#4 Louisville vs. #13 Austin Peay
Date: Friday, March 21, 2003
Time: 7:20 pm
Site: Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (16,750)
Television: CBS
Radio: WHAS (840 AM)
National Rankings:
AUSTIN PEAY Not Ranked
LOUISVILLE 20th AP, 13th
USA Today/ ESPN
Significant injuries: AP- None U of L - Ellis
Myles (Out)
The 4th seeded Louisville Cardinals are busy preparing for their first round
NCAA Tournament matchup with 13th seed Austin Peay and the key word for the week
is: Focus.
''It's all about focus in the NCAA Tournament,'' Pitino said. ''And our team,
if we lack one thing - we don't lack heart and desire - we lack in the focus
area. We're weak in concentration and talking and communicating. . . . In a
four-day period, if our guys are really serious about getting out of the first
round, then they have to change their basketball personality and improve their
focus, which is very poor.''
The Cards appear to be up to Pitino's challenge to increase its collective
focus. The Cards have won 5 of their last 6 games, and defeated Tulane,
Memphis and UAB to claim its first C-USA Tournament championship over the
weekend.
They also appear to have the right ingredients to make serious noise in the
NCAA Tournament.
In guard Reece Gaines and center Marvin Stone the Cards have experienced and
hungy seniors eager to prove their talents to the nation and make the most of
their last chance for post season glory. Stone scored 15 points and
corralled 6 rebounds against Memphis and limited Chris Massie to 0 points.
Gaines struggled offensively in the C-USA Tournament but provided the leadership
and energy the team needed to cut down the nets on Saturday.
Luke Whitehead has accepted his role on this team and Coach Pitino's
ultimatum to rebound and produced three straight double-doubles in the C-USA
Tournament to earn MVP honors. Whitehead scored 17 points and 14 rebounds
in the title win over UAB.
Interior reserves Kendall Dartez and Otis George have stepped up their
productivity in Ellis Myles absence and have become dependable contributors off
the bench. The two forwards combined to score 34 points and pull down 12
rebounds in the C-USA Tourney.
And freshmen Taquan Dean, who nailed the game winning three in the C-USA
semifinals against Memphis and Francisco Garcia, who was named to the C-USA All
Tournament team, continue their outstanding play and appear oblivious to all
post season pressure.
Coach Pitino apparently likes how his team has come together late in the
season and to step up the intensity and pressure on the Cards NCAA opponents.
''I believe you've got to be more of a risk-taker,'' Pitino said. ''Run more.
Press more. Have more fun. Don't be afraid to fail. And I think our players will
do that. We have freshmen who are totally oblivious to pressure. We have seniors
who are big-time basketball players. And we have so many middle guys who are
rising to the occasion.
Meanwhile in Clarksville, TN, the Austin Peay Governors are excited to be
playing in the NCAA Tournament close to home and are confident about their
chances against the Cards in Birmingham.
"We are excited," Governors coach Dave Loos said. "One of the
things we were hoping for was a site our fans could make it to, and we got that.
I'm also excited about the No. 13 seed."
The Govs, the top defensive team in the OVC, face a major challenge trying to
stop Louisville, the best offensive team in C-USA.
"I think we match up very well," Davis said. "We're strong on
the defensive side, and it seems like they struggle with pressure defense."
Despite talent, size and depth disadvantages, the Governor players remain
confident and optimistic as they prepare for their first round matchup this
week.
"I think this is a winnable game," Austin Peay guard Adrian Henning
said. "We're going to go out and practice hard this week and try to get
ready for an upset."
| Louisville |
|
Austin
Peay |
|
Reece
Gaines
SR.
6'6, 215
First
team All C-USA, Wooden Award Finalist. 17.7 points, 2.7 rebounds
and 5.7 assists per game. Athletic pg that creates huge mismatch
problems for opponents. Cards leader in scoring, three pointers
made and assists. |
G |
Corey
Gipson
JR.
