Busting Brackets
Fansided

ACC Basketball: Each team’s worst performance of the last decade

By Joey Loose

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: Cameron Johnson
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: Cameron Johnson /
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CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 27: David Padgett #4 and Jerry Smith #4 of the Louisville Cardinals walk off the court after defeating the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2008 NCAA Men’s East Regional Semifinal at Bobcats Arena on March 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cardinals defeated the Volunteers 77-60. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC – MARCH 27: David Padgett #4 and Jerry Smith #4 of the Louisville Cardinals walk off the court after defeating the Tennessee Volunteers during the 2008 NCAA Men’s East Regional Semifinal at Bobcats Arena on March 27, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Cardinals defeated the Volunteers 77-60. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Louisville

December 5, 2009 (Charlotte 87, at Louisville 65) (GS: 5)

With all due respect to Morehead State’s upset win in 2011, we’ll instead focus on what was one of the Cardinals’ worst efforts under Rick Pitino. Back in their Big East days, Louisville was a yearly title contender, something they’d accomplish just a few years later in 2013, though Chris Mack will have this team competing as well. So how exactly did this squad (who went 11-7 in Big East play and earned a 9 seed in 2010), fall apart at home against Charlotte?

The first thing I have to mention is that Louisville was without three injured guards: Preston Knowles, Peyton Siva and Jerry Smith. Regardless of their absences, the 18th ranked Cardinals had what was probably their worst defensive effort in many years, unable to hold-off a hot shooting 49ers team. Shooting just 26% certainly didn’t help, especially since nobody but Samardo Samuels (14 points) had a decent offensive outing. By margin of defeat, tt was the team’s worst home loss under Rick Pitino.

Derrio Green hit three early 3’s and the Cardinals were already down big early, and unable to fight back with shorter depth than usual. Charlotte led by as many as 26 and put together their most complete game of the season. This wasn’t an awful Charlotte team, but they did fall apart late in the season and it cost Bobby Lutz his job. Regardless, Louisville shouldn’t have been in a position to fall so immensely at home. And while we can again argue that the Morehead State loss might have been more debilitating, there’s a difference between being upset at the buzzer and floundering at home against a mid-major.