Louisville basketball is back in the Big Dance but not without more off-court drama. Louisville-Minnesota is the most on-brand thing the NCAA has done this season.
I was surprised. I was absolutely shocked No. 7 seeded Louisville basketball was not matched up against Murray State and Ja Morant, with the winner playing No. 2 seed Kentucky. I was actually stunned.
The NCAA had missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to “keep teams close geographically” and “save money all around,” and simply screw the state of Kentucky. However, this was scenario 1a. But the committee did what only they could do: continue their fight against repentant and bruised Louisville.
Was it a coincidence? Absolutely, positively not. The NCAA Selection Committee who left out a tournament team in Louisville last season struck once again in a way only they could: controversy. Louisville was slotted as a 7-seed, which seemed acceptable for the time being, and then their opponent was unveiled: Minnesota. Yes, the Richard Pitino coached squad from Minneapolis. The son of the former coach who is currently suing the University. This match-up is anything but subtle, cute, or necessary. The continued rehashing of allegations and scandal and wrongdoing is ridiculous, horrendous, and flat out wrong.
The NCAA continues to show their immaturity and feels more than content to continue to beat a dead horse–the Louisville fiasco under Rick Pitino. Honestly, I’d love to hear them make an attempt to explain this match-up in anyway that doesn’t have to do with TV ratings and creating unnecessary buzz from the opening tip of the Big Dance. I’m not buying any alternative story and you shouldn’t either.
ESPN’s Mike Greenberg let his initial feeling out immediately on Twitter:
Instant reaction: They put Pitino’s son against Louisville. If they say that was random I don’t believe them.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) March 17, 2019
Greenberg said what we were all thinking and continues to be a voice that calls out the NCAA for what it is. This should be admired and supported. Ignorant dictators deserve to be critiqued and scolded.
What should Louisville’s response be? Nothing less than kicking the living daylights out of Richard Pitino’s team burying that mostly dead horse alive.
We all know Chris Mack is internally licking his chops and relishing the opportunity that presents itself. The chance to continue his turnaround of the program, his response to the doubters, and to throw bleach on the memory of the P family in Louisville. And he will. Chris Mack knew he would have to clean out the swamp. He knew he would forever have to be the coach after the scandal, after the hall-of-famer, after the way Louisville Basketball used to be. And he was ready and continues to show his ability to make the program his and quickly bring Louisville back to prominence.
Chris Mack loves when his teams are overlooked and even when the pressure is on him rather than his players. Call it Mack vs. Pitino. Call it Past vs. Present.
Hopefully in the end, we will call it a Louisville win and another NCAA embarrassment.