Pitino, Marra Preview Sunday's BIG EAST Game against Pittsburgh
February 25, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2011
Game Notes
Rick Pitino Audio | Mike Marra Audio
Rick Pitino on Podcast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino and sophomore guard Mike Marra met with the media Friday afternoon to preview Sunday's BIG EAST home game against No. 4/5-ranked Pittsburgh on Feb. 27 at the KFC Yum! Center. The game is set for a 2:05 p.m. ET tip, and the game will be broadcast on CBS, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (color) calling the action.
The No. 16/16-ranked Cardinals (21-7, 10-5 BIG EAST) earned their 10th conference win of the season after posting a 55-37 victory at Rutgers on Feb. 22. Louisville set the tone in the first half, outscoring Rutgers, 33-19, and hitting seven 3-pointers that period. The Cardinals, who never trailed in the game, were led by Preston Knowles' 14 points, who was 4-of-9 from 3. Kyle Kuric was the only other player to score in double figures, tallying 11 points, while grabbing seven rebounds. A strong Cardinal defense forced 18 Scarlet Knight turnovers, with Knowles collecting five steals and Marra totaling three.
Pitt (23-5, 13-2 BIG EAST) defeated West Virginia, 71-58, on Feb. 24 at home. Despite trailing by a point a halftime, the Panthers surged in the second half, outscoring the Mountaineers, 41-27, in the period. Nasir Robinson led the charge, scoring 11 of his 15 points in the second period. Gilbert Brown, Brad Wanamaker and Lamar Patterson each tallied 11 points. As a team, the Panthers shot 57.4 percent (27-of-47) from the field and held the Mountaineers to just 33 percent (17-of-51) shooting. Pitt scored 34 of its points in the paint. Casey Mitchell led WVU, with 22 points off the bench.
The Panthers are under the direction of Jamie Dixon, who is in his eighth season as the program's head coach. He has led Pitt to a 213-57 overall record, going 96-37 in the BIG EAST and seven-straight NCAA Tournament appearances. In the BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Panthers were picked to win the league, earning 12 first-place votes. Gibbs, who earned preseason all-BIG EAST first-team honors, leads the team in scoring (16.4 points per game) and 3-pointers made (81). Gary McGhee ranks first on the team in rebounding, averaging 7.8 boards per contest.
The Series - Louisville vs. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh leads the all-time series against Louisville, 5-4. Three of the Cardinals' losses to the Panthers have come in the BIG EAST Tournament, and two of the last three meetings have been decided in overtime. The two teams squared off last year (Jan. 16) in Pittsburgh, and the Panthers posted a 82-77 overtime win behind Nasir Robinson's 26 points and 11 rebounds. Samardo Samuels led Louisville, with 26 points, while Preston Knowles tallied a season-high 21. Pittsburgh, which won the rebounding battle, 40-26, made 30 trips to the charity stripe, while Louisville had just 17 attempts. The last time the two teams met in Louisville, on Jan. 17, 2009, Terrence Williams registered 20 points, seven boards and four assists in a 69-63 Louisville victory.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. Pittsburgh
Date: Sunday, Feb. 27
Time: 2:05 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky. (22,000)
TV: CBS will televise the game, with Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and Jim Spanarkel (color) calling the action.
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) will broadcast the game on radio, with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (color) calling the action. Westwood One will also air the game, with Scott Graham (play-by-play) and Tom Brennan (color) calling the action.
SIRIUS: Game will be available on SIRIUS Channel 122 and XM Channel 143.
Series History: Louisville trails the all-time series, 5-4 (2-1 in Louisville, 2-1 in Pittsburgh, 0-3 neutral).
Officials: Tim Higgins, Michael Stephens, Bryan Kersey
Next U of L Game: Wednesday, March 2 vs. Providence, KFC Yum! Center, 7 p.m. ET (BIG EAST Network/WHAS)
