U of L's Gill finds shot just in time
Anton Gill picked a good time to find his shooting stroke.
Four days before the University of Louisville's second big road game of the season, the 6-foot-3 sophomore made six of his 10 shots and led the Cardinals in scoring with 15 points in an 82-57 win over FIU.
Just in time for Louisville's Tuesday night matchup against Indiana at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
"It feels like I finally found a rhythm," said Gill, who began the season 8 of 24 from the field.
"Once you see the ball go in, it just changes the way you play. Hopefully I can just build on this."
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The strength of Friday's opponent aside, it was the first time this season that Gill lived up to his preseason billing as Louisville's best scorer off the bench.
U of L coach Rick Pitino built up Gill in preseason interviews, saying he'd be able to play both guard spots and spell starters Chris Jones and Terry Rozier.
But through the first six games of the 2014-15 campaign, Gill saw his minutes fluctuate because of inconsistency in just about every category.
He played four minutes against Ohio State and six against Marshall, and he was 0 for 5 in U of L's season-opening win over Minnesota.
That's why Friday night's strong showing was so important. Gill put off the air of a kid who'd shed a lot of weight from his shoulders.
"It felt good for it to finally go in," Gill said. "I stayed with my preparation and (kept) shooting the ball."
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Pitino praised the North Carolina native on Friday, saying he played "really well." Then he was asked what Gill had to do to get better, and Pitino didn't know where to start or finish.
"He has to create some steals," Pitino said. "He has to get some assists. He has got to pass the ball better. He has to rebound the ball better – everything but shooting."
The offensive struggles felt odd for a former four-star prospect who scored at will during his high school and prep school days.
Gill was a top-level shooter at Hargrave Military School, where he played alongside Rozier. He scored 28.2 points a game and set a Hargrave record when he scored 56 in a game – a week after he put up 50.
But since he arrived at Louisville, that scoring talent has mostly been on display behind the scenes, at practices that the public doesn't see.
Gill didn't play much last season because of his defensive and physical struggles – and most of the guard minutes were divvied up between Jones, Rozier and Russ Smith.
This offseason, Pitino raved about Gill's progress, saying he was more than ready to take on a bigger role for the Cardinals.
Yet it was Gill's most developed skill that ran dry when the games began. Before he made 3 of 5 3-pointers against FIU, he'd made 1 of 13 in the first six contests.
It's safe to say he's glad those days appear to be in the past. And Louisville is, too. The Cards really needed their third guard playing his best.
"(The shooting slump) was really weird," he said. "In high school, I never really went through a slump like this. I'm glad I'm out of it."
Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).
UP NEXT
INDIANA VS. NO. 5 LOUISVILLE
9 p.m. Tuesday, Madison Square Garden, New York, Jimmy V Classic
TV: ESPN. Radio: WHAS-840 (U of L call); WXVW-1450 and WSLM-97.9 (IU call).