LINKS
StatSheet.com: Boxscore
This game was statistically over in the 2nd half with 9:35 left to go.
Friars.com: Men’s Basketball Knocks Off No. 14/15 Louisville 90-59
The Providence men’s basketball team (12-6, 1-4 BIG EAST) knocked off No. 14/15 Louisville (13-4, 1-3 BIG EAST) by the score of 90-59 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Jan. 10. The 31-point win was the Friars’ largest margin of victory ever over a ranked team. Previously, Providence had beaten then-No. 14/16 Holy Cross 90-64 on Jan. 18, 1978.
ESPN (AP): Providence 90, No. 14 Louisville 59
“It was an incredible feeling that you can come home,” said Cooley, who grew up in Providence watching the 1987 team. “When (this building) is rocking, there’s no better place.”
CBS: Louisville’s free-fall down to earth continues
Pitino’s team got crushed on the glass against Kentucky — but there’s no shame in that. But Louisville also lost the battle on the glass to Georgetown and allowed a lackluster Providence frontline to dominate.
Kadeem Batts went for 27 points.
Yes, Kadeem Betts.
GoLocalProv: Providence punishes 15th ranked Louisville, 90-59
Thanks to two key three-pointers from Bryce Cotton (27 points), and steady play from Vincent Council (15 points, 14 assists) in finding the openings on the floor through the Cardinals’ zone defense, the Friars finished out the first half with an incredible 27-8 run over that final 9:42 to take an 18 point lead into the locker room at halftime – 43-25.
Courier-Journal: Louisville basketball falls to Providence 90-59
In some respects, the Cards looked nothing like the team that was once ranked No. 4 and stayed undefeated through their first 12 games. Then again, the Friars simply exploited some of their weaknesses.
Friar Basketball: Friars Roll Pitino, Cardinals for Cooley’s First Big East Win
Cotton and Batts Explode: It’s hard to be much more efficient than Cotton (6-7 FG, 5-6 from three, 10-12 at the free throw line), who had struggled to find his shot on Saturday versus Seton Hall, but carried the offense as it pulled away from Louisville Tuesday.
It was a far more aggressive Batts on both ends from the start. Typically a grounded defender, Batts had three impressive blocks in the first half (a career high) and scored in a variety of ways in producing a 27 point, 10 rebound evening. His aggression has been challenged in this space, but he attempted 10 free throws (making nine of them) and threw down a vicious dunk early in the second half that seemed to deflate an already embarrassed opponent.
The Dagger: Breakfast Buffet: Louisville’s nosedive gets worse
Louisville’s midseason free fall reached new depths Tuesday night when the Cardinals lost for the fourth time in five games, falling to Providence 90-59. The most alarming part was the lack of fight the Cardinals showed after absorbing the Friars’ best punch to the jaw in the first half. They got overanxious with quick shots on offense, they lost concentration on defense and they essentially stopped giving maximum effort by the second half. “It’s always that one game a year that you just can’t explain,” Rick Pitino said afterward. The Cardinals better hope this was it.
Card Chronicle: Providence Deals Louisville Humiliating 90-59 Loss
Louisville just lost to what appears to be the worst team in the conference by 34 points. They are in the easiest portion of their Big East schedule and they’re currently 1-3. They’ve gone from a fun-loving group eager to outwork opponents in every facet of every game to….whatever it was we just watched.
The best part about having Rick Pitino at Louisville has been that his teams have never been outworked. I’ve always taken great pride in that, because it’s a feeling I didn’t have watching some of those teams in the late ’90s. Thinking that you care more than the players is a pathetic feeling, and one I haven’t had (in basketball) since Pitino took over in 2001.
U of L Card Game: New ugly for Louisville basketball
Started out promising enough with Peyton Siva going the length of the court for a dunk to give his team a 7-4 lead. But after he descends, Siva is wincing, having landed badly on that high ankle sprain, shaking it off, pretending it never happened.
Siva would miss his next four shots, two of them on what should have been easy layups, make only one assist, and foul out of the game with 11 minutes left in the game, an ugly finish in a badly directed performance.
Strait Cards: Pinkie firmly pressed on the panic button, Cards fall big to PC
The Cards ran into the so-called “perfect storm” Tuesday and could not respond.
The loss is the Cardinals second worse since joining the Big East. They fell to Notre Dame, 90-57, on February 12, 2009. Still, that game was one that could’ve been thrown out the window as that team was loaded and went on to win the league regular season and tournament en route to earning the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. That Elite Eight team also had three players that are currently on NBA rosters. This team likely has none.
The Cardinal Connect: Providence 90 – Louisville 59: Time To Panic
I don’t really know what to say. Words can’t describe the embarrassment that we all just witnessed. I’ve seen Louisville teams take a beating before, but I’m honestly not sure if ive seen anything like that. There was no fight. They pretty much just laid down. I honestly thought the Notre Dame loss was something you couldn’t really blame on coaching. There were missed free throws, missed lay-ups, missed defensive assignments ect. However, tonight’s loss is a big red flag on this coaching staff. When you’re team stops fighting for you, then something is wrong. This team has the pieces to make it work, but something definitely has to change.
MEDIA TWEETS
OK, who had this beat down in Providence. Ed Cooley delivering. Louisville now in complete free fall. Providence absolutely destroying Louisville. Now let's see ESPN and the "experts" call this an upset. I called this BEFORE the game.! Jordan Theodore has been the best PGin the Big East but Providence's Vincent Council looked like he was no. 2 tonight. What a game by VC. Hard to believe the way Louisville is imploding. I never thought they were that good but I certainly didn't think they were this bad. Still a bit stunned here in Providence after Friars ripped LVille by 31, the largest win ever for PC over a ranked foe. Cards have issues. Friars are honoring 1986 Final Four team coached by Rick Pitino. Is this a nice way of paying tribute by ripping his Louisville. Team? FORMER PLAYERS TWEETS
@ Providence College beats #15 Louisville by 31!! Ed Cooley getting the Friars back on track. #goPC Way to go Providence College. Handed Louisville and old fashion butt whippin :) FANS TWEETS
The hand shake Rick Pitino just gave Ed Cooley was cooler than Louisville's shooting pct. tonight. Cooley's Friars mugged Pitino's Cards. 2 games in a row Bilal Dixon steps up...he has surely earned more playing time. Kadeem Batts looked like a men against boys #pcbb Proud to be a #Friar Fan tonight! This team is moving in the right direction Love the effort #Cooley has these guys bringing each nite #pcbb This wasn't youth sports but Cooley, his assistants & players all earned the victory. They had every excuse to lose. #pcbb #louisville no one is stealing ed cooley's china tonight #pcbb Goes without saying, but Council's been unreal tonight. Fantastic decision making, brilliant controlling the pace of the game. #pcbb Attention SportsCenter Top 10: Please see Kadeem Batts dunk at around the 15 minute mark of the 2nd Half. Thank you. That is all. #pcbb Holy shit Kadeem Batts! #pcbb