6'1, 185
OVC
All Tourney. Athletic JUCO transfer point guard who plays solid
defense. Third on the team in steals with 32. 8.5 points,
2.5 assists per game. Teams leading three point shooter with 54 on
the season. |
|
Taquan
Dean
FR.
6'2, 175
All
C-USA Freshman Team. 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per
game. Solid defender who finished third in rebounding at the C-USA
Tourney. Dangerous three point shooter. |
G |
Rhet
Wierzba
JR.
6'4, 190
Solid
guard who finished second on team in steals (38) and made three pointers
(52). 8.9 points, 3.8 rebounds per game. |
|
Luke
Whitehead
JR.
6'7, 220
C-USA
Tourney MVP. Three consecutive double-doubles to enter NCAA
play. Undersized, athletic rebounder who is playing best ball of
the year. 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds per game. |
F |
Adrian
Henning
JR.
6'6, 205
OVC
All Tourney. Undersized, athletic power forward. Govs
leading scorer and rebounder. 15.4 points, 7.1 rebounds per game.
|
|
Francisco
Garcia
FR.
6'7, 185
C-USA
Freshman of the Year. C-USA All Tourney. Terrific scorer and
passer who is ultra competitive and deadly from three point
range. Leads team with 39 blocks. 11.2 points, 3
rebounds, 3 assists per game. |
F |
Anthony
Davis
SO.
6'2, 190
Athletic,
undersized small forward. Teams second leading scorer and leader
in steals (51). 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds per game. |
|
Marvin
Stone
SR.
6'10, 255
Gives
Cards inside presence. Teams best post defender and rebounder.
36 blocks on season. 10.7 points, 7.2 rebounds per game. |
C |
Josh
Lewis
JR.
6'8, 210
OVC
Tourney MVP. Good athlete with improving offensive skills.
Govs leading shot blocker this year with 80. Third leading scored and
second leading rebounder. 12.6 points, 7 rebounds per game. |
|
Erik
Brown
SR.
6'5, 190
18.7
minutes. 6.9 points, 2.2 rebounds per game.
|
G |
Maurice
Hampton
FR.
6'2, 160
14.6
minutes per game. 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds.
|
|
Kendall
Dartez
JR.
6'10, 220
14.1
minutes. 4.5 points, 3.0 rebounds per game. |
F |
Bobbye
Hill
JR.
6'8, 240
8.7
minutes per game. 1.6 points, 1.8 rebounds per game.
|
|
Bryant
Northern
JR.
6'0, 185
11.1
minutes. 3.3 points, 1.1 rebounds per game. |
G |
Levi
Carmichael
SO.
6'0, 175
14.0
minutes per game. 3.1 ppg.
|
|
Otis
George
SO.
6'9, 215
8.4
minutes. 3.0 points, 1.9 rebounds pg.. |
C |
Zac
Schlader
FR.
6'9, 220
11.9
minutes per game. 2.3 points, 2 rebounds per game.
|
|
Louisville
|
Statistical
Category
|
Austin Peay
|
| 81.8 |
Points
|
71.3 |
| 68.5 |
Opponent
Points
|
67.2 |
| +13.4 |
Scoring
Margin
|
+ 9.1 |
| .460 |
FG %
|
.460 |
| .402 |
Opponent FG %
|
.426 |
| .360 |
3PT FG %
|
.357 |
| .298 |
Opponent 3PT
FG %
|
.364 |
| .696 |
Free Throw %
|
.692 |
| 38.3 |
Rebounds
|
35.2 |
| 36.5 |
Opponent
Rebounds
|
33.4 |
| +1.8 |
Rebounding
Margin
|
+ 1.8 |
| 16.6 |
Assists
|
13.8 |
| 13.4 |
Turnovers
|
15.3 |
| 4.7 |
Blocks
|
4.7 |
|
7.2
|
Steals
|
7.3
|
| 10 |
RPI |
73 |
| 26 |
Strength of Schedule |
179 |