Im just going to go right ahead and say it, CRP has done one hell of a job this year thus far. I know the arguments and debates I will get out of these statements and I understand them and agree.

Recruiting is a part of coaching and that has been highly medicore at best recently, but sometimes players that we go after just don't pan out and jump elsewhere. Also think about this, if you are a 5 star prospect and want to showcase your skills how much do you really want to play Rick Pitino basketball( which is play high pressure defense all 40 minutes, share points with all your teammates because we are at our best when all of are parts work together to power the machine, not to mention practice's that involve running, running, and some more running). The chances to display your NBA abilities here are limited, but the chances of you learning and maturing your abilities to play in the NBA are infinite at Louisville.

Louisville is better with 3-4 star recruits that are dedicated to learning and working hard(see Louisville Bball 2010-2011) What I wanted to get to was the things that I have seen that are different about this years team then Ricks Louisville teams in the past.

1. Rick has actually made progress calling plays late into games. The play drawn up at the end of the Marquette game was a perfect example. Usually in the past I was dead set that if we were down 1 or 2 with 10-30 seconds left on the clock that we would never win. Mainly because we would wait at the top of the key just dribbling and dribbling til about 8 seconds left then take either a 96 foot 3-pointer or drive crazily(word?) thru the lane and take the worst shot possible. But as of late I have had trust in these guys, they seem prepared and way more mature then in the past when the game was coming down the stretch.

2. The old saying, "pay with what you have today" works perfect for this years team, and quite frankly Rick has done an amazing job. I mean seriously we lost 5, yes 5, starters last year, and are in the top 20 in the country?(second big east, what?) Think about it, could SVT start for any team in the top 50?, top 75? Doubt it, but he's starting for us right now and we just beat the 5th ranked team in the country! We have no star player that can just score 25 plus every night but we have lots and lots of hard working role players that are willing to do whatEVER it takes to win. And let's face it, the head coach has to be a factor in this.

In closing I want to say that I have been critical of Pitino in the past years of late, but seeing what he is doing this year with this team is impressing me beyond belief. I just want to finally give Coach Pitino his due and credit he deserves because he is coaching his ass off this year.

Please feel free to agree or disagree below, Go Cards!

In other news, UTEP Center Derrick Caracter has declared himself elidgible for the NBA Draft.  It is truely sad what kind of advice this kid is getting from sources.  Or he might just be that plain stupid and thinks someone will actually draft him(which is possible).  Ill give it to him, he had a decent year for UTEP, but Im sorry the competition they play is nowhere near what he will see in the NBA.

So I ask you all this, Do you think Derrick Caracter will be drafted this year?

F ranciso Garcia

R eese Gaines

E llis Myles

E arl Clark

D avid Padgett

O tis George

M arvin Stone

H ometown Hero Daryl Griffith

A ndre McGee

L uke Whitehead

Larry O'Bannon

Since I was 12 years old I have loved my beloved CARDS.  I have gone to many games and been apart of atmospheres you really can't explain, but just feel.  And for these feelings I owe the great Freedom Hall.  This list represents the cards I have watched and been apart of me while growing up.  Playing pickup games and pretending to be ellis myles and yelling ELLIS everytime you got a rebound. (Yeah I know some of you have done this too lol) Watching Larry O'Bannon grow from a small town Louisville native, to an incredibly special four year adored cardinal.  Doing the warm up Franciso Garcia dunk, where he goes up and acts like hes going to cram it home, but actually just does an over exaggerated finger roll.  Cheering for Marvin Stone as he transferred to the good school and dealt payback to the kittens.  Laughing as Otis George spent more time on the ground then standing up in the game. ( Gave us 110% every night he played) Knowing that Reese Gaines was going to hit the game winning shot.  Getting a sick feeling in my stomach just thinking about Luke Whiteheads drastic fall.  Never will I feel the same feeling again in the Hall when Earl made that fadeaway shot at the top of the key to secure the whiteout knockout of No. 1 Pitt .  Watching Andree McGee straight harass opposing guards. And finally, the great one Daryl Griffith who is an inspiration to all cardinal fans and taking Lousiville to heights that consider him Legendary.  These are just small pieces of MY Freedom Hall puzzle that I never will forget and ALWAYS cherish.........Thank You Louisville, I am truely proud to be a card