Pitino Previews Wednesday's Game Against West Virginia
January 25, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2011
Game Notes
Rick Pitino Audio | Rick Pitino on Podcast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino met with the media Tuesday afternoon to preview Wednesday's BIG EAST home game against West Virginia on Jan. 26 at the KFC Yum! Center. The game is set for a 7:02 p.m. ET tip, and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU, with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and LaPhonso Ellis (color) calling the action.
Ranked 19th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll and 23rd by the Associated Press, Louisville is coming off a tough 72-67 loss at Providence on Jan. 22. Despite the Cardinals holding a 43-39 lead in the first half, Providence received a boost from Marshon Brooks in the second, as he scored 20 of his 27 to lead the Friars to the win. In addition to Brooks, Gerard Coleman (19 points) and Vincent Council (12 points) also tallied double-digit point totals. For Louisville, Chris Smith notched a season-high 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting to go along with seven boards. Stephan Van Treese chipped in 10 on 5-of-5 shooting.
West Virginia, which has won five of its last six contests, enters Wednesday's league game with a 13-5 overall mark, going 4-2 in the BIG EAST. In their last contest, the Mountaineers defeated the Bulls at home, 56-46, on Jan. 23. Three players - Kevin Jones, John Flowers and Casey Mitchell - scored 13 points apiece in the win; Mitchell also grabbed 14 boards for the double-double. West Virginia only had six turnovers as opposed to USF's 16. In addition to out-rebounding USF, 45-41, the Mountaineers limited the Bulls to only 16 first-half points, just 31.5 percent (16-of-51) from the field and 7.7 percent (1-of-13) from beyond the arc.
The Mountaineers are under the direction of Bob Huggins, who is in his fourth season with the program. He has guided West Virginia to a 93-35 overall mark, with three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a trip to the NCAA Final Four last season. In the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, West Virginia was tabbed to finish fifth. Kevin Jones, who leads the team with 6.8 rebounds per game, was a preseason all-BIG EAST first-team selection. Casey Mitchell leads the team with 16.6 points per game and has connecting on a team-leading 44 3-pointers. Collectively, West Virginia ranks third in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounding, grabbing 15.1 boards per game on the offensive end.
The Series - Louisville vs. West Virginia
Louisville owns a 7-3 all-time series advantage over West Virginia, a matchup that dates back to 1959. The Cardinals have won four of the last five meetings. In last year's contest, West Virginia pulled out a 77-74 win in Morgantown on Jan. 30, 2010. Da'Sean Butler scored 27 points, hitting 4-of-9 attempts from 3. Kevin Jones chipped in 16 points, and Wellington Smith added in 12. Samardo Samuels and Reginald Delk each tallied 16 points, and Louisville shot 51.9 percent (28-of-54) from the field. The last time the two teams met in Louisville, the Cardinals took a 69-63 decision over the Mountaineers.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. West Virginia
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 26
Time: 7:02 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky. (22,000)
TV: ESPNU will televise the game, with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and LaPhonso Ellis (color) calling the action.
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) 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 121 and XM Channel 141.
Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series, 7-3 (3-1 in Louisville, 2-2 in Morgantown, 2-0 neutral).
Officials: Jim Burr, Mike Roberts, Wally Rutecki
Next U of L Game: Saturday, Jan. 29 at Connecticut, Storrs, Conn., Noon ET (BIG EAST Network/WHAS-TV)
