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CARDINALS

Pitino looks for improved focus from Cards

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj

After a weekend to adjust some of the offensive struggles that were on display in Friday's win over Marshall, the University of Louisville basketball team returns to the KFC Yum! Center floor on Monday night.

The Cardinals (3-0) tip off against Savannah State at 7 p.m. The game will be live-stream on ESPN3.com, and it's the third of Louisville's four games as part of the Global Sports Showcase.

Against Marshall, U of L learned what it was like to play without All-American forward Montrezl Harrell, who sat much of the second half because of foul trouble.

The Cards also learned how to win when they struggle scoring. Louisville shot 38 percent and made just three of its 22 attempts from 3-point range.

U of L used a suffocating fullcourt press and a halfcourt trap to overwhelm Marshall and create 24 points off 21 turnovers.

U of L 85, Marshall 67: U of L puts in work to top Marshall

"We had to win the game off of defense," U of L coach Rick Pitino said. "Our effort level defensively and getting after people was great."

So Monday night's game against a Savannah State team that surprised Cleveland State on Saturday will a chance for the Cards to retool their offensive focus.

The defense is there, and it has been in Louisville's first three wins. But Pitino wants his team, especially his veteran guards Chris Jones and Terry Rozier, to concentrate better in games when its offense isn't in rhythm.

"I think that the most important thing is for us to understand what focus is all about," Pitino said. "We lose focus based on missed shots and good teams don't do that.

"(Against Marshall) I thought we missed a lot of layups and it affected our defense getting back."

Short shots: U of L entered the weekend still waiting on word from the NCAA as to the eligibility of freshman wing Shaqquan Aaron, who is still waiting on clearance.

As of Sunday, Louisville hadn't heard anything from the organization. Aaron was a four-star prospect and the highest-rated recruit in Louisville's 2014 signing class.

Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).

NEXT GAME

Savannah State, Monday, 7 p.m., KFC Yum! Center