Pitino, Delk Preview Wednesday's Game against USF
December 29, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2009
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino and senior forward Reginald Delk met with members of the media on Tuesday at the Yum! Center to preview Wednesday's game against USF. The Cards and Bulls will tip off at 7:05 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall and the game will be televised by the BIG EAST Network/WHAS-TV in Louisville.
U of L will open the BIG EAST Conference portion of its schedule and wrap up an eight game home stand. The Cardinals won their fourth straight with a 79-53 victory over Radford on Sunday as U of L held the Highlanders to a season low scoring total. Samardo Samuels had his second consecutive double-double and fourth overall this season with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Cards, while Jared Swopshire added 13 points.
The Bulls (10-2) are coming off a 10-day break, having last played on Dec. 20 when they beat San Diego 69-60 in the Las Vegas Holiday Hoops Classic. USF has won three straight and nine of its last 10. Its two losses were by three points each. Junior guard Dominique Jones was last week's BIG EAST Player of the Week after averaging 22.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in the Bulls' last three wins. Jones is averaging 18.6 points (4th in BIG EAST) and 5.8 rebounds this season. USF is among the nation's top defensive teams this season, ranking 26th nationally in scoring defense (allowing 58.6 ppg) and 49th in field goal percentage defense (.387). The Bulls are no. 109 in the ratings percentage index (RPI) and is no. 74 in the Sagarin Ratings through games of Dec. 27.
Louisville holds a 23-3 series advantage over USF and has won the last nine straight meetings. The Cardinals won both games last season, winning 71-57 in Tampa (1/7/09) and 80-54 in Freedom Hall (1/28/09).
GAME FACTS - Louisville (9-3) vs. USF (10-2)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 30
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Site: Crum Court / Freedom Hall (18,865), Louisville, Ky. (UofL 677-139 all-time in Freedom Hall)
TV: BIG EAST Network (WHAS-TV, Ch. 11 in Louisville) will televise the game with Jim Barbar (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst)
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Doug Ormay (analyst)
SIRIUS: SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ch. 126
Series History: U of L leads 23-3 all-time (12-1 in Louisville, 9-2 in Tampa, 2-0 neutral)
National Ranking: U of L is receiving votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll this week; USF is unranked.
Officials: Mike Stuart, Earl Walton, John Gaffney
Next U of L Game: Jan. 2 at Kentucky, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
