Outside of the Chron-stop calling it that-I often go to Louisville Basketball's team page on ESPN.com to get information, highlights and other random statistics about our beloved Cards Hoops team.  For those of you who are not familiar, ESPN ranks every NCAA division basketball team in the following four categories - Points Per Game (PPG), Rebounds Per Game (RPG), Assists Per Game (APG) and Field Goal Percentage (PCT).  

Not surprisingly, Louisville's statistical rankings were not looking that admirable through the first 6 games.  So in an attempt to make myself feel better/worse, I took the following teams - UL, UK, UNC, CUSE, UCONN, OHIO ST, DUKE, & UF - and averaged their overall rank.  Much like ESPN's QBR, I have created my own BBR - Basketball Rating (0 points for creativity).  The best would be 1, the worst would be 260 or whatever the actual total number of schools ESPN ranks. Results after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

From ESPN:

Among the items stolen was memorabilia Garrett's father passed down to him. Garrett's father, Bill Garrett, was a legendary basketball player and coach in Indiana. The items included his father's Indiana Mr. Basketball ring, his 1947 high school state championship ring, his Harlem Globetrotters' jersey and a statue made by an Indiana artist depicting Garrett, his father and his son.

Garrett was hopeful the robbers would be caught and his possessions would be returned.

"I have confidence in the Chicago Police Department," Garrett said. "In a city like this where you have major crime happening all the time, they're the ones who are going to make the difference."

Chicago PD have called in the following suspects for a line up. 

via 1.bp.blogspot.com

via cdn3.sbnation.com

After seeing the raw talent and play making abilities of Bryce Cotton during his freshman campaign at Providence College, class of 2012 gaurd Ricardo Ledo has decommited from Providence and has re-opened his recruitment in an effort to get playing time his freshman year.  Ledo was heavily recruited by both Pitino and UK and it will be interesting to see where he ends up landing.  It is, of course, worth noting that Ledo is widely expected to play this summer for the Puerto Rican National team.  Anybody happen to know who is coaching that team?

Landing Ledo, in addition to Purvis, would definitely give Louisville the number 1 recruiting class for 2012.  And while we have seen that this doesnt necessarily equal national championships (see Lexington College, last season), its definitely something to get excited about.

Recruiting is Creepy.

We lost to UK. It sucked - Lets get over it and stop talking about our feelings like a bunch of women (no offense to women). Last time I checked we still have the entire big east schedule to play and it starts tonight - something no one has yet to mention on this blog. C'mon man, the big east play, not the UK game, will determine our tourney seed. The madness is more important than one game. So lets start the big east schedule off right with a win over the jersey shore pirate hookers. That is all. Thank you.

Urban Meyer has, once again, resigned at UF. If, in fact, he is serious this time (which who the hell really knows with UF coaches), does Florida offer/consider Coach Strong for the position? Would he accept? From his standpoint, it certainly would be hard to turn down. This scares the shit out of me. What can we do to ensure he stays? Should we applaud him at the halftime of every basketball game for the rest of the season? Anyone want to start a keepcoachstrong.com? Thoughts?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5899478

According to the AD at Westchester, neither Miller nor Bello have made a final decision on where to play college basketball, i mean, obtain a quality 4 year education.  This is contrary to the story linked here on CC yesterday which was written by infallible college basketball recruiting guru Zagoria.  This story is just as much speculation as the story that has Miller definitely going to Baylor, but at least its somewhat positive for the cards.  I just thought I would share this as a small slice of good hope for our program before everyone freaks out on Pitino for speculatively allowing Tony "I only hit you because I love you" Woods to transfer.

And in any event, we still have Benehan and Blackshear. Not exactly lightweights. 

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.news-record.com/blog/55665/entry/101310

According to Jody Demling.

Beyond the outcome of this Saturday's football game, this weekend could have huge implications for our basketball program's future.  The CJ is reporting that Chane Benehan has canceled his scheduled visit with Huggins and those dirty moutain folk to the northeast in order to officially visit Louisville this weekend.  This is admittedly  pure speculation, but the idea of the four of them visiting on the same weekend lends me to believe that they could envision what the 4 of them, in addition to Blackshear, could accomplish at UofL i.e. knock the smug grin of off every UK fan's willfully ignorant face and compete for a championship.  

Theoretically, if Rick is able to land 3 out of 4 of these guys in addition to Blackshear, the UofL -UK game in 2011 would most likely have maybe one or two starting players above the age of 19.  And thats a big maybe.  Again, I admit this is a bit optimistic but a part of me thinks that with a win in the Governors Cup under the guidance of HCCS and the 4 of these 5-star players getting to witness the victory and the Louisville fanbase leads them to sign with UofL and thus ignites our rise back to the top in both football and basketball. 

It all starts with a victory this weekend.  Let's take care of business and beat the SEC bottom dwellers. Go Cards.

According to the just released UK basketball schedule. I guess this means I will be in town for New Years Eve.

http://www.ukathletics.com/blog/2010/08/follow-the-blue-brick-road-team-by-team-breakdown-of-the-2010-11-mens-basketball-schedule.html

Disclaimer - I do not follow UK blogs - this was sent to me by a "friend". 

75 word limit - 75 word limit - 75 word limit - 75 word limit.

75 word limit - 75 word limit - 75 word limit - 75 word limit.

Just read this on the C-J. Really happy for Samardo, although Im sure he wishes his agent had chose his words more wisely.   Here is the link to the article, no real details, just that Samardo went through the back door and the city of cleveland were all witnesses.

Here is the quote:

“It's been a stressful month,” agent David Bauman said in an email, “but I told Samardo sometimes you enter the NBA through the front door by being drafted, and sometimes you have to take the long way and go through the back door.”

Continue reading this post »