January 25, 2007

I recently sat down and called the Connecticut-Louisville basketball game. Freedom Hall is a special place to see a game because of its tradition. I loved being part of that matchup because I sat down and spoke to two of the great minds in college basketball, Rick Pitino and Jim Calhoun.

Hall of Famer Calhoun has obviously put his mark on the Huskies program. His team is currently going through growing pains right now because of the lack of experience and a stabilizer to make the big play. Connecticut is dominating by diaper dandies who have a great deal of potential and if they remain together will be special.

Sitting down with Pitino is always exciting because he has a lot to say about the game he loves, college basketball. Talking about Louisville, this team has been Johnson and Johnson -- needing band aids! There have been so many injuries and this squad has not been at full force. They also had the soap opera "As the World of Derrick Spins!" That's right, Derrick Caracter, the diaper dandy with so much potential in his own right. He has been out most of the year.

After an ugly first half against Connecticut, the Cardinals responded by putting up 50 points against Calhoun's squad. It was brick city USA before rallying in the second half. Pitino, a master motivator, turned an 18-point first half performance from a negative into a positive. Louisville was in the game despite struggle city.

Pitino addressed his team at halftime, telling them they were only down three points despite horrendous first-half shooting. They responded and had great balance as three veterans elevated their game. The trio of Terrence Williams, David Padgett and Juan Palacios came through in the 68-54 win, combining for 53 points overall.

Padgett was very effective in the low blocks. It is amazing that he is even playing college basketball this season. Pitino told me during a post-game interview that Dr. Norman Scott, the former New York Knicks orthopedic surgeon who operated on Padgett's knees, said the young man had an amazing pain threshold.

He took the ball at Hasheem Thabeet and was effective scoring.

When you think about Pitino's team and his tenure, there have been several players who committed to school but instead opted early for the NBA. Think about Sebastian Telfair, Amir Johnson and Donta Smith. Then look at all of the injuries. If Louisville can piece things together, and the team has won nine of its last 11, watch out. There is another big home game against Syracuse this weekend, and it is time to make statements.

If the NCAA is the goal, there is still work to be done. There are few signature victories on the resume, and a win over Syracuse would help the Cardinals cause.

Winning on your home floor is vital. This is an important time for Louisville to make a run for an NCAA berth. Something tells me Pitino's kids are going to get it done.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.