Slow start dooms Cards in first-round NCAA loss
By Bud L. Ellis
The start was absolutely a nightmare for the Louisville Cardinals. And despite a big surge toward the finish, the hole proved too deep from which to emerge.
The Cardinals, viewed by many as a potential sleeper in the NCAA Tournament, instead looked asleep for the opening minutes of their first-round game Friday against California in Jacksonville, Fla. Falling behind 22-4, Louisville made it back to within four points before eventually falling 77-62.
For the Cardinals (20-13), the loss marked the end of an up-and-down season. And much like the campaign that would finish on this night, this game was marked by wild swings both good and bad.
The start was horrible. Louisville fell behind by the big deficit, pulled to within 41-30 at halftime, fell back behind by 14, pulled within 62-58 with 6:55 left, then ran out of gas at the end as the Bears finished the game on a 15-4 run.
Rakeem Buckles led the Cardinals with 20 points. Samardo Samuels added 16 points. Cal finished by shooting 51 percent from the floor and 53 percent from 3-point range, as the Cardinals had no answer for the Bears’ offense.
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 5:32 am by bud
Tags: California, Louisville Cardinals, NCAA Tournament, Rakeem Buckles, Samardo Samuels
