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Cal captures NCAA opener with win over Louisville
By Morris Phillips March 19, 2010 |
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Cal’s hot shooting start against Louisville will undoubtedly garner all of the headlines. But the Bears ability to endure the pressure imposed by the Cardinals over the final 30 minutes might have been more impressive. In the 77-61 victory in Jacksonville, Cal built an 18-point lead less than seven minutes in, and then held on when Louisville climbed within six points, on three occasions in the first half, and to within four points with 7:28 remaining. “We didn’t panic, and we got it done,” Patrick Christopher said. Now the Bears get top-seeded Duke on Sunday at 2:15pm, for an opportunity to grab a Sweet 16 spot when the South Regional moves to Houston next week. California won a first-round game for the first time since 2003 when the Bears beat North Carolina State. On Sunday, Cal will look to earn its first Sweet 16 berth since 1997. The Bears ability to take full advantage of Louisville’s cold start was really was only part of the story, especially since that juncture developed so quickly. While the Cardinals opened 0 for 6 with three turnovers, the Bears caught fire, building a 15-2 advantage in less than four minutes. While Mike Montgomery implored his guys to not let up, Rick Pitino looked worried while he paced back and forth. “We shot the ball extremely well,” Montgomery said. “I think we rocked them back a little bit, and I think it took them a little while to get their aggressiveness back.” In the opening run, the Bears’ seniors tallied the first 22 points, with Christopher contributing nine, all on 3-point baskets. The Cardinals came out pressing full court, and watched it backfire early as Cal--with emergency starter Jorge Gutierrez acting as a fourth ballhandler—beat the press with uncontested jump shots or aggressive drives to the hoop. After the run, the Cardinals continued to struggle with their shooting as Raheem Buckles threw up a shot that hit the side of the backboard. Then Jerry Smith picked off Christopher’s pass and started a Louisville fast break, but the ball ended up in reserve Mike Marra’s hands for an uncontested three. The freshman, who shot just 25 percent from distance during the regular season, delivered a knuckle ball that was well short. The sequence mirrored Louisville’s struggles in an up-and-down 20-13 season, where they looked like the old Cardinals, with the frenetic rebounding and pressure, right until it came time to capitalize on their relentless style with a hoop, and more often than not, their shooting was well below average. Louisville fell to the middle of the Big East in 3-point accuracy this year, and besides wide-bodied, big man, Samardo Samuels, they never developed a second, consistent inside scoring threat. Against Cal, Louisville missed 14 3-point attempts, and secondary threats, Preston Knowles, Jared Swopshire and Jerry Smith combined to shoot 4 for 23. Still Louisville made its move approaching halftime with nine offensive rebounds, most of those coming in a 20-8 run. But Cal righted itself when Jerome Randle hit a running 40-footer at the halftime buzzer. The unlikely shot ended a stretch in which the Bears managed just three baskets in the final 10 plus minutes of the half. “That last-minute shot at halftime sums it up. Shooting off one leg? C’mon, man,” a disbelieving Samuels said afterwards. Cal (24-10) was led by Theo Robertson and Randle with 21 points each, and Patrick Christopher added 17. For Louisville, Samuels contributed 16 points and Buckles added 20 on 10 for 11 shooting. |
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