SBNation.com: All Posts by Mike Rutherford

Louisville Baseball Stunned By UConn In Big East Tournament Opener

2013-05-23T03:06:03Z

If Louisville is going to win the last major Big East event it ever takes part in, it's going to have to do it the hard way.

The Cardinal Nine saw their 16-game winning streak snapped in stunning fashion on Wednesday night, falling to No. 8 seed Connecticut 3-2 in the first round of the Big East Tournament in a game which lasted 12 innings. It's the first time since 2008 that a top seed has lost its opening game in the tournament.

The star of the evening for the Huskies was starting pitcher Carson Cross, who surrendered two Cardinal runs in the first inning, but was sensational the rest of the way. He pitched into the tenth inning and gave up just seven hits and no walks while striking out three.

Adding insult to injury for Louisville was the fact that the Cardinals were forced to use starting pitchers Kyle Funkhouser (4.2 innings) and Dace Kime (3.2 innings), as well as closer Nick Burdi (2.1 innings). It'll be a tall task for the pitching staff from here on out, as U of L would have to win five straight games over four days to claim the championship.

On the bright side, let's keep in mind that the last loss for both the basketball and football teams also came in overtime (extra innings)...so...there's that.

The Cards will face the loser of tonight's Rutgers/South Florida tilt in an elimination game tomorrow night at 5 p.m.

Wednesday Evening Cardinal News And Notes

2013-05-23T00:05:03Z

Tom Jurich is one of four ADs up for Athletic Director of the Year at tonight's Sports Business Awards ceremony in New York City. Here he is styling on the red carpet (I'd imagine it's a red carpet) before the event.

If the SBAs want to have any legitimacy, they'll give Jurich the award and then rename it after him.

Rick Pitino is also in New York tonight, picking up the prestigious Winged Foot Trophy from the New York Athletic Club.

I am in Louisville, and now I feel self-conscious about it.

Teddy Bridgewater is now officially on Twitter and using the flawless handle: @teddyb_h2o.

This kid can do it all, folks.

For those interested, you can catch all the Big East Tournament games tis week either on ESPN3.com or BigEast.org. As I type this, Louisville and Connecticut are tied at 2 in the sixth inning. We'll have a post up once the game goes final.

The Mike Rutherford/Hajj Turner picture has finally surfaced, and it's...well it's super dark.

My Hajj love, however, remains extremely bright.

Here is the full TV schedule for this winter's college football bowl games.

As expected, five-star 2014 wing Theo Pinson picked North Carolina this morning. Pinson had Louisville listed among his finalists, but the understanding was that this was just for show.

Keith Broadus is misunderstood, and clearly just still celebrating a national championship. Leave him be.

Seth Davis' tweets rarely make much sense, and if we're being honest, this one probably doesn't either...but I still enjoy it.

Peyton Siva doesn't play til tomorrow but he's watching the action & handing out water during time outs. Thats why Louisville won the title.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) May 22, 2013

The key to the city of Louisville's financial success? Location, location, location.

The U of L coaching staff paid a visit to Mike Edwards, a three-star safety from Winton Woods (Cincinnati) today.

Prosecutors in King County (WA) have asked for more time to review the allegations against Terrence Williams.

Williams was released from the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent on Monday after he posted $25,000 bail. His attorney, Aaron Kiviat, had said at the bail hearing Monday that the claims by the alleged victim was not the full story.

According to court documents, Williams was dropping off his son at the boy's mother's home in Kent when she attempted to speak to Williams.

"The mother came outside with her current boyfriend, and wanted to talk to Terrence about some disparaging remarks that Terrence had made in the past about her other children. Terrence refused to get out of the vehicle so the mother started banging on his hood, insisting that they talk," the documents said.

"While seated in the vehicle Terrence pulled out a handgun, stuck it out the driver's side window and aimed it at the mother," prosecutors allege.

Someone give this step-mother an award.

The first college football preview magazines of the summer have started to leak out, and here's an early shocker: Lindy's has Teddy Bridgewater as the SEVENTH best quarterback in the country, behind Johnny Manziel, Braxton Miller, A.J. McCarron, Tajh Boyd, Aaron Murray and Marcus Mariota.

I disagree.

The hottest look in Louisville in this summer.

Have an opinion on where the 2014 AAC tourney should be played? Vote here.

More on Teddy Bridgewater stiff-arming his own Heisman campaign from ESPN.

And finally, I'll be doing TV on CN|2 Sports tomorrow night and then radio on ESPN 680 from 8-10. Watch, listen, laugh, sleep, eat, sleep.

