Georgetown-Louisville Pre-Game Thread

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HoyaSaxa.com Pre-Game Report


ESPN.com Preview


Wash Post - Camille Powell: Finally Healthy, Louisville Feeling Better About Itself


Wash Times - Barker Davis: at peace in his father's shadow

"Pat is plugged in, man, like pure energy," said junior Jeff Green, Ewing's teammate and best friend. "When he's on the floor, it seems like he tips every pass, contests every shot and gets every loose ball."

Ewing claims his most valuable trait was nurtured by an Indiana teammate in an otherwise desolate two-year haul in Bloomington.

"When I was a freshman at IU, A.J. [Moye] told me, 'You have a gift there, and don't ever let that passion drop, because every team needs an energy guy,' " Ewing said. "Intense energy is a factor that a lot of players don't bring. I want to leave no doubt for anybody watching or playing about who is working hardest on that floor. Your teammates see and feel that, and it raises their level of intensity."

A coveted prep recruit, Ewing and former Indiana coach Mike Davis never quite meshed. After averaging 4.0 points and 3.8 rebounds for the Hoosiers as a sophomore and occasional starter in 2004-05, Ewing decided to transfer.

"It's not that I didn't like Coach Davis. He's a great person, but he wasn't the coach for me," Ewing said. "Different players play better for different guys. I'm pretty sure Bobby Knight wouldn't be my ideal coach either, but his record speaks for itself. I just really needed a change."

"Going into every practice I told all our guys, 'Get ready, I'm gonna foul you harder today than you're ever going to be fouled during the season. That way, when somebody hacks you during a game, you'll power through it for an and-one and say: That's weak. Patrick hits me 10 times harder than that in practice,' " Ewing said of last season's role as a practice player. "It was pretty hard just watching at times, particularly when we lost. The Florida game was tough because we were so close against them you can't help thinking a little hustle play here or there might have made the difference. You just want to stand with your boys."

"That creeps in everyone's head every once in a while, particularly when people on the outside say stuff to you about it," Ewing said of his potential. "But that's what I like so much about this team: Everyone is a team player, from Jeff and Roy and Jon [Wallace], who are our best players, all the way down to Kenny Izzo, who is a walk-on. That unselfishness, combined with the fact that we win, is what makes it so great to play for Coach Thompson. We believe in our coach, his system and each other, and that's what makes it easier to accept your role, whatever that is."

"He's got some skills. He's a better shooter and passer than I was in college, and he can fly," Ewing Sr. said. "We're both having fun with it. But as a father, I've always been far less concerned about his basketball than his academics and his development as a man. That part of watching him progress at Georgetown makes me very proud."

The Hoya: Ranked Once Again, GU to Face Cards


GUHoyas.com Game Notes


Louisville Game Notes


Scout.com: Cards face must-win against #22 Hoyas

“I think they’re one of the more talented teams in the country,” Pitino said. “They’re a legitimate Top 10 team. This team has two potential lottery picks on it. They’re very deep, very tall and very physical defensively. They’re very, very good.”

The Cardinals will be without one of their top frontcourt reserves against Georgetown. 6-10 junior Terrance Farley will not play because of a sprained ankle sustained during practice.

“He’s definitely not playing,” Pitino said of Farley.

Louisville Courier-Journal: Be early for U of L vs. Georgetown

The game is scheduled to tip off at 7, but there will be a ceremony dedicating the Freedom Hall court for former coach Denny Crum at 6:45.

“There are going to be traffic problems and weather problems,” Pitino said. “I’d hate to see fans miss this. All fans should try to get there by 6 to be on the safe side.

“I hope they get there way in advance. Be on Cardinal time. Don’t be on Derrick (Caracter) time.”

“They’re one of the more talented teams in the country, a legitimate top 10 team,” Pitino said. “This team has two potential lottery picks on it. They’re very deep, very tall, very good defensively and extremely well coached offensively.”

Little Rickie continues his merciless public flogging of Derrick Caracter...sadly, there have been no recent updates to www.rickpitino.com...


additional Louisville Courier-Journal link:

www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/COLUMNISTS02/702070878/1002



Lexington Herald-Leader
www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/sports/16640162.htm
www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/sports/outdoors/16637549.htm

- - Dan

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

With three games in six days, you've got to get the one on the front end at the Ville. WE match up well with them across the board but will need a better start then we got at St. J's. We can then have the marquee Saturday match-up for sole possession of 2nd place against the eagles. Big week next week.

[hoyainspirit]

I hate it when we only have one game in a week. So long between games...

[TBird41]

Roy needs to make 10 FGs against L'Ville to qualify for the NCAA lead in FG%

[Elvado]

If you really wish to honor your host, carry your clothing in a carpet bag.

[HfieldHoya08]

ah go for it, wear the shirt. but don't say "you suck" to them if their band plays R&R Part II...

[Elvado]

Just don't lose sight of the fact that Pitino started out as a Magoo assistant, screwed us out of the '87 final Four, bailed on Providence, bailed on the Knicks (Patrick), bailed on Kentucky, and bailed on the Celtics.

Honor away if you like.

[WilsonBlvdHoya]

Also insinuated that Ewing, when he chose GU, couldn't get into BU where he was coaching at the time! Not exactly one of college basketball's finest educators........

[chinatownfanclub]

I would like to thank Rick Pitino for destroying the Celtics franchise. I can only hope that he could do the same thing for Louisville basketball. Unfortunately, he is an excellent college coach so I don't expect my hope to be fulfilled.

