Pitino, Knowles Preview Saturday's Game against Western Kentucky
December 18, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2009
Audio Clips
- All audio files require the latest version of the FREE Real Player.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino and junior guard Preston Knowles met with members of the media on Friday at the Yum! Center to preview Saturday's game against in-state foe Western Kentucky in the Billy Minardi Classic. The Cards and Hilltoppers will tip off at 4:05 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
U of L will play its fifth of eight straight games at home in December. The Cardinals beat Oral Roberts 94-57 on Wednesday as U of L scored 37 points off 21 turnovers while holding the Golden Eagles to 39 percent shooting. Edgar Sosa led the way with 18 points and Samardo Samuels had 17 points and seven rebounds. In addition, Jerry Smith added 14 points in his second game back from injury.
Western Kentucky (5-3) has won its last three straight, including a 76-69 victory over then no. 24 ranked Vanderbilt on Dec. 11 in their last game. Senior guard AJ Slaughter (16.4 ppg, 18-of-50 three-pointers), who passed the career 1,000 point scoring mark in his first game this season, leads the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky is no. 57 in the early ratings percentage index (RPI) and is no. 115 in the Sagarin Ratings through games of Dec. 17.
Western Kentucky holds a 39-33 series advantage over Louisville. The Hilltoppers have won two of the last three games, including a 68-54 decision last season in a game played in Nashville, Tenn. (11/30/08) as Slaughter totaled 25 points and nine rebounds to lead WKU.
The Billy Minardi Classic, presented by Jewish Hospital, Republic Bank, Sun Tan City and the Joe Kitchen Memorial Scholarship Fun, originated in 2002 t honor the memory of Billy Minardi, brother-in-law of U of L Coach Rick Pitino who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
GAME FACTS - Louisville (6-3) vs. Western Kentucky (5-3)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 19
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Site: Crum Court / Freedom Hall (18,865), Louisville, Ky. (UofL 674-139 all-time in Freedom Hall)
TV: ESPN2 will televise the game with Dave Pash (play-by-play) and Len Elmore (analyst)
Radio: WKRD (790 AM, 101.7 FM) with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst)
SIRIUS: SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ch. 122 (XM Channel 203)
Series History: U of L trails 39-33 all-time (24-18 in Louisville, 7-16 in Bowling Green, 2-5 neutral)
Last Meeting: Western Kentucky 68, U of L 54 (Nov. 30, 2008 in Nashville, Tenn.)
National Ranking: Neither team is ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll and Associated Press Poll this week
Officials: Tim Clougherty, Brent Hampton, Brent Barnaky
Next U of L Game: Dec. 23 vs. Louisiana Lafayette, 7:07 p.m. ET (WHAS-TV)
