U of L plans Spain trip; fouls worry Pitino

University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino's radio show was quite informational this week, beyond the usual review of his team's prior performances and upcoming games.

After expressing his disappointment with the officiating that Louisville has experienced this season, Pitino told host Paul Rogers that U of L basketball is planning an August trip to Spain for next season's team.

The details are still being finalized, but Pitino said U of L hopes to spend four days in Barcelona and three or four days in the Canary Islands. The Cardinals would play "five or six" professional teams, Pitino added.

"We may open it up to alumni and friends to go," he said. "It should be a unique trip."

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Pitino said the excursion will be necessary to help his team adjust to roster turnover after this season that will include the graduations of Chris Jones and Wayne Blackshear. He repeated what he has said before that he expects both Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier to enter the 2015 NBA draft pool.

Louisville has already signed three Class of 2015 high school prospects, and Pitino again on Monday said he'd like to bring in two graduate transfers, players who can move schools and be immediately eligible.

With six freshmen and two sophomores expected to return next season, U of L will be working without any players who logged minutes for the 2012-13 championship team.

Officiating concerns

Pitino was upset on Monday about several foul calls in the Pittsburgh game, and that comes as no surprise to anyone who watched him during that contest. He was visibly frustrated on multiple occasions, and was particularly disappointed in the foul calls that led to Blackshear's fouling out.

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Foul problems have hurt Louisville (16-3, 4-2 in the ACC) on several occasions this season, limiting Harrell in a handful of games. Jones got two quick fouls in the Jan. 17 loss against Duke and had to sit for the majority of the first half.

"It really bugs the hell out of me what's going on with officiating," Pitino said. "Chris Jones against Duke got two fouls. Neither one was a foul. He took the ball away from the young man, grabbed it with two hands (and) didn't foul him. Then he was blocking out and the offensive player got the rebound.

"(On Sunday), Wayne Blackshear's fourth and fifth fouls were phantom calls ... My No. 1 beef with officiating is not block/charge calls, not flagrant or not flagrant -- don't take good players out of games. If you don't see a foul, don't call it.

"I have felt the officiating has been really lacking in a lot of areas this year."