Tradition vs. Intensity

Apparently LOUISVILLE on the jersey and Rick Pitino on the bench still inspire some teams to play above their heads. Marshall did not look like a team that compiled a 4-3 won-loss record against the likes of Pikeville, East Tennessee State (twice), Rio Grande, Boston U., Wright State and Morehead.

Not a good three-point shooting team, the Thundering Herd hit its first seven three-point attempts against U of L, winding up hitting 10 out of 23 for a 43.5% clip. This was a team that managed only 41 out of 151 three-points attempts in their first seven games.

This was obviously a game Marshall had circled on the schedule. The Cards looked at it as the beginning of a possible five-game win streak, as did the home crowd, mostly annoyed, not overly concerned that the game was tied 37-37 at the half.

U of L’s tradition and the coach’s reputation for winning, while not impressive in recent years, are factors that will continue to invigorate every team on the schedule. The Cards need to recognize that and respond accordingly.

Card Fan Gift Tip #4

If a diehard Card fan in the family resides in a distant location, SlingBox is an item you will want to consider this year. By hooking this gadget up to your cable receiver, you can watch local TV programming anywhere on a computer. We obtained one last year because our son is off to college. Not only can we send the local stations, but digital channels as well (ESPNU, CSTV). Prices start at $149 for the solo version. Great for our vacations as well. Junior never ever misses a televised U of L game (unless he’s in class).

Intensity vs. Tradition

Apparently LOUISVILLE on the jersey and Rick Pitino on the bench still inspire some teams to play above their heads. Marshall did not look like a team that compiled a 4-3 won-loss record against the likes of Pikeville, East Tennessee State (twice), Rio Grande, Boston U., Wright State and Morehead.

Not a good three-point shooting team, the Thundering Herd hit its first seven three-point attempts against U of L, winding up hitting 10 out of 23 for a 43.5% clip. This was a team that managed only 41 out of 151 three-points attempts in their first seven games.

This was obviously a game Marshall had circled on the schedule. The Cards looked at it as the beginning of a possible five-game win streak, as did the home crowd, mostly annoyed, not overly concerned that the game was tied 37-37 at the half.

U of L’s tradition and the coach’s reputation for winning, while not impressive in recent years, are factors that will continue to invigorate every team on the schedule. The Cards need to recognize that and respond accordingly.

Pass The Soap, Please

So Derrick Caracter is doing his makeup again, returning to center stage. This season more and more resembles a soap opera, with characters once presumed gone returning in starring roles. Back stage are Juan Palacios and David Padgett, hopefully rehearsing for similar miraculous comebacks.

The plot has had plenty of twists and turns, deviating dramatically from the pre-season previews. Three players said to be NBA bound next year are suddenly looking like typical sophomores. A point guard who looked All America in the final game last season struggles in both shooting and dishing. A team that hits a record number of three-pointers in the first game thereafter resembles a post-1986 Denny Crum outfit behind the arc.

But the biggest twist has been Rick Pitino’s dalliance on the status of Derrick Caracter. Oh yeah, it’s a team decision, with the players assuming the role of who plays and doesn’t play. This approach to writing a script could either be tragedy or a comedy, depending on whether or not Caracter decides to steal the show again. As Tom Heiser suggests in his blog, the director may just have a flair for the dramatic.

This entire episode has been grossly inflated — and while the fans have ran with the story and embellished the underlying causes and consequences, the primary culprit is Pitino. He should have never called such a pregnant news conference if just to announce that Caracter was serving in-house punishment.

Regardless, you have to give the director credit for being flexible in how the plot plays out. He knows there are good actors in the cast, some capable of stardom. But they have to play their roles, remember their lines, and have good stage presence when the lights come on.

No more drama, please. This story could still have a happy ending.

Rich Rod Transitioning To Michigan

Life for West Virginia fans just got a lot more difficult with the decision of Rich Rodriguez to become football coach at Michigan. Think he may have consulted with former WVU coach John Beilein who runs the UM basketball program?

Rodriguez may find it a little more difficult to contend for a national championship at Michigan. Should have been in the BCS title game this season. The move will be a huge challenge for Rodriguez because fan expectations in Ann Arbor are 10 times greater than in Morgantown. In fact, H. J. Bosch of The Sporting News anticipates one of those “coaching transition” years:

I don’t want to rain on the parade, or in the case of southeast Michigan right now, snow, but this should be a concern for Wolverine Nation. Does Michigan have the personnel to run an effective spread attack? The Wolverines have plenty of talented athletes on the roster, but they may not be the right athletes. And think of Ryan Mallet having to play with an empty backfield the majority of a game. Sure, he was more elusive than Chad Henne but that’s like saying Rosie O’Donnell is thinner than Kathy Bates. I’m just not seeing how this combination of coach and roster will produce great results, at least on the offensive side of the ball.

