Pitino, McGee Preview Friday's NCAA Tournament Opener
March 16, 2009 | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2009
- Cardinal Fans Central - 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship
- 2009 NCAA Tournament Central
- Complete Game Notes (PDF)
- 2009 NCAA Championship Ticket Information
-
CBS: Midwest Region Breakdown Audio Clips
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino and senior guard Andre McGee met with members of the media on Monday at the Yum! Center to preview Friday's NCAA Championship first round game against the winner of the opening-round game between Alabama State and Morehead State. The No. 1 seeded Cardinals and No. 16 seeded Hornets or Eagles will tip off at approximately 7:10 p.m. ET on Friday at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. All NCAA Championship games will be televised by CBS.
Louisville (28-5, 16-2 BIG EAST), ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls of the season (the first AP No. 1 ranking ever for the Cardinals), enters the NCAA Championship as the No. 1 seed overall after winning both the BIG EAST Conference regular season and tournament championships, knocking off No. 18 Syracuse 76-66 to claim their first conference title in their fourth season competing in the BIG EAST. It was only the second No. 1 seed ever attained by the Cardinals, the last coming in 1983 when U of L capped a 32-4 season on the NCAA Final Four, falling to Houston in the national semifinals. Louisville is making its 35th NCAA Tournament appearance, tied for fifth most all-time, and the Cards have reached the tourney 26 of the last 33 years, including six of the last seven.
Alabama State (22-9, 16-2 SWAC) and Morehead State (19-15, 12-6 OVC) will play at 7:35 p.m. ET on Tuesday with the winner advancing to play Louisville. Alabama State defeated Jackson State 65-58 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship game on March 14, while Morehead State is coming off a thrilling 67-65 double overtime win in the Ohio Valley Conference Championship game against Austin Peay on March 9. Both teams earned automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament.
GAME FACTS - No. 1 Louisville (28-5, 16-2 BIG EAST) vs. Alabama State (22-9, 16-2 SWAC)/Morehead State (19-15, 12-6 OVC)
Date: Friday, March 20
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Site: University of Dayton Arena (13,266), Dayton, Ohio.
TV: CBS (WLKY-TV, Channel 32 in Louisville) will televise the game.
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst)
SIRIUS: SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ch. 125
Series History vs. Alabama State: The teams have not previously met.
Series History vs. Morehead State: U of L leads 30-11 all-time (23-2 in Louisville, 3-8 at Morehead, 4-1 neutral, 2-0 in NCAA Tournament games)
Last Meeting vs. Morehead State: U of L 79, Morehead State 41 (Nov. 22, 2008 in Louisville, Ky.)
National Rankings: U of L is ranked 1st in both the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' and Associated Press Polls this week; Alabama State and Morehead State are unranked.
