Pitino, Sosa Preview Friday's NCAA Tournament Opener
March 15, 2010 | Men's Basketball
March 15, 2010
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- Louisville NCAA Tournament Central
- NCAA Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket
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- Complete Game Notes (PDF)
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino and senior guard Edgar Sosa met with members of the media on Monday at the Yum! Center to preview Friday's NCAA Championship first round game against California. The No. 9 seeded Cardinals and No. 8 seeded Bears will tip off at approximately 9:45 p.m. ET on Friday at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Fla. All NCAA Championship games will be televised by CBS.
The Cardinals (20-12, 11-7 in the BIG EAST Conference) is making its 36th NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth straight in the event. U of L enters the tournament having won seven of its last 11 games, including a 78-68 victory over then top-ranked Syracuse in the regular season finale. The Cardinals have reached the NCAA Elite Eight each of the past two seasons. U of L has won 20 games for the eighth straight season.
California (23-10, 13-5 Pac-10), the 2010 Pac-10 regular season champions, will be making their second consecutive appearance and 16th overall in the NCAA Tournament. Cal was upended 79-75 by Washington in the finals of the conference tournament on March 13 an earned an at-large bid to the field.
GAME FACTS - No. 9 Louisville (20-12, 11-7 BIG EAST) vs. No. 8 California (23-10, 13-5 Pac-10)
Date: Friday, March 19
Time: approximately 9:45 p.m. ET
Site: Veterans Memorial Arena (15,000), Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: CBS (WLKY-TV, Channel 32 in Louisville) will televise the game with Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Clark Kellogg (analyst)
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst)
SIRIUS: SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ch. 125 (XM Channel 241)
Series History: The teams have not previously met.
National Rankings: Both teams are unranked in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll and Associated Press Poll this week
