Pitino, Dieng Preview Tuesday's BIG EAST Game at Rutgers
February 21, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2011
Game Notes
Rick Pitino Audio | Gorgui Dieng Audio
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino and freshman center Gorgui Dieng met with the media Monday afternoon to preview Tuesday's BIG EAST game at Rutgers on Feb. 22 at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J. The game is set for a 9:05 p.m. ET tip, and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU, with Beth Mowins (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (color) calling the action.
The No. 16/15-ranked Cardinals (20-7, 9-5 BIG EAST) had a strong 71-58 win over 13th-ranked Connecticut on Feb. 18. Peyton Siva led the Cardinals in scoring, tallying 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting, while Dieng registered his first career double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds. Chris Smith chipped in 11 points off the bench.
The Cardinals limited the Huskies to just 37 percent (17-of-46) from the field and forced Connecticut into 16 turnovers, which led to 18 Louisville points. Impressively, Connecticut's Kemba Walker, who averaged 23.2 points per game, was held to just 16 on 3-of-10 shooting. Nearly half of Louisville's points - 34 - came from inside the paint, while 10 more came via fast break. Louisville also was strong on the glass, owning a 40-36 advantage, including 17 offensive rebounds.
Rutgers (13-13, 4-10 BIG EAST) is coming off back-to-back losses; the most recent one came on the road at the hands of No. 17/20-ranked Syracuse, 84-80, in overtime on Feb. 19. Rutgers' Mike Coburn had a team-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Jonathan Mitchell (13 points) and Gilvydas Biruta (12 points) also registered double-digit point totals. For the game, the Scarlet Knights shot 45.6 percent (31-of-68) from the field. Syracuse won the advantage on the glass, 43-33, and also made 47 trips to the free throw, making 34 attempts, as opposed to Rutgers' 14 free throw attempts. Fourteen of Syracuse's free throws came in the extra period.
The Scarlet Knights are under the direction of Mike Rice, who's in his first year at the helm of the program. Previously, he held the same position at Robert Morris from 2007-10, recording a 73-31 overall mark. In the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, Rutgers was picked to finish to 15th. Mitchell leads the team in scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.8 points and six rebounds per game. As a team, Rutgers is tied for third in the conference steals per game (8.0) and ranks fourth in the league in blocked shots per game (4.9).
The Series - Louisville vs. Rutgers
Louisville leads the all-time series, 8-1, over Rutgers, with the Cardinals winning the past four meetings. Last year, Louisville defeated Rutgers, 76-60, at Freedom Hall on Feb. 6. Jerry Smith paced the Cardinals, with 16 points, hitting 4-of-7 from 3. Samardo Samuels recorded a double-double, tallying 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Cardinals shot 54 percent (27-of-50) from the field, while winning the rebounding battle, 36-27. On Louisville's last visit to the RAC in Piscataway, the Cardinals took a 78-59 victory (Jan. 21, 2009). Terrence Williams led the squad, with 23 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Earl Clark and Samuels registered 15 points apiece.
GAME FACTS - Louisville at Rutgers
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 22
Time: 9:05 p.m. ET
Site: Louis Brown Athletic Center, (RAC) Piscataway, N.J. (8,000)
TV: ESPNU will televise the game, with Beth Mowins (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (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 127 and XM Channel 203.
Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series, 8-1 (4-0 in Louisville, 2-1 in Piscataway, 2-0 neutral).
Officials: Joe Lindsay, Roger Ayers, Jeff Anderson
Next U of L Game: Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. Pittsburgh at KFC Yum! Center, 2 p.m. ET (CBS)