2013 Cardinal Caravan Set To Make Five Stops

2013-05-22T21:16:01Z

The 2013 edition of U of L's annual Cardinal Caravan will be making five stops across Kentucky, including one in Louisville (can that really be a "stop?") on June 4.

The caravan includes season tickets availability, raffle giveaways, a photo station with championship backdrops, along with appearances by the UofL cheerleaders, Ladybirds, and mascot Louie. Drinks and food will be available for purchase at each of the locations.

Here's the schedule:

Tuesday, June 4
11:45 a.m.	Bardstown	Kreso's Restaurant	218 N. 3rd St.
6:30 p.m.	Louisville	Captain's Quarters	5700 Captain's Quarters Rd.

Wednesday, June 5
12:45 p.m.	Bowling Green	SKyPAC	601 College St.
5:30 p.m.	Lexington	Grand Reserve	903 Manchester St.

Thursday, June 6
6 p.m.	Shelbyville	Fairgrounds Pavilion	1513 Midland Trail

Montrezl Harrell Accepts Invite To Try Out For Team USA

2013-05-22T19:33:53Z

U of L rising sophomore/avid slam dunk enthusiast Montrezl Harrell is one of 24 players who have accepted invitations to attend the USA Basketball Men's Under-19 World Championship Team training camp June 14-19 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Harrell is one of 16 players invited who has previous USA Basketball experience, as he was a member of the Under-18 team coached by Billy Donovan last summer. He averaged 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds to help Team USA win the gold in Brazil. And if you're looking for another fun talking point, the Harrison twins were cut from that same team 12 months ago.

Here's the full training camp roster for next month:

2013 USA Basketball Men's U19 World Championship Team Training Camp Roster

NO	NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	YOG	SCHOOL	HOMETOWN
	Ryan Arcidiacono	G	6-3	190	03/26/94	2016	Villanova	Langhorne, PA
	Bryce Alford	G	6-3	175	01/18/94	2013	La Cueva H.S./*UCLA	Albuquerque, NM
	Brandon Ashley	F	6-8	190	07/15/94	2016	Arizona	San Francisco, CA
	Robert Carter	C	6-8	250	04/04/94	2016	Georgia Tech	Thomasville, GA
	Damyean Dotson	G	6-5	200	05/06/94	2016	Oregon	Houston, TX
	Kris Dunn	G	6-3	185	03/18/94	2016	Providence	Oakdale, CT
	Javan Felix	G	6-0	180	07/28/94	2016	Texas	New Orleans, LA
	Michael Frazier	G	6-4	185	03/08/94	2016	Florida	Tampa, FL
	Marcus Georges-Hunt	F	6-6	215	03/28/94	2016	Georgia Tech	College Park, GA
	Shaq Goodwin	F	6-8	245	09/01/94	2016	Memphis	Atlanta, GA
	Aaron Gordon	F	6-6	210	09/16/95	2013	Archbishop Mitty H.S./*Arizona	San Jose, CA
	Jerami Grant	F	6-6	210	03/12/94	2016	Syracuse	Bowie, MD
	Montrezl Harrell	F	6-7	215		2016	Louisville	Tarboro, NC
	Rondae' Hollis-Jefferson	F	6-6	205	01/03/95	2013	Chester, PA/*Arizona	Chester, PA
	Jahlil Okafor	C	6-10	253	12/15/95	2014	Whitney Young H.S.	Chicago, IL
	Rodney Purvis	G	6-4	190	02/14/94	2016	^Connecticut	Raleigh, NC
	James Robinson	G	6-3	200	03/04/94	2016	Pittsburgh	Mitchellville, MD
	Marcus Smart	G	6-4	200	03/06/94	2016	Oklahoma State	Flower Mound, TX
	Jarnell Stokes	F	6-8	250	01/07/94	2015	Tennessee	Memphis, TN
	Rasheed Sulaimon	G	6-3	180	03/09/94	2016	Duke	Houston, TX
	Devin Thomas	F/C	6-9	240	05/17/94	2016	Wake Forest	Harrisburg, PA
	Mike Tobey	F/C	6-11	227	10/10/94	2016	Virginia	Monroe, NY
	Nigel Williams-Goss	G/F	6-3	180	09/16/94	2013	Findlay Prep/*Washington	Happy Valley, OR
	Justise Winslow	F	6-6	210	03/26/96	2014	St. John's H.S.	Houston, TX
Head Coach: Billy Donovan, University of Florida
Assistant Coach: Tony Bennett, University of Virginia
Assistant Coach: Shaka Smart, Virginia Commonwealth University
Court Coach: Ed Cooley, Providence College
Court Coach: Tim Ryan, College of Central Florida
Court Coach: Buzz Williams, Marquette University
Athletic Trainer: Dave Werner, University of Florida

Where Every Mock Draft Has Gorgui Dieng Being Picked

2013-05-22T18:40:43Z

Last night's lottery draw solidified the order for the 2013 NBA Draft, and meant every major sports news outlet had to update their mock drafts. It also meant some moving and shaking for Louisville's most popular man, who continues to be projected as a mid-first round pick by nearly every person who gets paid to make such prognostications.

