Bad loss last night.

[CardX]

This team can't afford losses like that. Pitt ranks 86th in the NET rankings. Other losses were to 21st ranked Marquette, 6th ranked UT, 15th ranked IU, and 11th ranked UK. Quality wins so far, Michigan State (8th), Lipscomb (43rd), and Seton Hall (45th). UNC (9th) is up next, then the rest of January becomes a little bit more manageable. Finishing the month 5-1 would be solid, because February brings hell. Other than getting some quality wins, the Cards need some road wins to bolster their resume'.

The NET is new, so if you're not familiar, NET takes into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, offensive and defensive efficiency and the quality of wins and losses. Louisville, btw, ranks 24th.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

 

[CardCasey]

This team can't afford losses like that. Pitt ranks 86th in the NET rankings. Other losses were to 21st ranked Marquette, 6th ranked UT, 15th ranked IU, and 11th ranked UK. Quality wins so far, Michigan State (8th), Lipscomb (43rd), and Seton Hall (45th). UNC (9th) is up next, then the rest of January becomes a little bit more manageable. Finishing the month 5-1 would be solid, because February brings hell. Other than getting some quality wins, the Cards need some road wins to bolster their resume'.

The NET is new, so if you're not familiar, NET takes into account game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, offensive and defensive efficiency and the quality of wins and losses. Louisville, btw, ranks 24th.

https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-men/d1/ncaa-mens-basketball-net-rankings

Nice. Thanks for the info and link—“bookmarked”.

 

[Louis III]

It is, but anyone with a decent logic knew we would have some games like this. New staff, scheme, 5 new starters, etc., etc. As I said in October, I think we are a bubble team and I think we probably lose another game like this in the coming weeks. I also think we beat a team or two that we will be underdogs to. Hopefully we win most of those in between games and go 19-12 or so just like many of us predicted just 10 short weeks ago. Go Cards!!

 

[RockvilleRed]

Defense was terrible on several fronts! Wide open lanes all night long. CRP would have sat Nwora to set an example despite the offensive output because despite the stat line, he probably gave up more points than he scored. That is why a defensive stop is worth more in the overall team game result. Leaving Nwora on the floor tells the rest of the team that it's OK not to play defense if you can score. I'm already missing the "defense first" mantra that has been our backbone for years.

 

[LouisvilleKid79]

Defense was terrible on several fronts! Wide open lanes all night long. CRP would have sat Nwora to set an example despite the offensive output because despite the stat line, he probably gave up more points than he scored. That is why a defensive stop is worth more in the overall team game result. Leaving Nwora on the floor tells the rest of the team that it's OK not to play defense if you can score. I'm already missing the "defense first" mantra that has been our backbone for years.

Same here. Defense has been a staple for Louisville basketball for years. Frustrating to watch a team give up so many easy ones and let guys look unstoppable against us. To be fair though, even under Pitino we had some guys go off on us and have career nights over the years. Stuff does happen.

We have a team that is offensively challenged mostly due to bad player and ball movement. With that being the case we have to get stops and get some easy baskets in transition and/or on secondary breaks. We are so easy scout. The film is out there on our defense so Mack is going to be forced to do something differently whether it be scheme or personnel.

UK was the first game where the bad defense (especially help side defense) and not protecting the paint really jumped out to me. The offense was not great in that game or last night, but the primary issues with this team to me are on the defensive end. At the end of the day you have to be able to put the ball in the basket so offensively they have to do a better of job of getting player and ball movement.

We are not going to be able to go basket for basket with Carolina or most teams for that matter so the defense (rebounding) will have to be much better or the Cards will get run out of the gym. A real test Saturday.

A very bad loss last night.

 

[CardVille]

Bad loss I agree. But it may not count as a bad loss NCAA wise, depends how Pitt finishes out.

To me its a real bad loss since we could have won it and we have to win that one to make up for the upcoming home losses against Duke and probably UNC.

I know Va Tech and FSU are ranked too but for some reason they just don't scare me.

 

[steel_curtain]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by seasons end.

The reason Pitt ranks so low is because of a soft non-conference schedule.

Pitt beat the predicted A-10 Champion St. Louis and now beat Louisville. Lost to ranked Iowa on the Road by 1 point, lost to Niagara by 1 point, lost to rival West Virginia on the road, lost to North Carolina.

By seasons end Pitt will move way up and will beat a handful of ACC teams. Last nights game wasnt even close if you took the blinders off. Had Pitt not missed 20 free throws at home, the game is a blowout.

Louisville got beat by 3 freshmen. 2 that scored 54 points and 12 assists on offense, 1 that completely shut down your best player. Pitt starts 3 freshmen players!

3 Freshmen for Pitt will beat a handful of ACC teams and its not going to look anywhere near as bad as these hot takes saying Pitt is garbage. Only problem is, Pitt might beat you again.

Best of luck. But I came here to say watch out for later in the season.

 

[Steelers2012]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by seasons end.

The reason Pitt ranks so low is because of a soft non-conference schedule.

Pitt beat the predicted A-10 Champion St. Louis and now beat Louisville. Lost to ranked Iowa on the Road by 1 point, lost to Niagara by 1 point, lost to rival West Virginia on the road, lost to North Carolina.

By seasons end Pitt will move way up and will beat a handful of ACC teams. Last nights game wasnt even close if you took the blinders off. Had Pitt not missed 20 free throws at home, the game is a blowout.

Louisville got beat by 3 freshmen. 2 that scored 54 points and 12 assists on offense, 1 that completely shut down your best player. Pitt starts 3 freshmen players!

3 Freshmen for Pitt will beat a handful of ACC teams and its not going to look anywhere near as bad as these hot takes saying Pitt is garbage. Only problem is, Pitt might beat you again.

Best of luck. But I came here to say watch out for later in the season.

To be accurate, Pitt missed 17 of 33 FT's (not 20), but your point is well taken. We needed a 17-4 run at the end of regulation to even get to OT. And I DO believe Pitt will end up with a decent season, and the loss won't look SO bad at season's end. Capel has brought in some good young talent on the roster. About the only bright spot for UofL was the fact that we didn't give up and we did make that late run to get into OT. Good luck to Pitt along the way and we will see you again on the 26th in Louisville.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401082813

 

[Steelers2012]

Mike Rutherford‏@CardChronicle
Louisville falls six spots to No. 30 in the updated NET rankings. Pitt climbs to No. 68, which takes last night's loss from a Quad 2 loss to a Quad 1 loss.

 

[jalovell23]

Is it a game that UofL could of won...YES!!. Is it a bad loss? no...not really, considering it was on the road and it went into OT. Pitt has a nice record of 11-4. Thats not too shabby. Hopefully, Pit gets some more quality wins like Seton Hall and Marquette have been doing.

 

[earsky]

Louisville got beat by 3 freshmen. 2 that scored 54 points and 12 assists on offense, 1 that completely shut down your best player. Pitt starts 3 freshmen players!

They were phenomenal. Hats off

 

[KennyCardinalPowers]

UNC is going to absolutely kick the loving dogsh*t out of us.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

UNC is going to absolutely kick the loving dogsh*t out of us.

Good call Kenny. Nice win for you guys over KU today.

 

[Ipartiedwithhopgood]

Only problem is, Pitt might beat you again.

Best of luck. But I came here to say watch out for later in the season.

Thanks for the warning guy. I think really, you probably need to learn how to handle a win. I know as a Pitt fan there haven't been too many recently.