Louisville basketball strikes brand-new reduced in blowout loss at Pittsburgh
ouisville basketball strikes brand-new reduced in blowout loss at Pittsburgh
It didn’t resemble a dingy play to Kenny Payne.
It happened early within the 2nd fifty percent of his Louisville men’s basketball team’s sporting activity at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, when the Cardinals’ Mike James as well as Panthers heart Federiko Federiko defended a cost-free round.
Federiko flung James to the ground, as well as the Louisville guard jumped as long as particular his argument.
It was most likely one of the most battle the Playing cards verified all night in a 91-57 loss, a 2nd possibly representative of the difference in between Payne’s team as well as its challenger.
The Panthers don’t show up to ideas a dust-up.
“That’s what they remain for,” Payne pointed out.
On the stadium:Exactly how Jeff Brohm has actually assisted Louisville football closed in-state recruiting opening with Kentucky
No person obtained below to strikes — Frederiko as well as James had actually been struck with technological fouls — nevertheless Pitt did every one of the metaphorical combating on the Petersen Affairs Center.
In handing Louisville its single-season school-record twenty very first loss, the Panthers (18-7, 10-3 ACC) relocated right into a first-place connection atop the convention as well as — because short-term, warmed 2nd as well as previous — provided the Playing cards a lesson in what it implies to take on the organization’s best.
“I saw their huddle as they gathered up afterwards play, as well as I discovered what I require my people to be,” Payne pointed out. “I require my people to be effective like that, to battle like that, to be one like that.”
On Tuesday, they had actually been eliminated from it.
Although the Playing cards (3-21, 1-12) have actually confirmed routine development — Payne pointed out last after last Saturday’s slim loss to Florida State that they’re “70% greater” currently than in the beginning of the period — they had actually been in the direction of the Panthers probably strong as an ACC behind feeder.
The Cardinals’ initiative fell back. Their defense broke down. The crime appeared disjointed, the method which it has in so a lot of the added dismaying computer game of this primarily mirthless period.
The result was a 34-point pummeling, going beyond a 32-point thrashing by Texas A&M in November as Louisville’s the majority of uneven absence of the period.
The turn overs have actually been even worse — U of L finished with 13 — nevertheless the Playing cards fired 27.6% from the ground, partly the item of stagnancy as well as inadequate shot selection.
No Louisville individual handled higher than James’ 11 variables.
Pittsburgh, in the meanwhile, unravel the court room with shooters, relocated the round as well as situated open seems like. The Panthers struck 17 of 31 3-pointers — Louisville had 16 total self-control purposes — as well as established a period too much with 23 helps.
Pitt was remarkably scorching, nevertheless its catching gotten a lift from the Playing cards’ absence of interaction. Also great deals of its long-distance pictures had actually been unthinking. On one informing first-half series, Panthers guard Nike Sibande missed out on a windmill dunk in shift, nevertheless — with entirely Playing cards secure El Ellis once again on defense — confined his individual miss out on, tipped outdoors the arc within the left space as well as hidden a 3-pointer.
Substantial win:Louisville ladies’s basketball defeats No. 11 UNC for its second sway top-25 opponent this period
Sibande’s 15 variables led 5 Panthers in dual numbers.
Payne continuously has actually applauded Pitt this period, has actually made clear of his adoration for Jeff Capel’s team.
He went to it once again after Pitt’s 2nd blowout win this period in the direction of the Playing cards.
Payne described as the Panthers “most likely one of the most complete, the hardest team we’ve faced on this convention.”
“Can score a mess of the means,” Payne pointed out. “They share the round. They talk on defense. When one guy is down, I listen to 4 others speaking with that a person which’s down.”
Louisville’s flashes of which could be short lived.
It verified some last week, nevertheless the Georgia Technology team it defeated last Wednesday is 1-12 within the ACC. And also although the Playing cards’ second-half rally Saturday in the direction of Florida State verified some assurance — Louisville lost 81-78 to a personnel that had actually bewildered it by 22 consider December — the Seminoles are sub-.500 within the organization as well as total amount.
Individual to control:Exactly how an iPad, 5-on-0 drills made Emmanuel Okorafor participating in time for Louisville basketball
Pitt was a full totally various have a look at within the pursuit to reveal enchancment.
On Tuesday, the Playing cards failed it.
“I condemn myself,” Payne pointed out after the sporting activity, however it obtained below with a aspect of frustration in his players. He attempted “in fact stressful,” he pointed out, to clear up to Louisville what it was up in the direction of in Pitt.
Someway the message didn’t stick. And also it verified, virtually from the get go.
“I can merely notify you, we did not involve a fight,” Payne pointed out. “It was a fight. We did absent up.”
Obtain Louisville men’s basketball press reporter Brett Dawson at mdawson@gannett.com as well as observe him on Twitter at @BDawsonWrites.