Final Score: Louisville 80, College of Charleston 38
Top Performers: Russ Smith 13 points, 7-8 FT
Adjehi Baru 16 points, 14 rebounds
Keep moving people, nothing to read here. We're just going to pretend this one never happened....
Why are you still reading? You saw the final score. Don't make me relive this!
How about that Wizards game huh? Beat the Miami Heat...
....ok fine
This is a game I said from the beginning would be decided by turnovers. I mentioned it in my preview, I brought it up on CofCfans.com, I texted my basketball-illiterate friends who wondered why CofC was on TV during prime time and I made the argument to those I was watching the game with that the Cougars had a shot if they could hold on to the ball. If the Cougars could not have the kind of unforced errors they had had against other opponents this season, we matched up very well with Louisville's perimeter game and lack of a big man.
Within the first 120 seconds of the game it was obvious that the Cougars had no shot at winning this game. This was worst case scenario. This what happens when a turnover-prone team meets an immovable object in the form of the Louisville Cardinal's defense. Twenty-seven turnovers by one team in 40 minutes of play. That's enough for a three game total. That led to 30 very easy points for Rick Pitino's team and they had the game on cruise control from nearly the first whistle.
Offensively the Cougars picked a very inopportune time to struggle the way they did. The Louisville defense was absolutely stifling and when the Cougars were able to break a press or set up their offense, it was usually late in the shot clock and very much a desperation shot. The team that was averaging over 40% from three could only account for 2-15 shots from outside with Smith and Siva constantly harassing whoever was looking at the basket the wrong way.
The lone bright spots were Adjehi Baru and the Cougar half court defense. Adjehi looked like the only CofC player worthy of being on the same court as the Louisville players last night on the way to an impressive double-double. It's like he showed up late to the varsity basketball scrimmage and the older kids put him on the JV team because it wasn't fun winning so easily. But even our talented big man missed an easy put back dunk and an easy transition alley oop. It was just that kind of night for the Cougars all around.
This loss is on just about everyone else though. I'm not going to put the brunt of it on Wojcik and the coaching staff because I know they've addressed the turnover issue in recent weeks. The players were also very much aware of Louisville's defensive pressure and steal numbers. Wojcik wasn't the one making decisions on who to pass to on inbounds plays and he certainly wasn't the one shooting 4-10 on free throws.
Louisville is a favorite to win a national title because they're capable of winning games in this fashion. The Cougars learned a valuable lesson and they have two whole weeks before they face another Division 1 opponent. In that time, the turnover and free throw issues that continue to plague this team need to be of absolute paramount importance. The Cougars won't face another team anywhere close to Louisville's talent level but they can't just push it out of their minds. I don't think they'll forget anytime soon.
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