Game 2: The Bad Day for the Red Birds.

As mjr says, Louisville should have never gotten off the bus. Thanks for the photograph, kind sir. And maybe the Louisville Cardinals got off the bus late; maybe Pitino was having a good time seeing old New York friends. Even the band couldn’t find its section, couldn’t set up, so the time between the two games was filled with Pitt’s band blasting and rocking, the Pitt dancers + cheerleaders jumping around and showing their stuff. Nothing from Louisville. Prohpetic.

And Louisville, the basketball team? Uh… uh…

They didn’t score until 11:15 left in the 20 minute half. Free throws. First field goal: 9:12 left in the half, hit by Taquan Dean. At 7:37 left, Louisville’s field goal percentage was 7%.

The Louisville band played Spinal Tap’s Big Bottom (thanks to Rob for identifying that). They’re pretty good. Their cheerleaders are spectacular; one guy is a hella good gymnast, the ladies fly in the air. Once they get on the court, the support section is pretty good. Also prophetic.

35-7 with 4:27 to go in the half. That’s a bad football score. “Jeff Brohm really needs to avoid those interceptions,” says Kirk Herbstreit. Louisville pulls out the ¾ court and full court press, and claw closer—39-16 at the half.

A commercial in the second half, shown on the monitors: Louisville implanted the first artificial heart. But first they tried implants on the players, obviously, and the heart transplant didn’t take.

But from planet HOLY CRAP, Louisville gets within 15. And within 10. And within 5? What? Pitt really is this bad. The final stats show almost even field goal percentage. Pitt outrebounded the Cardinals, but that’s because they simply cannot shoot. Too many New York players?

This game was really ugly, but it was good to be at the Garden. Out at night. Cracking wise with a wise ass. Good living.