Wednesday Night was a true test for the Cards. Notre Damn always plays the cards hard, and even though Louisville is tied for 5th in the Big East, and Notre Dame10th, this would be the type of game the Cards would drop after a big win at Syracuse. The game was up and down, back and forth and left to right all night long. Nash and Cooley fouled out early for the Irish and by the end of regulation this game had already turned into a free throw fest before going to overtime.
Notre Dame just couldn't defend Samardo Samuels in the post. He would either score or get fouled and go to the line. Another Big time player in this game was Jarred Swopshire who is really starting to come around for the Cards. He played 38 minutes and was perfect from the free throw line (5-5) scored 12 points, grabbed 9 boards, and had 3 blocks.
At the end of the first overtime Samuels blocked a shot with 7 seconds left on the clock and Sosa threw up a half court shot that almost dropped in the bucket after hitting the rim. The game was extended to a second overtime and by the end both teams were running on fumes. The final seconds had the game tied and Notre Dame had the ball, but couldn't find the man in the post who was wide...or should I say WIDE open. The clock ran down to zero without the Irish even getting a shot off.
"We were not going to deviate from our offense tonight, If we were going to loose it, it wouldn't have been because we deviated from going insdie" said coach Pitino. Which is clearly obvious since Samardo wound up scoring 36 points. With 21 lead changes the game could have gone either way. "They could have folded about 5 times down 7, and they didn't do it." -Pitino
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