Pitino's Cards upset Butler

WEDNESDAY @ CARDINAL COUPLE:

-Buckles leads Cards to win over Butler

-UConn holds on against Baylor

-Lady Cards Weds. Night in the YUM

Plenty to smile about Tuesday evening in the KFC YUM! Center...

The University of Louisville's men's basketball team rolled past Butler 88-73 in a game that can best be described as exciting in the first half and boring in the second half. The Cards were on fire early and jumped out to an 8-0 lead. It was loud in the YUM...as loud as I've ever heard ANY arena and quite an electric atmosphere. Louisville played like a top twenty team against the 16th ranked Bulldogs for the first twenty minutes and took a 18 point lead into the locker room at the half.

Then came the second half. Frankly, it was long, boring, full of fouls and turnovers...but the Cards managed to hold on to the lead.. despite several Butler runs that got them within 11 a couple of times...and pull the upset in front of a capacity house. Matt Howard was the main highlight for the Bulldogs. after a 2 point first half..he exploded on the Cards in the final twenty. Shelvin Mack carried Butler in the first 20 minutes....how did this Lexington kid get away from Kentucky and Louisville?

-Rakeem Buckles can shoot the three. Who knew? He led the Cards with 17 points tonight. The sophomore looks like he's going to be a valuable contributor to Rick's squad this year.

-Elisha Justice is just a blue collar, pack the lunch box and go to work type of ball player. Gotta say he's fast becoming a favorite of mine in this Pitino bunch.

-The Mike Marra hairdo this year is a definite "yes!". Kinda looks like "Chris" from The Sopranos.

-Hoping Preston Knowles is OK after falling to the floor in obvious pain during the second half. The consensus in the seats was that he had cramped up. He looked in agony and the trainers and Terrence Jennings carried him off the court.

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Just watched a replay of the UConn vs. Baylor women's hoops game in the XL Center in Hartford, CT. and Geno Auriemma is one lucky guy. After blowing a 15 point first half lead and falling behind by eight points in the second half...his Huskies staged a rally and defeated the visiting Bears by one. Did anyone else beside me think the Huskies were done for? Very obvious that Geno's team misses Tina Charles. Samarie Walker did the best she could against the 6'8" Brittany Griner (along with about 3 other UConn players at times) but the only thing that looks like it could stop the gigantic Bear this year will be her own lapses of play. Maya Moore is all that...again this year and it looks like she's found a freshman friend to help her score this year. Bria Hartley has game. And a deadly mid-range jumper.

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Lady Cards Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the YUM vs. Houston Baptist. This one could get ugly early. HBU was "baptized" by TCU in their opener by 50+. The Cards will be looking to run the transition game and emphasise the defense. WE fully expect Coach Walz will used all 13 players at his disposal again Wednesday night. Hope Jim Kelch and Paul Sanderford have plenty of "filler" material for the broadcast.