Pitino, U of L wary of upset-minded UNCW
When Rick Pitino took over the Providence College basketball program back in 1985, he knew the Friars needed something different to offset what he called their "lack of talent."
The 3-point line came to college basketball for the 1986-87 season, and it made for a perfect match with Pitino's relentless fullcourt press. Many of college basketball's powers at the time – like Georgetown and Villanova – didn't like shooting the 3, but Pitino wanted his team to attempt 18 to 25 a game.
It was the great equalizer. It was that something different. And it got sixth-seeded PC to the 1987 Final Four.
Some 30 years later, Pitino's fourth-ranked University of Louisville team is one of college basketball's powers, but the recipe for an upset hasn't changed, at least in his eyes.
The 3-point shot, he said, is the common thread in the upsets of several big-name teams in the early going of the 2014-15 season, and he'd like his Cardinals to avoid the same fate when they meet UNC Wilmington at 6 p.m. Sunday at the KFC Yum! Center.
U of L vs. UNC Wilmington:TV info, projected starters, storylines for Sunday
"All the upsets happen with dangerous teams like this," Pitino said. "If you don't take care of business defensively early in the game, the other team mounts its confidence. They think everything is going in and the rim becomes much bigger than it really is."
UNC Wilmington, coached by former U of L assistant Kevin Keatts, comes to Louisville as a team in transition.
Keatts took over the program in March after previous coach Buzz Peterson was dismissed. The Seahawks lost 80 games in four seasons with Peterson at the helm.
As a result, the roster's in the process of a complete overhaul, with Keatts signing four Class of 2015 prospects and bringing in four other transfers who'll be eligible next season. So this season, Keatts and Wilmington are making do with what they have.
They play similar defense to Louisville, using varying presses to speed up opponents and then dropping back into matchup zones that will look familiar to the Cardinals.
Related:Keatts excited to take on his former team
But the familiarity ends there, Pitino said. Keatts has employed a completely different offensive scheme than Pitino.
That's why Louisville's players have to pay close attention to the scouting report. Pitino hoped Thursday that his team's knowledge of all those upsets in college basketball prompts them to concentrate ahead of Sunday's game.
"Our guys follow it and we talk about it," Pitino said. "From the moment the referee puts the ball in play, you've got to be ready at both ends of the floor."
Keatts knows the challenges of playing at the Yum! Center. Louisville hasn't lost a nonconference home game since Kentucky beat the Cards back on Dec. 31, 2010.
Story continues after the video:
The Cards are already undefeated at home in six games this season, and only one – a slugfest 64-55 win over Ohio State – was decided by single digits.
They looked to be in midseason form in a 94-74 win over Indiana on Tuesday, a game that Keatts closely followed.
"It's so tough to prepare for Louisville," Keatts said. "You can know what they're running … But what you can't prepare for is how fast they play, how tough they are and how they do it.
"You can't simulate those things. They don't do anything that's so complex, but (Pitino) gets them to play so hard."
Pitino hopes he can drum up that kind of energy again on Sunday. He's seen far too many hoops powers sleepwalk through upsets already this season.
"We've had some time to prepare," he said, "and that's a good thing."
Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).