Pitino, Dieng Preview Monday's Game Against Morgan State
December 26, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 26, 2010
Game Notes 
Rick Pitino Audio | Gorgui Dieng Audio
Rick Pitino on Podcast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino and freshman center Gorgui Dieng met with the media Sunday afternoon at the Yum! Center to preview Monday's game against Morgan State on Dec. 27 at the KFC Yum! Center. Start time is set for 8:07 p.m., with the game being televised on WHAS-TV (Wazoo Sports will carry the game statewide).
The Cardinals, ranked 25th in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, are coming off one of their most impressive offensive performances this season. Behind five double-digit scoring performances, Louisville routed Western Kentucky, 114-82, on Dec. 22 on the road. Peyton Siva led all scorers with a career-high 29 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including four treys, and going 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. He also dished out eight assists and had two steals. Chris Smith was solid as well, registering career-highs in points (18) and field goals made (8), while tying a career-best six rebounds. Rakeem Buckles (15 points on 5-of-6 shooting), Preston Knowles (15 points on 6-of-13 shooting) and Kyle Kuric (10 points on 4-of-7) shooting also tallied double-digit point totals. Collectively, the Cardinals shot 64.6 percent (42-of-65) from the field and a remarkable 53.3 percent (16-of-30) from beyond the arc.
Morgan State, winners of two of its last three contests, enters Monday's game with a 4-5 overall mark, including a 1-0 record in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. In their last time out, the Bears dropped a 97-55 decision to fifth-ranked Syracuse. Morgan State had two players finish in double digits in scoring, with Kevin Thompson registering team-highs in points (15) and rebounds (12), and Justin Black chipping in 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Morgan State was held to 37.7 percent (20-of-53) shooting and allowed Syracuse to dish out 34 assists, four less than the school record.
Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Todd Bozeman, the Bears have posted a 99-56 overall record, including a 57-14 conference mark. Morgan State, which has reached the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, was selected to repeat as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champions. DeWayne Jackson leads the team with 14.7 points per game, while Thompson, the 2009-10 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, a mark that ranks 21st nationally.
The Series - Louisville vs. Morgan State
The Cardinals own a 2-0 all-time advantage over Morgan State, winning both home contests. The two programs squared off last on Nov. 22, 2009, as Louisville took a 90-81 victory in the Hall of Fame Showcase in Freedom Hall. Samardo Samuels led all scorers with 23 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while grabbing 12 boards. Eleven of Samuels' points came from the free throw line. Preston Knowles chipped in 13 points, while Edgar Sosa added 12. The Bears' DeWayne Jackson scored a team-high 21 points, going 6-of-14 from the field, with four buckets coming from beyond the arc. The first meeting came on Dec. 30, 1998, at home, with Louisville blowing by Morgan State, 95-47.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. Morgan State
Date: Monday, Dec. 27
Time: 8:07 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court, Louisville, Ky. (22,000)
TV: WHAS (Ch. 11 in Louisville; also Wazoo Sports statewide) will televise the game, with Drew Deener (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (color) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD (790 AM, 101.7 FM) will broadcast the game on radio, with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Doug Ormay (color) calling the action.
SIRIUS: Game will be available on SIRIUS Channel 113.
Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series, 2-0 (2-0 at home).
Officials: John Cahill, Les Jones, Lamar Simpson
Next U of L Game: Dec. 31 vs. Kentucky, KFC Yum! Center, Noon ET (CBS)