Good luck at Michigan, coach, you’ll need all you can get.

Pass The Soap, Please

So Derrick Caracter is doing his makeup again, returning to center stage. This season more and more resembles a soap opera, with characters once presumed gone returning in starring roles. Back stage are Juan Palacios and David Padgett, hopefully rehearsing for similar miraculous comebacks.

The plot has had plenty of twists and turns, deviating dramatically from the pre-season previews. Three players said to be NBA bound next year are suddenly looking like typical sophomores. A point guard who looked All America in the final game last season struggles in both shooting and dishing. A team that hits a record number of three-pointers in the first game thereafter resembles a post-1986 Denny Crum outfit behind the arc.

But the biggest twist has been Rick Pitino’s dalliance on the status of Derrick Caracter. Oh yeah, it’s a team decision, with the players assuming the role of who plays and doesn’t play. This approach to writing a script could either be tragedy or a comedy, depending on whether or not Caracter decides to steal the show again. As Tom Heiser suggests in his blog, the director may just have a flair for the dramatic.

This entire episode has been grossly inflated — and while the fans have ran with the story and embellished the underlying causes and consequences, the primary culprit is Pitino. He should have never called such a pregnant news conference if just to announce that Caracter was serving in-house punishment.

Regardless, you have to give the director credit for being flexible in how the plot plays out. He knows there are good actors in the cast, some capable of stardom. But they have to play their roles, remember their lines, and have good stage presence when the lights come on.

No more drama, please. This story could still have a happy ending.

Card Fan Gift Tip #4

If a diehard Card fan in the family resides in a distant location, SlingBox is an item you will want to consider this year. By hooking this gadget up to your cable receiver, you can watch local TV programming anywhere on a computer. We obtained one last year because our son is off to college. Not only can we send the local stations, but digital channels as well (ESPNU, CSTV). Prices start at $149 for the solo version. Great for our vacations as well. Junior never ever misses a televised U of L game (unless he’s in class).

Rich Rod Transitioning To Michigan

Life for West Virginia fans just got a lot more difficult with the decision of Rich Rodriguez to become football coach at Michigan. Think he may have consulted with former WVU coach John Beilein who runs the UM basketball program?

Rodriguez may find it a little more difficult to contend for a national championship at Michigan. Should have been in the BCS title game this season. The move will be a huge challenge for Rodriguez because fan expectations in Ann Arbor are 10 times greater than in Morgantown. In fact, H. J. Bosch of The Sporting News anticipates one of those “coaching transition” years:

I don’t want to rain on the parade, or in the case of southeast Michigan right now, snow, but this should be a concern for Wolverine Nation. Does Michigan have the personnel to run an effective spread attack? The Wolverines have plenty of talented athletes on the roster, but they may not be the right athletes. And think of Ryan Mallet having to play with an empty backfield the majority of a game. Sure, he was more elusive than Chad Henne but that’s like saying Rosie O’Donnell is thinner than Kathy Bates. I’m just not seeing how this combination of coach and roster will produce great results, at least on the offensive side of the ball.

Angel vs. Crystal

No contest, the matchup between Angel McCoughtry and Crystal Kelly.

McCoughtry was her phenomenal self again, scoring 27 points, grabbing six rebounds and five steals to lead the Lady Cards to a convincing 76-60 win over Kelly’s Western Kentucky team at Bowling Green. Kelly managed only eight points, four of them at the free throw line.

Good thing for WKU took down the billboard on I-65 near the U of L campus. You know, the one that trumpeted, “Crystal Clear to Bowling Green.”

* * *

McCoughtry led the nation in scoring and steals, with 25.4 points and 5.4 thefts per game before Sunday’s romp.

* * *

Angel squares off against another local product, the much ballyhooed Carly Ormerod as the Lady Cards travel to Lexington to play Kentucky on Thursday. Game will be televised by Fox Sports at 7 p.m. (Channel 55 on Insight).

Impressions vs. Purdue

— Embarrassing to keep losing to Purdue. Guess they’re still fired up over losing to the Cards in the 1980 final four.

– U of L was tenacious on defense. Haven’t see a pressing defense like that since those Roger Burkman days. Too bad none of the big guys were around to enable U of L to take advantage beneath the basket. Too bad Purdue is a freshman-dominated team.

– Edgar Sosa remains in good health, despite taking a beating every time he went near the basket. Must be acceptable to beat up somebody under the basket but not to touch an opponent’s jersey beyond the free throw line.

– Still get the feeling that T-Will is some day going to start playing consistently good basketball, carrying the team on his shoulders.

– Earl Clark is never going to find his groove if he’s always playing out of position.

– Josh Chichester was like a monster when he walked onto the court. He was only in for one minute, barely dented the stat sheet.

– Derrick Caracter looked good in a suit. Hope he gets back to the dorm in time.