Cards face test minus one answer
Whitehead likely won't play today against Buckeyes
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By Eric Crawford
The Courier-Journal
Watching the tape of his spill, U of L forward Luke Whitehead said, ''started to really mess with my mind. I should have listened to coach (Rick) Pitino and not watched it.''
The University of Louisville and Ohio State -- big-name basketball teams off to impressive starts this season -- will collide today at 2 p.m. in Freedom Hall looking to live up to their reputations and records in the most significant test yet for both.
Ohio State (6-0) will be the best opponent the Cardinals (5-1) have faced this season, and they likely will play without power forward Luke Whitehead. Coach Rick Pitino said yesterday that the sophomore, who suffered a sprained back in a frightening fall during Wednesday's win over Coppin State, definitely will not start.
''I would be surprised if I play him,'' Pitino added.
The Buckeyes will face their first true full-court-pressing team -- and in their first road game. They have not won a road opener since 1995. Outside of North Carolina State, U of L represents the best team Ohio State has faced.
Ohio State will have a decided edge in experience. Buckeyes starting guards Brian Brown and Boban Savovic and reserve center Will Dudley played on the 1999 Final Four team as freshmen and the next season were part of a Big Ten title squad.
Pitino said a raucous Freedom Hall crowd will be a necessity but added that he isn't sure how much that will affect the seasoned Buckeyes.
''A crowd is a major factor in college basketball,'' he said. ''It won't be as much of a factor for Ohio State because of their experience. . . . They're not only talented, but they're very experienced, and that will be even bigger for us with Luke out.''
Ohio State hasn't been to Freedom Hall since the then-No. 17-ranked Buckeyes beat No. 24 U of L 85-79 on Jan. 29, 1989. But coach Jim O'Brien knows plenty about Freedom Hall. He played for the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels from 1971-73.
''If you can't get ready to play at Freedom Hall, something is wrong,'' he said. ''It's a great environment.''
Brown, Savovic and junior Brent Darby give the Buckeyes a talented and savvy three-guard starting backcourt. Power forward Zach Williams is just a sophomore but has started all of his 37 games at Ohio State.
At center, O'Brien uses a threeman rotation that produced 22 points and 20 rebounds in Wednesday's 8841 win over Santa Clara. Sophomore 7-footer Velimir Radinovic will draw his third career start today, but Dudley and freshman Terence Dials will split time with him.
Ohio State has won by an average of 24.8 points, is outrebounding foes by just over eight per game and is shooting 51.4 percent from the field while holding opponents to 38.3 percent. The Buckeyes lead the Big Ten in nine statistical categories.
But O'Brien says leaving the comfort of Value City Arena and facing a respectable opponent in their first road game will be a challenge.
''There's no getting around the fact that this is a big game for us,'' he said. ''This is a big-name team that has only lost one game. And the fact that we have to play them on the road is not going to be easy. And it's our first game on the road. But that's good for us. We look forward to it. It's time for us to go out and move on.'' U of L vs. Ohio State
U of L's players, meanwhile, still are looking to erase the memory of a blowout loss at Oregon and see today's game as a yardstick of how far they've come since then.
''If we can stay with this team, it would be our first close game, and that's what we're preparing for in practice,'' junior Reece Gaines said. ''If we get down in this game, like I'm sure we will at times, we can't go one-on-one. I think we'll play more as a team and stay with our style.
''It's going to be tough to play the full-court pressure but also contain their dribblers in the half-court defense. And they're experienced, so it will be a challenge for some of our younger players. I'm glad the game is at home.
''Our main goal is to come out and play hard and stay focused for the full game, no matter what.''
Pitino said 6-8 senior Joseph N'Sima will start in Whitehead's place but will bring a much different look to the position.
''Joseph doesn't press or pass or run the floor as well as Luke,'' Pitino said. ''And he's not as good offensively. But he will do a good job for us. He'll play well defensively and he'll rebound. . . .
''We're a different team without Luke, and now we're a different bench. We might have gone a little deeper than them at certain positions, but now we cannot do that. Not only are we not as experienced and not quite as talented in certain areas, but now we have the same type of depth.''
Gaines said that without Whitehead playing the front of the press, U of L's guards will have to step in and provide more ball pressure. Pitino said Bryant Northern will draw the start at point guard.
Whitehead said he hopes to play Monday against Tennessee Tech and didn't rule out getting into today's game. Pitino said watching a tape of the spill set the sophomore back a bit.
''I thought (Thursday) he would definitely play,'' Pitino said. ''But he made one big mistake that both his dad and I told him not to do, and he looked at it. And I think he doesn't feel psychologically secure right now. I wish he hadn't watched it. But when you're the lead story, sometimes it's hard to miss it. He's a little fragile right now, but he'll get out of that.''
Whitehead sat out of practice yesterday and admitted that seeing the fall on television shocked him.
''It started to really mess with my mind,'' he said. ''I should have listened to coach Pitino and not watched it, but now I've got to move on. I thought it wouldn't be that bad. I thought I could handle it. But when I watched it, it was like a nightmare. Now I've just got to try to get it out of my head.
''The main thing now is to get physically better. My shoulder is sore, but it's getting better. But with the medication I'm on, I'm just not ready to play right now. Once I can play, I think the mental part will take care of itself.''
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Doesn't sound as if Louisville is exuding too much confidence here...kind of makes you wonder. I'm not too sold on Louisville, and until they prove to me that they can beat a solid team, I'm not biting.
[This message has been edited by USC Gamecock (edited 12-15-2001).]
