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Louisville-Memphis Postgame Notes
December 17, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2011
Recap | Box Score | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 
| Photo Gallery 2
TEAM
- Louisville won its 52nd game all-time against Memphis, one victory shy of the most for UofL over one opponent (Cincinnati, 53). The Memphis series is also the second most played for the Cards behind the UC series.
Most matchups with one team, Louisville history
1. 94 - Cincinnati (53-41)
2. 86 - Memphis (52-34)
3. 74 - Western Kentucky (35-39)
4. 73 - Eastern Kentucky (51-22)
5. 70 - Georgetown College (51-19)
- UofL has taken four of the past five matchups and eight of the last 12. The schools were meeting for the first time since a 75-74 Louisville win in the championship game of the 2005 Conference USA tournament. Many may recall that game as one in which the Tigers' Darius Washington Jr. was fouled on a 3-pointer with no time left on the clock and his squad down by two (75-73). Washington swished the first before seeing his next two roll off the rim, giving the Cards the automatic berth into the Big Dance and leaving the Tigers out.
- The Cards are now 10-0 for the fifth time in school history and first since the 1996-97 campaign. Louisville has not won 11 straight to open a season since beginning the '74-'75 slate with a school-record 13 consecutive victories, a feat also achieved in '66-'67 and '60-'61.
Best season starts, Louisville history
1. 13-0 - 1974-75
1. 13-0 - 1966-67
1. 13-0 - 1960-61
4. 10-0 - 2011-12
4. 10-0 - 1996-97
- Louisville remains one of eight unbeatens in the country through Saturday's games. Also without a loss are Baylor (9-0), Indiana (10-0), Marquette (10-0), Missouri (10-0), Murray State (12-0), Syracuse (11-0), and Xavier (8-0). That number was nine before UNLV knocked off 10-0 Illinois 64-48 at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday.
- Syracuse and Louisville are the only two Division I schools who began at least 8-0 last season and are still unbeaten this year. The Orange were 18-0 before their first loss last year and are 11-for-11 thus far in 2011-12.
- The victory was also the 18th straight at home for Louisville, the Cards' longest home win streak since a 22-game string from Dec. 8, 1982-Jan. 25, 1984. The 18-game streak is the 10th longest in Cardinal history, eight shy of the program record of 26.
Longest home win streaks, Louisville history
1. 26 - 1.4.79-12.13.80
1. 26 - 12.19.55-12.20.57
3. 25 - 1.23.68-12.6.69
4. 24 - 1.19.74-12.9.76
5. 22 - 12.8.82-1.25.84
6. 21 - 12.6.76-12.28.77
7. 20 - 1.29.66-12.1.67
8. 19 - 1.17.81-1.16.82
8. 19 - 2.27.52-12.29.53
10. 18 - 1.5.11-Present
- The streak for the Cards is the 10th longest active string in the nation and second longest in the BIG EAST (behind only Notre Dame's 26-game streak).
Active home win streaks, Division I (through Saturday's games)
1. 40 - Duke
2. 40 - Kentucky
3. 31 - Ohio State
4. 26 - Notre Dame
5. 24 - Purdue
5. 24 - Temple
7. 22 - North Carolina
8. 21 - Belmont
9. 19 - Harvard
10. 18 - Bucknell
10. 18 - George Mason
10. 18 - Louisville
- The Cards scored 42 points in the first half, the fourth time in five games UofL has put up 40 or more points in the first period. They reached the mark despite shooting just 28.2 percent (11-for-39) from the field, Louisville's lowest shooting percentage in a half since going 6-for-23 (.261) in the second period against Rutgers last year (Feb. 22), its lowest mark in the first half since last season's Georgetown game (.259 on Jan. 26) and its lowest mark in any half at home since Dec. 31, 2008 (.231 in the first against UNLV).
- UofL's non-starters went a combined 0-for-14 from the field in that half, including 0-for-7 from three.
- Memphis did not fare any better in the first stanza, going 9-for-31 (.290) from the floor and 0-for-7 from three.
