If college basketball fans need further proof that NCAA tournament seedings are overrated and exceedingly over-analyzed, we present as evidence the Louisville Cardinals. The defending national champions are not going to be a No. 1 seed on Selection Sunday. They may be a No. 3, more than likely a No. 2, but not a No. 1.
Louisville has won 12 of its last 13 games, dominated UConn for the third time this season in a 71-61 victory over the Huskies in the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship, and certainly passes any “eye test” when it comes to playing like a No. 1.
It’s the old “body of work” argument that will keep Louisville off the top line. The Cardinals struggled early in the season and when the NCAA field is announced, it is likely Louisville will not have non-conference win against any of those teams. Their domination came in conference play and especially the past three days in Memphis.
But the No. 1 from Louisville’s region will certainly have reason to be nervous. The Cardinals are going to be an intimidating and dangerous opponent in this tournament.
“Do I think we should be [a No. 1 seed], yes, do I think we will be, no,” Pitino said. :That being said, if you ask me who is the best college basketball player in America, I would say Russ Smith if you ask me who is the best power forward I would say Montrezl Harrell, so I have an extremely biased opinion, but I’m impressed with our guys and what they have done to win a regular season, the conference tournament, the way we have done it in the fashion we have done it fits the eye test.
“I can’t talk about the strength of the league. If you want to blame anybody blame football, don’t blame us.”
As I watched Louisville dismantle UConn Saturday night, I couldn’t help but think of Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, the czar of the Atlantic Coast Conference, where Louisville will reside next season. Louisville coach Rick Pitino has become the dominant coach in postseason play. The Cardinals are now in position to win three automatic bids in three consecutive seasons and in three different conferences.
That’s mind boggling. But we are way ahead of ourselves.
Here, thanks to the AAC, is what Louisville has accomplished:
– The Cardinals have won 12 straight postseason games and 20 of their last 21 postseason games.
– Louisville has won 10 straight conference tournament games, and three consecutive conference tournament titles (2012, 2013 Big East). This is the second straight year Louisville has won all of its conference tournament games by double digit points.
– Louisville won its 19th conference tournament title and their fourth conference tournament title in the last six seasons.
– Louisville has beaten UConn in seven of their past eight matchups, with UConn’s lone win in that span being the 2011 Big East Championship Final.
– The Cardinals beat three teams three different times this year (UConn, Houston, and Rutgers).
– Louisville led for 115:25 of 120 minutes played during the tournament. The Cardinals only trailed for 27 seconds (against Rutgers).
– Louisville outscored its opponents by an average of 33.33 points in three tournament games.
– Cardinals’ guard Russ Smith finished with a tournament best 25.67 scoring average.
– With a season-high five steals, Russ Smith tied Louisville’s career record for steals (254).
– Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell scored 20 + points for the eighth time this season with a game-high 22 points.
Russ Smith was named Most Outstanding Player from the tournament. UConn’s Shabazz Napier made the all-championship team, along with Isaiah Sykes, UCF; Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati; Chris Jones, Louisville; and Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
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