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University of Louisville
HOUSTON
No. 4 Cardinals Handle Houston, 64-48
January 28, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Jan 28, 2004
Box Score?|? Quotes | Coach Willard Audio
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville left a seat open on the bench for coach Rick Pitino on Wednesday night. The Cardinals hope it will not be empty for long.
With assistant Kevin Willard coaching, the fourth-ranked Cardinals beat Houston 64-48 for their 16th consecutive victory.
Afterward, they learned Pitino wants to be back with the team for practice Thursday afternoon after taking a short leave to receive treatment at the Cleveland Clinic for an undisclosed ailment.
Sports information director Kenny Klein spoke to Pitino after the game and said Pitino hopes to fly back from Cleveland on Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Willard has guided the team the last two days.
"No, it wasn't pretty, but it was a win," Willard said. "There were a lot of distractions the last couple of days, but the guys stayed focused."
Willard said that Pitino talked to the team via speaker phone Wednesday afternoon. He also said Pitino called to wish him luck just before tipoff.
"He said, 'Go get 'em and call me after the game,"' Willard said. "I knew he was getting one more test."
Willard took his usual seat on the Louisville bench as the game began, leaving Pitino's regular chair empty.
"I was actually fine," Willard said. "I didn't get nervous until I walked onto the floor."
Larry O'Bannon and Nate Daniels scored 17 points apiece to lead Louisville.
 | We wanted to keep the same principles as Coach Pitino tells us, and that's defense first. Nate Daniels |
The Cardinals (16-1, 6-0 Conference USA) also played without leading scorer Francisco Garcia and point guard Taquan Dean. Garcia sprained his ankle in the Cardinals' win over Tennessee last Sunday and Dean pulled his groin in practice last week.
Louisville plays Marquette on Saturday and Willard said the status of both players was still uncertain.
"Taquan and Francisco are day-to-day," Willard said.
The Cardinals came out flat without the duo, missing eight of their first 11 shots and coughing up five early turnovers. The Cougars (7-10, 1-5) were no better, starting 4-of-10 from the floor with five turnovers in the first nine minutes.
Willard called a timeout with 9:56 left in the opening half and the Cardinals responded with a 23-5 run, taking command with their full-court pressure.
"We started rotating the ball better," Willard said. "It's been our motto all year long: Win with our defense. That's what it will be like the rest of the year."
Daniels sank three 3-pointers and O'Bannon added two more during the spurt as the Cardinals settled into a comfortable offensive flow.
Louisville's defense limited the Cougars to three field goals and forced three turnovers over the final six minutes before the break.
"We wanted to keep the same principles as Coach Pitino tells us, and that's defense first," Daniels said.
Houston had a 7-0 run early in the second half to trim Louisville's 15-point lead to 41-33. Willard called another timeout with 14:21 remaining and the Cardinals answered with six straight points.
The Cardinals went the next five minutes without a field goal, but the Cougars never made a serious run, committing four turnovers over that span.
Willard spent most of the game in a pensive crouch, a sharp contrast from the animated Pitino. O'Bannon said the team wasn't as energized with Willard in charge.
"The energy and intensity just weren't there," O'Bannon said. "Coach Willard did a great job. We just didn't execute like were supposed to."
Daniels' 3-pointer from the corner with 5:53 left ended Louisville's field-goal drought and put the Cardinals up 54-38.
Louisville shot a season-low 34.5 percent (19-of-55) and committed 15 turnovers. But the Cardinals scored 20 points off 22 turnovers.
"We thought we were in position in the second half, but turnovers really hurt us," Houston coach Ray McCallum said. "That is what Louisville has the ability to do."
Andre Owens had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead Houston, which has lost seven of its last eight and fell to 0-5 on the road this season.