- Nineteen of the 42 points in the first came from the line for Louisville, who made 32 free throws in the contest, its highest total since hitting 35 (on 40 attempts) against Notre Dame on Feb. 17, 2010.
- Memphis also went to the line frequently in the game, thanks to 54 combined fouls between the two teams, the most in a Louisville game since officials blew the whistle 60 times in last year's opener against Butler. The Tigers were 28-for-43 (.651) in the contest, the most makes and attempts for a UofL opponent since Villanova was 35-for-49 on Jan. 11, 2010.
- The combined free throw numbers in the game (61 makes, 83 attempts) were also the highest since that Villanova contest, when the teams together went 74-for-94 from the charity stripe.
- The 61 free throws played a large role in what became the highest-scoring game for the Cards since a 114-82 win at Western Kentucky last season (Dec. 22). More points had not been scored in a Louisville home game since the 2006-07 opener, a 100-87 victory over Northwestern State.
- UofL and Memphis combined for 88 points in the second (53 for Louisville), the highest-scoring half in a Louisville game since Dec. 12, 2009, when Western Carolina outscored the Cards 57-54 in the second half en route to a 91-83 win. The 55 Memphis points were the most by a Cardinal foe in a half since Villanova scored 56 in the second on Jan. 11, 2010 (92-84 Wildcat win).
- Louisville has put up 88.3 points per game over its last three contests after averaging 67.7 prior to that.
- Despite the shooting struggles by the bench (which ended the game 3-for-19 from the field), Louisville had seven double-figure scorers in the contest, a first for UofL since a Nov. 17, 2007, game against Hartford. In that game, Andre McGee (18), Edgar Sosa (15), Jerry Smith (14), Terrence Williams (14), Derrick Caracter (10), Earl Clark (10), and David Padgett (10) all scored at least 10 points on a day in which Louisville hit a school-record 22 3-pointers.
- Saturday marked just the eighth time since 1972-73 Louisville had seven different players in double figures. The 1989-90 squad actually turned the trick twice in an 11-day span, doing so against Tulane in New Orleans (Jan. 18) before also accomplishing the feat against Southern Miss in Louisville (Jan. 29).
Seven players in double figures, since 1972-73
1.17.81 vs. Florida State (Wright 12, Gordon 11, Jones 11, R. McCray 11, S. McCray 11, Eaves 10, Smith 10)
1.18.90 at Tulane (L. Smith 18, Harmon 17, Holden 17, Williams 16, Spencer 14, Sullivan 13, Kimbro 12)
1.29.90 vs. Southern Miss (Harmon 20, Kimbro 17, Sullivan 16, Holden 15, Spencer 12, Williams 11, L. Smith 10)
2.18.92 vs. VCU (Sullivan 18, Morton 13, Brewer 10, Holden 10, Hopgood 10, LeGree 10, Minor 10)
12.6.95 vs. Morehead State (Wheat 23, Rogers 19, Sims 13, Dantzler 12, Kiser 12, Akridge 11, Flynn 10)
12.4.03 vs. Western Kentucky (Whitehead 22, Dartez 13, Daniels 11, Dean 11, Garcia 11, Mohammed 11, O'Bannon 10)
11.17.07 vs. Hartford (McGee 18, Sosa 15, Smith 14, Williams 14, Caracter 10, Clark 10, Padgett 10)
12.17.11 vs. Memphis (R. Smith 24, Dieng 14, Siva 13, Buckles 12, Kuric 11, C. Smith 11, Behanan 10)
- Louisville had eight of its shots blocked by Memphis, the most stuffs for a Louisville opponent since USF had 10 on Jan. 7, 2009. UofL entered the game having had just 18 of its shots blocked all season, tied for 13th in the nation in fewest per contest (2.0).
- Louisville did block nine shots of its own in the game, highlighted by Gorgui Dieng's six, and recorded 13 steals. It was the first time the Cardinals attained both of those totals in one game since Dec. 6, 2008, when UofL amassed 11 blocks and 16 steals in an 83-43 win over Indiana State.
