Louisville Postgame Notes

March 15, 2014

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No. 5 Louisville 94, Houston 65
March 14, 2014
FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
American Athletic Conference Championship Semifinals

TEAM NOTES

Louisville has reached the conference tournament finals five of the last six years, winning three tournament titles. It is the 28th time the Cardinals have reached their conference tournament championship.
It is the most points in consecutive postseason games since 2005 NCAA Tournament, when Louisville posted a 93-79 victory over Washington on March 24 in Albuquerque, N.M., and then tallied a 93-85 win over West Virginia on March 26.
UofL head coach Rick Pitino is 47-13 in conference tournament games in his career, including a 24-9 stint at Louisville.
The Cardinals have played a combined 16 conference tournament games in Memphis, registering an 11-5 record with two conference championships.
Louisville forced Houston into 10 turnovers in the first half, the fourth-consecutive game forcing at least 10 turnovers in the opening period.
Conversely, it is the second-straight game Louisville turned the ball over just three times in the first half.
Louisville has turned the ball over five times or less in the first half on 12 occasions.
The Cardinals connected on 12-of-17 free throws in the opening period, the second-consecutive game with double-digit free throws in first half.
It's the 14th time this season the Cardinals never trailed in a game.
Louisville's six turnovers are the fewest this season since turning the ball over five times against Hofstra on Nov. 12, 2013. It's the fewest in a postseason game since the Cardinals had six turnovers against Florida on March 24, 2012.
Louisville has held 11 of its last 17 opponents under 40 percent shooting.

PLAYER NOTES

Russ Smith scored a career-best 42 points in the game, the third most in a contest in school history.
Smith set the school record for most points in a conference tournament game in school history, beating the mark previously set by Milt Wagner, who scored 31 versus Memphis State on March 9, 1986.
Smith's 42 points are the most in a postseason game in school history, surpassing the 36 that Junior Bridgeman scored against Rutgers on March 15, 1975, in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Tulsa, Okla.
Smith finished the first half with 27 points, beating the school record of 26 set by Larry O'Bannon against Charlotte on March 3, 2005. It is the third time this season he has scored at least 20 in a half. He had 21 against Hofstra on Nov. 12, 2013, and then 22 against North Carolina on Nov. 24, 2013.
Smith's 42 points breaks the nine-year-old facility's collegiate record of 41 set by Lamar's Alan Daniels against Memphis on Nov. 28, 2005.
Smith's 42 points are the most in a conference tournament game this season (previous high was 38 achieved Northwestern State's Jalan West on March 14).
With his 42 points, Smith improved his career total to 1,837. He passed LaBradford Smith (1,806 points, 1987-91) for No. 7, Derek Smith (1,826 points, 1978-82) for No. 6, and Milt Wagner (1,836 points, 1981-86) for No. 5.
Smith surpassed 600 points for the second-straight season (602 currently), becoming just the second player in school history to reach 600 in consecutive years (other: DeJuan Wheat, 603 in 1995-96; 607 in 1996-97).
Smith knocked down a career-best 14 field goals for a total of 203 this season. He joins nine others who have connected on 200 field goals in at least two seasons: Darrell Griffith, Pervis Ellison, Milt Wagner, Derek Smith, Wes Unseld, Billy Thompson, Lancaster Gordon, Butch Beard, and Allen Murphy.
Smith connected on 9-of-10 free throws, moving into No. 2 all-time on the career free throws list with 464. He passed Reece Gaines (456 made free throws, 1999-03) and is 27 shy of LaBradford Smith's career record of 491 set from 1987-91.
Of Smith's 14 field goals, five were 3-pointers. He improved his career total to 177, just three shy of tying Francisco Garcia's 180 (2002-05) for eighth all-time.
Defensively, Smith finished with one steal to move him five behind the school's career leader Peyton Siva, who had 254 from 2009-13.
In the first half, Smith connected on four 3-pointers. It's the fourth time he has hit at least four 3-pointers in the first half (5 vs. Hofstra on Nov. 12, 2013; 4 vs. North Carolina on Nov. 24, 2013; and 4 vs. Houston on Jan. 16).
Montrezl Harrell totaled three dunks in the game, all in the first half, giving him 90 for the season and 134 for his career. He needs 22 to tie Darrell Griffith (156 dunks, 1976-80) for No. 2 all-time.
Stephan Van Treese had 10 rebounds and reached double-digit rebounds for the third-consecutive game, a career-best. He matched a career best with three steals.
Van Treese scored his first career 3-pointer with 2:38 remaining in the second half on an assist from Chris Jones.
Chris Jones had eight assists in the win, marking the seventh time he has recorded at least five assists in a contest. His two steals gave him the team lead for the season, as he now has 67 on the year.

Players Mentioned

Montrezl Harrell

Chris Jones

Peyton Siva

Russ Smith

Stephan Treese

Stephan Treese

University of Louisville Athletics

Louisville Postgame Notes

Players Mentioned

Montrezl Harrell

Chris Jones

Peyton Siva

Russ Smith

Stephan Treese

Stephan Treese

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