Pitino Previews Tuesday's Season Opener against Arkansas
November 16, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 16, 2009
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino met with members of the media on Monday at the Yum! Center to preview Tuesday's season opener against Arkansas in the Hall of Fame Showcase. The Cards and Razorbacks will tip off at 7:35 p.m. ET at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo., and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
The Razorbacks return several key players from last season's team that started the season with a 12-1 record, produced upset victories over no. 4 Oklahoma and no. 7 Texas, and ended the year with a 14-16 record. Senior Michael Washington was the SEC's leading rebounder a year ago with 9.8 rebounds per game while sophomore guard Rotnei Clarke was the nation's top freshman three-point shooter in 2008-09 as he hit 39.3 percent of treys. Sophomore Courtney Fortson led the Razorbacks in assists (5.9).
Arkansas opened its season Nov. 13 with a 130-68 victory at home against Alcorn State. Clarke scored a school-record 51 points, including a school and SEC record 13-of-17 three point goals, and was one of four Arkansas players in double figures. Arkansas is no. 64 in the early Sagarin Ratings through games of Nov. 13.
Louisville won its two exhibition games, including an 88-65 victory over Bellarmine in its last outing on Nov. 4. Sophomore Samuels notched a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Preston Knowles added 15 to lead U of L. Three Cardinals finished with double digit scoring while 10 of 13 players all go in the scoring column.
U of L is making its first appearance in the Hall of Fame Showcase. The doubleheader will also include Memphis facing Kansas in the second game. The Showcase is an annual benefit for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
The Cardinals will continue the event with three games in Freedom Hall against East Tennessee State (Nov. 21), Morgan State (Nov. 22) and Appalachian State (Nov. 23), while Arkansas will face the same three teams between Nov. 20-27.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. Arkansas (1-0)
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 17
Time: 7:35 p.m. ET
Site: Scottrade Center (20,000), St. Louis, Mo.
TV: ESPN2 will televise the game with Dan Shulman (play-by-play), Bob Knight (analyst) and Holly Rowe (Reporter)
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Doug Ormay (analyst)
SIRIUS: Game not available on SIRIUS radio
Series History: Tied 3-3 all-time (0-1 in Louisville, 1-0 in Fayetteville, 2-2 neutral)
Last Meeting: Arkansas 100, U of L 83 (Dec. 9, 1997 in Louisville, Ky.)
National Ranking: U of L is ranked 20th in the Associated Press Poll and 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll this week; Arkansas is unranked.
Officials: Curtis Shaw, John Hampton, Mike Stuart
Next U of L Game: Nov. 21 vs. East Tennessee State in Freedom Hall in the Hall of Fame Showcase, 4:07 p.m. ET (WHAS-TV)