- UofL won its 18th straight game when scoring 80+ points. The Cards last lost such a game on Jan. 11, 2010, against Villanova (84-92).
PLAYER
- Sophomore Russ Smith, making his third career start, notched seven steals in the game. The seven thefts tie for the fourth most in a game in Louisville history, with current junior Peyton Siva the last to accomplish the feat (seven against St. John's last season).
Steals in a game, Louisville history
1. 10 - Tick Rogers vs. Western Carolina - 12.5.94
2. 9 - Alvin Sims vs. VCU - 11.25.95
2. 9 - Darrell Griffith vs. Chattanooga - 12.5.79
4. 7 - Russ Smith vs. Memphis - 12.17.11
4. 7 - Peyton Siva vs. St. John's - 1.19.11
4. 7 - Terrence Williams vs. Syracuse - 3.14.09
4. 7 - Edgar Sosa vs. Sacramento State - 12.2.06
4. 7 - Alvin Sims vs. Michigan State - 12.2.95
4. 7 - Jason Osborne at Tulane - 1.21.95
4. 7 - Labradford Smith vs. Houston - 2.6.88
4. 7 - Lancaster Gordon vs. Tulane - 2.4.81
4. 7 - Darrell Griffith vs. Florida State - 2.24.80
- Smith's steal output has been surpassed by just three players in Division I basketball this year. Korey Van Dussen of UNC Greensboro, Savalance Townsend of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and Lorenzo Brown of NC State have all collected eight steals in a game this season.
- Smith has notched at least one steal in all nine of his appearances this year, including six with at least two - although he had never recorded more than a pair until Saturday. No Cardinal has had more multi-steal games in his first nine games of a season since Francisco Garcia had seven through nine in 2004-05.
- Smith now has 33 steals in 266 career minutes, equating to an average of 4.96 per 40 minutes on the floor. He has a steal in 20 of 26 career games despite averaging only 10.2 minutes.
- Smith also put up a career-best 24 points, including 15 in the first half alone. Ten of Smith's points came on free throws, also a career best (as were his 12 free-throw attempts). The 10 made free throws were the most for a Cardinal since Samardo Samuels was 13-for-13 against Villanova on Jan. 11, 2010.
- Smith's 15 points were the most for a Cardinal in the first half since Preston Knowles had 16 - on five 3-pointers - against Syracuse on Feb. 12 of last season. His 24 total points were the most by any Cardinal since Kyle Kuric had 25 against Providence on Senior Day last year (March 2).
- Smith is the first player in Louisville basketball history to score 24 points and record seven steals in the same game. Only one other player has even had 20 points and seven steals - namely Alvin Sims, who had 22 and nine against VCU on Nov. 25, 1995.
- Smith is one of two players in the nation this year to notch 24 points and seven steals in a single game against a DI opponent; the other is Bradley's Walt Lemon Jr., who also had 24 and seven in a matchup against Northeastern on Dec. 6. Smith is the 10th BIG EAST player since 1997-98 to accomplish the feat, a list that includes All-Americans Ryan Gomes (Providence), Richard Hamilton (Connecticut), and Troy Bell (Boston College), the first two of which are still enjoying successful careers in the NBA.
24 points, 7 steals in one game by BIG EAST players, since 1997-98
11.17.97 - 29 pts, 8 stl - Richard Hamilton, Connecticut (vs. Boston U.)
12.20.97 - 24 pts, 8 stl - Damian Owens, West Virginia (vs. Georgia)
11.29.98 - 27 pts, 7 stl - Elton Scott, West Virginia (vs. Saint Louis)
11.19.00 - 31 pts, 8 stl - Troy Bell, Boston College (vs. Saint Peter's)
1.27.01 - 28 pts, 7 stl - Damone Brown, Syracuse (vs. Rutgers)
11.16.01 - 24 pts, 11 stl - Chris Thomas, Notre Dame (vs. New Hampshire)
12.1.01 - 31 pts, 8 stl - Marcus Hatten, St. John's (vs. Fordham)
3.24.03 - 30 pts, 7 stl - Marcus Hatten, St. John's (vs. Virginia)
12.4.04 - 25 pts, 7 stl - Ryan Gomes, Providence (vs. Rhode Island)
2.16.10 - 24 pts, 8 stl - Mac Koshwal, DePaul (vs. Rutgers)
12.17.11 - 24 pts, 7 stl - Russ Smith, Louisville (vs. Memphis)
- All of this comes after Smith had never scored more than 12 points or grabbed more than two steals in a college game.
