CARDINALS

Analysis | U of L dances into Elite Eight

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The University of Louisville basketball team's two biggest demons from a frustrating February came up as soon as the Cardinals earned their Sweet 16 berth.

They would play NC State, a team that controlled the second half of a nine-point win at the KFC Yum! Center, in a city and arena where the Cards struggled so much in a loss to Syracuse.

But with a series of runs, yet another efficient offensive performance and an unlikely bench hero, Louisville vanquished two demons with one basketball game, running past NC State 75-65 here in the Carrier Dome.

Louisville (27-8) will play in its fifth regional final in eight years, taking on Michigan State at 2:20 p.m. Sunday in the East region final.

"It hasn't all the way hit me yet, but this is big," sophomore guard Terry Rozier said. "We just want to keep it going. We're not satisfied yet."

GAME REWIND | U of L rallies past NC State, into the Elite Eight

It was the kind of performance that would have surprised U of L fans, say, six weeks ago, right around those NC State and Syracuse losses.

It was built around Montrezl Harrell's best NCAA tournament performance of his career. It was built around Rozier's fearless rebounding and assertive attack off the bounce. And it was built around Anton Gill's unlikely and certainly unexpected seven-point scoring blitz in the game's most critical moments.

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Louisville made 50 percent of its shots and had 15 assists on 27 baskets. Harrell totaled 24 points and seven rebounds. Rozier had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

And to complete the expulsion of those February demons, Louisville scored 40 points in the paint. In that loss to NC State six weeks ago, the Cards tied a season low with just 16 points in the lane.

"It's really great ball movement -- there isn't too much one-on-one," said point guard Quentin Snider, who had 14 points, three rebounds and three assists. "That's the good thing about us."

In the first meeting, NC State (22-14) relied on point guard Cat Barber to generate much of its offense. Barber had 21 points and was a menace all night, immune to U of L's press.

On Friday, he was just 3 of 14, and his team shot 38.3 percent from the field. NC State made five first-half 3-pointers to stay in the game, but eventually Louisville's offensive execution outlasted the Wolfpack's deep shooting.

"They're a great 3-point shooting team because they're deep," U of L coach Rick Pitino said. "They can make challenged ones. I said, 'Look, guys, do not fall into the trap and try to match them from the 3-point line. Paint touch, low-post deliver. Do not try to become something you're not,' and they executed beautifully."

Gill to the rescue? When Blackshear picked up his fourth foul with 8:31 to play, the obvious concern for Louisville was: Who's going to pick up Blackshear's scoring and critical role in the Cards' offense? Surely it wouldn't be his replacement, Gill, right? Well ... In the game's most pivotal stretch, Gill, who was recruited as a scorer, rattled in two runners off drives and splashed a huge 3-pointer. His seven consecutive points turned a 55-54 game into a 62-57 game just like that. Then he had a key steal around the two-minute mark. Who saw that coming?

Rozier did. He said several times this season that Gill would be the key to Louisville's NCAA tournament hopes. It seemed odd at the time, but he looked smart on Friday.

"That's just me believing in my brother," Rozier said. "I'm not surprised at all."

First half math. Get this: Louisville shot 50 percent in the first half, with nine assists on 13 baskets. Three starters had seven or more points. Harrell tied a career-high with four assists, and Rozier grabbed eight rebounds. NC State shot 35.5 percent and Louisville outscored them 20-10 in the paint ... and Louisville trailed by two points at the break.

How? Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner matched Louisville's efficient offense with five 3-pointers. They got consistently good looks, but also hit a few tough shots, too. And they more than made up for Cat Barber's 0-for-7 stat line in the opening 20 minutes.

Career highs. Friday brought a few career-high numbers out for Louisville. Rozier tied a career high with 14 rebounds, and Harrell tied his career high with four assists.