Sunday, February 27, 2000
Louisville on guard vs. UC shooters
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville coach Denny Crum remembers a lot about the last time his team faced Cincinnati.
The Cardinals (17-9, 8-5 Conference USA) shot 50 percent from the field, hitting seven of 14 shots from 3-point range, and outrebounded what was then the nation's top-ranked team 26-23.
But they still lost by 10 points at Freedom Hall, where they've lost only two games all season.
Despite a season-high six-game winning streak, Crum knows it's going to take a special effort to beat the third-ranked Bearcats (25-2, 13-0) on their home floor.
“We played that game about as well as we can play,” Crum said. “But I don't think we did as good a job as I'd like to see us do of taking things away from Cincinnati.
“They shot 62 percent against us. When a team shoots that well, either you're not guarding them or they're getting really good shots. I think we can do a better job taking away some of the things they do.”
Cardinals freshman point guard Reece Gaines scored 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and had three assists and five turnovers in his first-ever game against Cincinnati. He expects to have a better outing this time around.
“I know a little more of what to expect this time. We've got to keep our composure and play good defense for the entire game,” Gaines said. “I think we can beat them. We just can't let them get out to a big lead like they did the last time.”
The last time, the Cardinals were coming off a disappointing 69-59 loss to North Carolina-Charlotte — their only other home loss this season. This time, Louisville enters the game riding a six-game winning streak, including three straight over conference opponents on the road.
On Wednesday, Louisville beat Saint Louis 68-56. Still, a disgusted Crum ripped his team for its sloppiness and lack of team play, claiming that a similar game against the Bearcats would result in a 40-point loss.
“This is the end of the year, we're winding down and we've got to be at our best every night,” Crum said. “We don't have the luxury of being able to slip. So everybody's got to carry their share of the load, play hard and play together. We didn't get that from everybody (Wednesday).”
Cincinnati has won its last six games against Louisville and seven of the teams' last eight meetings, and the Cardinals haven't beaten the Bearcats since January 1997.
“A lot of us are trying to position ourselves to have an opportunity to get into the tournament and to be as good as we can be,” he said.
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