[SaxaCD]

vadie said:

Just don't lose sight of the fact that Pitino started out as a Magoo assistant, screwed us out of the '87 final Four, bailed on Providence, bailed on the Knicks (Patrick), bailed on Kentucky, and bailed on the Celtics.

Honor away if you like.

He didn't bail on the Knicks, Al Bianchi forced him out. What a bonehead.

[hoyasexy]

The fact that Larry Brown, Nick Saban and Bill Parcells have done it does not make it honorable. With the possible exception of Parcells, the others have seen constant criticism for the wake they left.

[GIGAFAN99]

Alright back to the game. I watched Louisville play at the Garden in the Coaches v Cancer deal and Louisville was very bad. I've seen them since and they've gotten better mainly because they actually play defense now.

But (stop me if you've heard this one) they can't shoot. They really, really can't shoot and that is bad for a Pitino team. Again the Hoyas are not the team you want to face if you can't shoot. So the gameplan is the same. Win possessions and you win the game.

[kghoya]

joshs2681 said:

Elvado, I'd prefer to carry them in a bag commemorating his 5 Final Four appearances, his championship ring, and 470-170 college record. But we all accesorize diffferently!

why are you bragging about pitno on a georgetown board before the hoyas face louisville?

im glad you are a family friend...good for you

i dont think the rest of us really care...

[DoubleOhHoya]

Who does Pitino's kid root for? I'd still pull for Gtown in that situation.

[ArtVandalay]

Giga, they can't shoot a lick! But the way the trend has been going in our last couple games, they will be 8 for 10 from 3 at the half! I hope the Hoyas come out of the gates with the intensity they had in the 2nd half.

[AustinHoya03]

Here are the current stats:

Louisville stats

Hoya stats

Not only do the Cardinals not shoot well, but they don't take great care of the basketball. They play decent defense and do a decent job on the glass, but UofL does not stand out in any category. Still, I'm a little worried about this game, primarily because it will be played in a tough and unfamiliar environment.

[RockawayHoya]

Worried primarily because of the following two reasons: 1) Pitino knows how to coach a press, and while we've done better lately against the press, I still could see us struggling against a better team that can pressure us, and 2) Jeff is going to need to play heavy minutes because Palacios has a perimeter game. If he gets in foul trouble early, I'm not sure Summers or Macklin would be able to defend him.

[HealyHoya]

This will be a tough game. UofL stumbled a bit at the beginning of the season, but a look at their schedule reminds me a bit of the Hoyas.

A couple of bad losses at the start of the season (@ Dayton, home to UMass) combined with losses to teams to whom they were "supposed" to lose (UK, @nd, Marquette). It's not a perfect match but the idea is there generally...

Point is, Pitino isn't my favorite guy but he coaches well. UofL is better (much better) in game 20 than game 2...like the Hoyas.

In terms of match-ups, Padgett and Roy will be a battle.

Palacios and Green are very similar with Palacios having the advantage of playing a home.I liked how Green played against SJU (aggressive) and he will need to do so again to be effective against UofL.

At the other forward, Terence Williams (6'6", 210lbs; 13pts, 8rbds) is no slouch. They are good across the front with Palacios, Williams, and Padgett.

Sosa and Smith, UofL's guards, are both freshman. I see a huge advantage here with Wallace and Sapp. On defense, I doubt Sosa and Smith will have the discipline to defend our offense for 25+ seconds each possession for 40 minutes. On offense, and as has already been mentioned, they are prone to turnovers.

IMHO, the frontcourts push and this comes down (believe it or not) to our superior guard play...offensive execution, ability to frustrate on the defensive end, control tempo, etc.

[JimmyHoya]

After this game we will have played every team since the expansion, correct?

[GIGAFAN99]

healyhoya said:

This will be a tough game. UofL stumbled a bit at the beginning of the season, but a look at their schedule reminds me a bit of the Hoyas.

A couple of bad losses at the start of the season (@ Dayton, home to UMass) combined with losses to teams to whom they were "supposed" to lose (UK, @nd, Marquette). It's not a perfect match but the idea is there generally...

Point is, Pitino isn't my favorite guy but he coaches well. UofL is better (much better) in game 20 than game 2...like the Hoyas.

In terms of match-ups, Padgett and Roy will be a battle.

Palacios and Green are very similar with Palacios having the advantage of playing a home.I liked how Green played against SJU (aggressive) and he will need to do so again to be effective against UofL.

At the other forward, Terence Williams (6'6", 210lbs; 13pts, 8rbds) is no slouch. They are good across the front with Palacios, Williams, and Padgett.

Sosa and Smith, UofL's guards, are both freshman. I see a huge advantage here with Wallace and Sapp. On defense, I doubt Sosa and Smith will have the discipline to defend our offense for 25+ seconds each possession for 40 minutes. On offense, and as has already been mentioned, they are prone to turnovers.

IMHO, the frontcourts push and this comes down (believe it or not) to our superior guard play...offensive execution, ability to frustrate on the defensive end, control tempo, etc.

Push is a bit strong. Padgett is not very quick defensively and fouls a ton. Roy's not quick defensively but he can always just stand there because he's so tall. I think we go right after him.

Honestly if Roy and Padgett were to both foul out in the first half, we'd be in great shape since they really don't have anyone to replace Padgett on either end of the floor.