Here's where every outlet worth a salt currently has The Gorgster landing.

SB Nation: Oklahoma City Thunder (Pick 12)

Sports Illustrated: Boston Celtics (Pick 16)

NBA.com: Atlanta Hawks (Pick 18)

Draft Express: Chicago Bulls (Pick 20)

ESPN: Chicago Bulls (Pick 20)

CBS: New York Knicks (Pick 24)

NBADraft.net: New York Knicks (Pick 24)

Would love to see Gorgui go in the lottery, and I would not hate the nickname "Thunder Gorgs" one bit. Although if I'm being completely honest, whichever team picks Gorgui is going to be getting a new fan.

Louisville's Thompson Named Big East Pitcher Of The Year

2013-05-22T17:47:54Z

Junior righthander Jeff Thompson was named Big East Pitcher of the Year on Tuesday, and was one of a record-tying 10 Cardinals who received all-conference accolades.

Here's the word from U of L:

A First Team All-BIG EAST honoree, Thompson (Greenville, Ind./Floyd Central HS) was 10-1 with a 2.09 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 14 starts and 90.1 innings pitched this season. The conference leader in wins and strikeouts, Thompson has won each of his last four starts and ranks third in the league in ERA while opposing batters are hitting just .174 against him. The 10 wins rank second on the Cardinals' single season leaderboard, while his 97 strikeouts are the fifth most by a Louisville pitcher in a season. Thompson is the fifth Louisville player to be named BIG EAST Pitcher of the Year in the last seven seasons joining Justin Amlung (2012), Thomas Royse (2010), Justin Marks (2009) and Zack Pitts (2007).

Joining Thompson as First Team All-BIG EAST selections were junior designated hitter Jeff Gardner and sophomore righty closer Nick Burdi. The Cardinals, who equaled last year's record-setting 10 All-BIG EAST selections, had four players named Second Team All-BIG EAST on Tuesday -- junior righthanded pitcher Chad Green, junior outfielder Coco Johnson, sophomore shortstop Sutton Whiting and junior third baseman Ty Young. Earning Third Team All-BIG EAST honors from Louisville were senior second baseman Nick Ratajczak and junior outfielders Adam Engel and Cole Sturgeon.

The Cardinals begin their quest for a Big East Tournament championship this evening at 5 p.m. against No. 8 seed Connecticut.

Louisville Basketball GIF Of The Year Tournament: Championship Round

2013-05-22T16:53:45Z

It's time to decide what the best Louisville basketball GIF in 2012-13 was. The polls close 48 hours from now.

Chane's DePaul Day Dunk (Pod 1 champ)

CCCCCHHHHAAAANNNNEEEEEE (Pod 2 champ)

Behanan Kisses UK Goodbye (Pod 3 champ)

Trez Dunk Angle 1 (Pod 4 champ)

Trez Dunk Angle 2 (Pod 5 champ)

Poll

Which was the best GIF of the 2012-13 Louisville basketball season?

Theo Pinson commits to North Carolina

2013-05-22T16:41:53Z

Roy Williams relieved some of the sting of missing out on Andrew Wiggins by landing another five-star prospect on Wednesday.

Theo Pinson, one of the top players in the class of 2014, announced that he will be a North Carolina Tar Heel during a press conference at his Wesleyan Christian Academy (N.C.) school. The 6'6 wing chose UNC over Indiana, Louisville, Duke and Georgetown.

His rare combination of a forward's length and a guard's skill figures to make Pinson a matchup nightmare at the next level. He's a tremendous passer who can get to the rim at will, and he can guard multiple positions on the other end of the floor. If there is an issue with Pinson's game, it's a jump shot that needs to become a bit more consistent before he gets to Chapel Hill.

Pinson becomes the third five-star player from the class of 2014 to commit to North Carolina already. He joins small forward Justin Jackson and point guard Joel Berry in making up the future of Tar Heel basketball.

More from SB Nation:

• Cavs win the Lottery | Complete draft order

• Mavs could shop 13th pick

• NBA mock draft: Is Nerlens Noel No. 1?

• O'Donnell: The mysterious Rudy Gobert

• Longform: Basketball and chaos in Europe

• Kevin Durant donates $1 million to tornado relief