Georgia won it with a buzzer beater in overtime 97-95 at 12:33am.
This is exactly why teams work so hard to get a first round bye in the Conference Tournament. Winning late Thursday, late Friday,e...
9:20 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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For the third year in a row the Pitt Panthers end the Cards run towards a Big East Tournament title. Louisville played hard and was fortunate to force overtime at 62-all. But offensive poor execution and silly fouls in the extra period doom them in as they wind up falling 69-76.
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9:08 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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Earl Clark has been a beast for Louisville tonight. He has 19 points and 9 rebounds. None bigger than his rebound and putback with 26.9 seconds left in regulation. That tied it at 62. Pitt's Levance Fields had a chance to win it but his long jumper bounced off the iron.
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8:34 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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Louisville trails 49-53 with 7:51 left to play and it's pretty obvious why they're losing. They are being outmuscled by the Panthers.
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8:08 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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New York City is the home to stars and some very familiar faces to Louisville fans are in attendance at Madison Square Garden.
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7:54 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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It hasn't been pretty. In fact at times it's been downright ugly, but somehow the Louisville Cardinals find themselves leading Pitt 33-30 at the half.
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7:36 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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At the 5:40 mark in the first half the Cardinals trail Pitt 22-23. It's evident right from the opening tip Louisville is a little tight. They seem to be rushing things on offense, over-committing in the 2-3 zone and getting pushed around on the boards.
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7:08 PM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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It's time for the Louisville-Pitt game and it's also time to make my prediction. The Cards will win and here's why.
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11:37 AM Thu, Mar 13, 2008 | Permalink
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It's gameday here in New York City as the Cards are just hours away from tipping off against Pitt in the Big East Tournament. I finally arrived in the Big Apple after a short, but really tiring trip.
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8:27 PM Wed, Mar 12, 2008 | Permalink
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Thursday morning photographer Wade Harris and I are off to Atlanta to cover the SEC Tournament. Wade is a wily veteran of covering Kentucky in post season play. For me it will be a chance to do what I did for years working as a Sports Reporter and Anchor in Cincinnati. Needless to say, I can't wait to get back on the road again. (THANKS WILLIE)
Don't get me wrong, I love anchoring the morning show with Rachel Platt, but if every wee...
9:50 PM Sun, Mar 09, 2008 | Permalink
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So much to look foward to right now. How about a look at where everybody (from Brett Favre to David Padgett) stands?
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