Final Score: Louisville 69, College of Charleston 62
Top Performers: Antwaine Wiggins 23 points, 7 rebounds
Matt Sundberg 9 points, 9 rebounds
Moral victories and learning experiences are sometimes hard to swallow. I know it hurts now for Wiedeman, Lawrence and company but there are a lot of positives to be taken from this game. To outplay the #4 team in the country for 37 minutes on their home court is very impressive. To do it with a team from the Southern Conference that plays one senior is even more satisfying. We've come down to the wire in three of our games this year (UNCA, UTC and CSU) and been fortunate enough to come away with a victory in each. Sooner or later we were gonna drop one and I would rather it be against a team like Louisville. Pitino and his staff had nothing but praise for this young Cougars team and Cremins needs to remind the kids of how well they played before heading to Coastal.
Wiggins is going to be front and center on many of the highlight reels, but the Cougars got contributions from other places to stay in this one. Matt Sundberg probably played the best all-aroung game of his career, flirting with a double-double. He hit some big threes (and threw up a baller Jamario Moon three-goggle) and collected rebounds like I have never seen before. Adjehi Baru showed tremendous maturity by attacking the basket and going a perfect 6-6 from the line. He also added eight strong rebounds.
We knew the Cardinal's defense was their strength going in and they absolutely neutralized Wiedeman and frustrated Lawrence and Scott down the stretch. Once Louisville started hitting shots in the final minutes, the crowd came alive and gave the Cards a boost. By this point Stitt and Lawrence were running on empty and the full court pressure forced them into some bad turnovers.
"Poor Wiedeman." That was the text I received from several of my friends as time expired. The kid battled against bigger and stronger opponents all night on defense. When crunch time finally arrived, Trent missed a pair of easy lay-ups that could have changed the series of events in the final two minutes. He needs to not beat himself up because that kind of performance in the Socon will get you Player of the Week status.
There is little time for sulking as the Cougars have two more games against great competition. Next up is Coastal on the road tomorrow and then George Mason at home on the 30th. The Chanticleers should be shaking in their sneakers at the potential of these Cougars. I really hope we have something left in the tank to take them down. Go Cougars!
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