Pitino Previews Wednesday's BIG EAST Game Against Providence
March 01, 2011 | Men's Basketball
March 1, 2011
Watch on ESPN3.com
Game Notes
Rick Pitino Audio | Preston Knowles Audio | George Goode 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 Providence on March 2 at the KFC Yum! Center. The game is set for a 7:04 p.m. ET tip, and it will be broadcast on the BIG EAST Network (WHAS-TV in Louisville), with Mike Gleason (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (color) calling the action.
Fans are encouraged to "Red Out" the arena on Wednesday to honor seniors George Goode and Preston Knowles.
The No. 11/11-ranked Cardinals (22-7, 11-5 BIG EAST) knocked off their sixth ranked team of the season, upsetting fourth-ranked Pittsburgh, 62-59, in overtime on Feb. 27. Peyton Siva led the charge with 14 points, while Kyle Kuric tallied 12 points and seven boards. Knowles finished the game with eight points and seven assists, and Mike Marra contributed 11 points off the bench. Louisville led at the half by nine, 31-22, but Pittsburgh was able to tie the score at 56 apiece at the end of regulation. The Cardinals, however, held the Panthers to without a field goal in the extra session, as Pitt's only three points came from the charity stripe. Defensively, the Cardinals forced 18 Panther turnovers.
Providence has dropped its last six games and enters Wednesday's contest with a 14-15 overall mark, going 3-13 in the BIG EAST. In their last contest, the Friars fell at Marquette, 86-62, on Feb. 27. Marshon Brooks led the team with 17 points and five assists, while Gerard Coleman chipped in 16 points and Vincent Council tallied 12. Despite the Golden Eagles winning the rebounding battle, 48-33, the Friars managed to grab 16 offensive rebounds. Darius Johnson-Odom led Marquette with 17 points, and the Golden Eagles shot 52.5 percent (31-of-59) for the game. Jae Crowder registered a double-double in the win, totaling 12 points and 13 boards.
The Friars are under the direction of Keno Davis, who is in his third season with the program. Brooks, who leads the conference and scoring and ranks second nationally in the category, is averaging 25.1 points per game, while shooting 49.4 (258-of-522) percent from the field. He also leads the team in rebounding (7.2 per game). Council ranks first on the team in assists, with 178.
The Series - Louisville vs. Providence
Louisville owns a 10-5 all-time series advantage over Providence, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. Earlier this year, Marshon Brooks scored 27 points to lead the Friars to a 76-27 victory over visiting Louisville on Jan. 22. Chris Smith scored a season-high 19 points and added seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Stephan Van Treese added 10 points and six points. The Cardinals won the rebounding battle, 34-26.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. Providence
Date: Wednesday, March 2
Time: 7:04 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ky. (22,000)
TV: The BIG EAST Network (WHAS-TV in Louisville) will televise the game, with Mike Gleason (play-by-play) and Bob Wenzel (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.
SIRIUS: Game will be available on SIRIUS Channel 121 and XM Channel 141.
Series History: Louisville leads the all-time series, 10-5 (5-0 in Louisville, 4-3 in Providence, 1-2 neutral).
Officials: Mike Roberts, Ray Perone, Ray Natali
Next U of L Game: Saturday, March 5 at West Virginia, Morgantown, W.Va., Noon ET (ESPN)
