KU keeps it tight, but Cards prevail
U of L wins 84-69 to christen arena
By Jody Demling •
[email protected] • November 9, 2008
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. -- University of Louisville men's basketball coach Rick Pitino welcomed the idea of playing one of his team's two exhibition games on the road, opening Northern Kentucky University's new Bank of Kentucky Center.
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He said he preferred taking his team into a hostile environment, rather than scoring a blowout over another opponent at home.
Last night Pitino got that and more as his team had to come from behind in the second half against the scrappy Norse.
The No. 3 Cardinals trailed with 12:09 left in the game and clawed to beat their Division II foe 84-69 in front of 8,111 fans.
Though cheers of "overrated" came from the Norse student section, Pitino was elated with the victory.
"We are very pleased and very, very happy with the win," he said. "We don't underrate anyone. You would have to be a snob not to be pleased."
Samardo Samuels, U of L's 6-foot-9 freshman, was 10 of 11 from the floor and led the way with 29 points.
Still, Pitino called his play "terrible."
By the coach's count, Samuels gave up 15 points on defense, and he amassed only four rebounds.
Pitino was pleased with Edgar Sosa, who scored 18 points. Earl Clark scored all eight of his points in the second half, Will Scott added eight and Preston Knowles and Jerry Smith had seven apiece.
U of L captain Terrence Williams (knee) and freshman Kyle Kuric (ankle) did not dress.
U of L, which edged NAIA power Georgetown College in the first exhibition, had trouble stopping the smaller, sharpshooting Norse.
Sophomore guard Dustin Maguire led the Norse with 33 points. He shot 12 of 16, including 9 of 12 from three-point range. One of his three-pointers -- from about 25 feet -- was a bank shot with Jerry Smith coming at him as the shot clock expired.
"He had one of those Reggie Miller nights," Andre McGee said. "He was insanely hot tonight."
NKU finished the game 12 of 28 from three-point range.
"We would have an easier time defending a Big East team than we would Northern Kentucky, and I know that sounds crazy," Pitino said. "But when you play four or five guards, Samardo Samuels is not used to guarding a guy who fades to hit a three; it's totally unorthodox. This team probably shoots more threes than any team we'll face."
Louisville looked lethargic in the first half, with Samuels scoring 20 points as the Cardinals led just 36-31.
Maguire sparked the Norse attack with five three-pointers in the first half, then hit two long bombs in a 13-2 run early in the second to put NKU ahead 46-42.
"You can't put a value on being behind," Pitino said.
His team responded like a veteran club.
Knowles sparked the U of L comeback. He made a three-pointer, and Maguire answered with his own. Knowles then forced a turnover that led to a Clark three-point play to pull the Cardinals within 49-48.
George Goode then made a putback before Will Scott hit a three-pointer and Knowles hit a short jumper to get the Cardinals going again.
The Norse still trailed only 65-61 when Samuels and Sosa keyed a 12-2 run that gave U of L some breathing room. Samuels had seven points, including a three-point play, and Sosa hit a three-pointer and a jumper in the run.
I don't know if that is just typical Pitino that we see talking down on his players or what. UC has this same team on Tuesday so it'll be interestingto see what we do against them.
