U of L savors moment with Final Four on line

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rick Pitino was perched in a seat all the way to the left side of the podium on Saturday, flanked by the University of Louisville basketball team's starting lineup.

Junior Montrezl Harrell was next to him and senior Wayne Blackshear sat on the other end of the table. In between them were two sophomores and a freshman.

"Two of the players up here -- (Blackshear) has been part of multiple Final Fours, and two of them (Blackshear and Harrell) have won a championship," Pitino started. "They know what this moment is all about."

Related:Michigan State preps for Montrezl Harrell

Sunday's 2:20 p.m. tip-off between U of L and Michigan State here at the Carrier Dome is all about a Final Four berth and an East region title. It is all about advancing to Indianapolis, to college basketball's holiest of lands. It is all about adding yet another unexpected turn on this U of L team's riveting run in this NCAA tournament.

Louisville (27-8) is playing in its fifth regional final in eight seasons, with a third Final Four trip in four years on the line. About six weeks ago, few would have guessed U of L would be in this spot, but with each game this tournament, the Cardinals have played with the determination and efficiency of a team on a mission.

What's different about them? They are playing more cohesive basketball. They are playing smart offense and frustrating defense. Harrell had a monster game on Friday, and Blackshear, Terry Rozier and Quentin Snider have been consistent scorers in each of the three contests.

Related:TV info, story lines for U of L-Michigan State

Everything has come together at the perfect time for Louisville, and now the Cards have one last obstacle before Indy.

"We worked so hard throughout the whole year to get where we're at, and we really just don't want to go home early," Harrell said. "We've just got to make sure we do anything and everything in our power to make sure that we head to Indianapolis."

Pitino's Cards have a different kind of opponent in front of them. Michigan State (26-11) is one of the few programs in the country with a recent run of success that is comparable to that of Louisville.

The Spartans have been to nine regional finals since Tom Izzo took over the program 20 years ago, and they reached this exact spot in the tournament last season.

But this year's team is the most unexpected success of them all, Izzo said Friday. Michigan State, like Louisville, ran through a rough stretch this season and, after a two-game losing streak in late February and early March, looked nothing like an Elite 8 team.

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Yet the Spartans tightened up on defense, holding their three NCAA tournament opponents to just 33 percent shooting from the field and 20.8 percent from 3-point range. Senior guard Travis Trice has been electric, scoring 20.7 points a game in the tournament, and the Spartans as a group have made 22 of 57 from 3 in wins over Georgia, Virginia and Oklahoma.

"Not a lot of years I'm not (surprised by his team's success), but this year, I guess I am, to be honest with you," Izzo said.

So now these two teams with their unexpected runs and long basketball histories smash into each other on Sunday's big stage. For Louisville to win, a similar performance to Friday night is necessary. Michigan State is a physical, smart team, a better version of NC State, Rozier said in a complimentary way.

The Spartans do the little things that add up to wins, and sticking to the execution that has gotten Louisville this far is a key, U of L players explained.

Aside from that, Blackshear said, it's all about having fun. This is a big moment for the Cards and a huge opportunity to continue exceeding expectations.

"You've got to have fun if you're going to get there," Blackshear said.

And getting there is what Sunday is all about.

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

SUNDAY'S GAME

ELITE EIGHT

4. LOUISVILLE VS. 7. MICHIGAN STATE

2:20 p.m., Syracuse, N.Y.

TV: CBS Radio: WHAS-840