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The
Pitino effect
Frogs
to be tested by ranked team, respected coach
The
Louisville Cardinals bring a lot more to the basketball
court than a nationally-ranked team.
By
Brent
Yarina
Sports Editor
Not since the General Bobby Knight led his army of Red
Raiders into Fort Worth last season has a more celebrated
head coach graced the visitors’ bench at Daniel-Meyer
Coliseum.
Well, that’s about to change at 6 p.m. tonight when
the Horned Frogs host No. 10 Louisville.
This time, however, the coach will leave behind the infamous
red sweater and don a red tie, a meticulous hairdo and
a championship swagger.
His name: Rick Pitino.
His track record: 413 wins and one national championship.
Head coach Neil Dougherty isn’t intimidated though.
“There’s no more pressure (Tuesday) than in
any other game,” Dougherty said. “Actually,
if this game was between just me and Rick, I’d feel
a lot better. But that isn’t going to be the case.”
Although Dougherty admits Pitino is a great coach, he
said the players, in particular Louisville’s tandem
of Taquan Dean and Francisco Garcia, will determine the
outcome of the contest.
“It’s about the game, not as much about the
coaches,” he said. “And I don’t think either
team will be taking a step backward because they’re
afraid of what the other coach has accomplished.”
Junior guard Corey Santee said he can’t help but
get a little excited over the opportunity to face Pitino.
“I’m pumped,” Santee said. “This is
national TV. We’re playing at the crib. They’re
coming to our home court, so we’re just trying to
get one.”
The Frogs aren’t only going to be competing in the
national spotlight on ESPN2 against Lousiville, but they’re
also expected to be playing in front of the year’s
largest crowd.
“It’s going to be crazy and loud here,”
junior guard Marcus Shropshire said. “I hope everyone
comes to the game and is ready to get crazy. This is a
conference game and it’s at home so we’re excited.”
Dougherty said Pitino will have to work for win No. 414.
“It’s going to be a highly contested game,”
he said. “We don’t need any reason to come out
here and play well. We’re playing a game against
a well-known opponent and a highly ranked opponent on
national TV. That is enough right there.”
Shropshire said the Frogs have their work cut out for
them against a Cardinals team with an aggressive defense
and the second highest scoring offense in Conference USA
at 74.5 points per game.
“They’re very talented and well coached on both
ends of the court,” Shropshire said. “They get
after you so we have to be alert and ready for the (full-court
press).”
Santee said as long as the Frogs come prepared, they have
a chance to defeat Pitino.
“You got to be focused,” Santee said. “His
ability to coach his team is great. If you want to beat
a Rick Pitino-coached team, you have to bring your best.”
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Courtesy
of Conference USA
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| Rick
Pitino and the No. 10 Louisville Cardinals will
face the Frogs at 6 p.m. tonight in Daniel-Meyer
Coliseum. |
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