- With 14 points and 14 rebounds versus the Tigers, sophomore Gorgui Dieng has now recorded three consecutive double-doubles, the first Cardinal to do that since Earl Clark from Feb. 12-18, 2009.
- Dieng has notched at least 12 boards in all three of his double-doubles, making him the first Louisville player with three straight 12-rebound games since Ellis Myles from Nov. 24-Dec. 7, 2001 (13 against Oregon, 23 versus Tennessee State, and 15 against Milwaukee).
- Dieng has recorded at least six offensive rebounds in all three of the games, something no Cardinal has accomplished in three straight games since at least the 2000-01 season.
- Eleven of Dieng's boards came in the first half, tying for the most by a Cardinal in the first 20 minutes since Myles had 12 against Tennessee State on Dec. 1, 2001 (a game in which he finished with 23). With 10 first-half points as well, Dieng became the first Louisville player with a double-double by halftime since Jan. 12, 2002, when Luke Whitehead matched Dieng's line (10 points, 11 rebounds) in the first period against TCU at Freedom Hall.
- Dieng is averaging 12.0 points and 11.7 rebounds over the past six games. His 70 boards during that span are the most for a Cardinal over a six-game window since Clark had 71 from Nov. 21-Dec. 15, 2007.
- Dieng also stuffed six shots, his third career game with at least six blocks and his sixth with five or more. In so doing, Dieng became the first Louisville player with 14 rebounds and six blocks in a single game since Feb. 23, 1994, when Clifford Rozier had 15 rebounds and six swats against LSU at Freedom Hall.
Gorgui Dieng five-block games
7 vs. Gardner-Webb, 12.18.10
7 vs. FIU, 12.1.10
6 vs. Memphis, 12.17.11
5 vs. UT Martin, 11.11.11
5 at USF, 1.9.11
5 vs. Seton Hall, 1.5.11
- Sophomore Peyton Siva recorded nine assists in the contest, his third straight game with at least eight and his second straight with nine. No Cardinal had accomplished either feat since Terrence Williams put together three consecutive eight-assist games from Jan. 19-26, 2008 (10 at Seton Hall, 11 at USF, eight against St. John's), including 9+ in the first two.
- Siva accumulated his dimes in just 22 minutes of action - the fewest for a Louisville player in an outing with 9+ assists since Edgar Sosa had 10 in 21 minutes on Nov. 22, 2008 (against Morehead State). Siva had seven assists in 17 minutes in the second half.
- With 8+ assists against the College of Charleston on Tuesday, Siva would become the first player in Louisville history with four consecutive eight-assist games. Aside from Williams, the only other UofL player with three straight was Labradford Smith, who had eight, eight, and 11 against South Alabama, Southern Miss, and UNLV, respectively, from Jan. 19-26, 1991.
- Siva has dished out 26 assists with just six turnovers over the past three games.
- How unique was it to have one player with nine assists (Siva), another with seven steals (Russ Smith), and a third with six blocks (Dieng) on the same team in the same game? Unique to the extent that it had never occurred in Louisville basketball history previously and has not been achieved by three teammates on any other Division I team in the last 15 years. In fact, it was only the seventh time in Cardinal annals even two of the marks had been reached by different players in a single game, with the last occurrence coming on Dec. 6, 1995. In that contest against Morehead State, Beau Zach Smith had seven swats to accompany the nine assists dished out by Charlie Taylor.
