Little Louisville has big test vs. Faried
Morehead State center Kenneth Faried dunks the ball during practice at the Pepsi Center in Denver. (March 16, 2011) Credit: AP
DENVER -- After going through a "meat grinder" in the Big East Tournament, Louisville now must face yet another tough challenge: containing Kenneth Faried.
The Morehead State forward/center is a beast under the boards, the likes of which Cardinals coach Rick Pitino hasn't seen since Dennis Rodman.
"You don't see this anymore, a Dennis Rodman with a jump shot," Pitino said Wednesday of Faried, who averages 17.6 points per game and leads the NCAA in rebounding (14.5). "A guy who gets around, never lets you catch the ball in the post, shot-blocker, great defender, draws the charge, is the leading rebounder in the history of the game.
"Here's a young man who really understands where his bread is buttered. Most big guys don't understand that."
This will be the fourth time the two programs will meet in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville has won the past 13 meetings, including a 74-54 victory in the first round in 2009.
Though favored against the No. 13 seed Eagles Thursday, the much smaller Cardinals, who are seeded fourth, will have their hands full with Morehead State -- a team Pitino said is a hybrid of Villanova and Marquette.
"I don't think small teams can be great defensive teams unless they pay attention," said the coach, whose starters are 5-11, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 and 6-9. "With that little length, you have to do it with mental capabilities as much as your physical capabilities. And that's what this team has done."
Louisville (25-9) has proved it can handle tough opponents. After opening its Big East Tournament play with a win over Marquette, the Cardinals outlasted No. 2-seed Notre Dame, 83-77, in overtime, before falling to Connecticut, 69-66, in the championship. Those nail-biters should have prepared the Cardinals well for the NCAA Tournament. "It's not as significant as you may think," the coach said, referring to the advantage of playing in the most physical and talented conference. "The Big East, it wouldn't surprise me to see everybody advance, wouldn't surprise me to see three or four teams lose. I hope we're not one of them."