9-assist, 7-steal, 6-block games by three different players, same game (Louisville history)
12.17.11 - Peyton Siva 9 ast, Russ Smith 7 stl, Gorgui Dieng 6 blk vs. Memphis
9-assist, 7-steal games by two different players, same game (Louisville history)
1.21.95 - Tick Rogers 11 ast, Jason Osborne 7 stl at Tulane
12.17.11 - Peyton Siva 9 ast, Russ Smith 7 stl vs. Memphis
9-assist, 6-block games by two different players, same game (Louisville history)
12.8.88 - Labradford Smith 11 ast, Pervis Ellison 8 blk at Western Kentucky
12.16.89 - Labradford Smith 11 ast, Felton Spencer 6 blk vs. New Mexico
2.10.94 - Jason Osborne 9 ast, Clifford Rozier 6 blk at USF
12.6.95 - Charlie Taylor 9 ast, Beau Zach Smith 7 blk vs. Morehead State
12.17.11 - Peyton Siva 9 ast, Gorgui Dieng 6 blk vs. Memphis
7-steal, 6-block games by two different players, same game (Louisville history)
12.2.95 - Alvin Sims 7 stl, Samaki Walker 6 blk vs. Michigan State
12.17.11 - Russ Smith 7 stl, Gorgui Dieng 6 blk vs. Memphis
- The marks of nine assists, seven steals, and six blocks have been reached one other time since 1997-98 by individuals on the same DI team in the same game, but only two players were involved. On Feb. 10, 2007, Chicago State's Royce Parran notched 11 assists and eight steals to complement his teammate Chidozie Chukwumah, who blocked nine shots. Yet this game featured East-West University in Chicago as the opponent, a school with men's basketball as its only athletic team, one that competes in the NAIA with no scholarships and had its 2011-12 season cancelled.
- Senior Chris Smith made five of his six free throw tries, giving him 21 makes in his last 23 attempts at the line (.913).
- Freshman Chane Behanan went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, career bests for the forward in makes and attempts. He was the first Cardinal to take 8+ free throws in a game without missing since Samardo Samuels went 13-for-13 against Villanova on Jan. 11, 2010. Behanan was a .567 free-throw shooter (17-for-30) for his career entering the game.
Perfect games from free throw line, since 2005-06 (min. 8 attempts)
13-for-13 - Samardo Samuels vs. Villanova (1.11.10)
11-for-11 - Jerry Smith at St. John's (2.8.09)
10-for-10 - Juan Palacios at Connecticut (3.4.06)
10-for-10 - Taquan Dean at Syracuse (2.18.06)
9-for-9 - Jerry Smith vs. Northwestern State (11.18.06)
8-for-8 - Chane Behanan vs. Memphis (12.17.11)
8-for-8 - Derrick Caracter vs. Stanford (3.15.07)
8-for-8 - Taquan Dean vs. Marquette (3.1.06)
- Behanan also snagged eight boards, the ninth time in 10 career games he has had six or more, and tied a career mark with a pair of assists.
- Junior Rakeem Buckles made stellar use of his 13 minutes of playing time on Saturday, scoring 12 points on 4-for-4 shooting and nabbing six boards. All of those points and all but one of the rebounds came in nine second-half minutes.
- Freshman Kevin Ware made his Cardinal debut on Saturday, recording a blocked shot in six minutes of action.
- Memphis sophomore guard Will Barton finished with 28 points and 16 rebounds in the game, going 14-of-19 from the free-throw line. The 28 points were the most for an opposing player since Georgetown's Austin Freeman had 29 on Feb. 23, 2010, while the 16 boards were the most since Kenneth Faried had 17 in the NCAA Tournament last year. As for free throws, Barton is the first Louisville opponent to make 14 tries in one game since Tulane's Donnie Stith went 14-for-14 on Jan. 29, 2005, and the first to attempt 19 since Memphis' Jeremy Hunt was 12-for-19 on March 14, 2003.
- All of the aforementioned stats were career highs for Barton, who has now scored at least 27 points in three straight games. He has also grabbed 13+ rebounds in three of his past four outings.
