03-18-2005, 03:09 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Rick Pitino accepts Louisville's No. 4 seeding in the NCAA tournament. Just don't try to convince him it doesn't matter.
The Cardinals face Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round Friday night, and Pitino would just as soon be playing somebody else. Louisville (29-4) was surprised to be seeded fourth in the Albuquerque Regional after winning 18 of its last 19 games to claim the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles
``Someone asked me what's the big deal about seeds,'' Pitino said Thursday. ``With No. 1 and 2, there's definitely a disparity in talent. A 3, you have a little bit of an edge. If you get a team like Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a team like Louisiana-Lafayette, you get a great basketball team. So we know what we're up against.
``They've got experience, talent, great athleticism. They understand what winning is all about. That's what happens when you get a four seed.''
Pitino called the matchup with the Sun Belt Conference champions the toughest he's ever had in the NCAA tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns (20-10) have put together four consecutive 20-win seasons and are eager to make a name for themselves after shooting poorly in a nine-point, first-round loss to North Carolina State a year ago.
``It's an unbelievable opportunity for us, and I feel we have the type of team that's capable of pulling off this upset,'' Louisiana-Lafayette coach Robert Lee said.
``I understand the mind-set Louisville is going to come out with. They're going to want to show the (selection) committee, show the country they don't deserve the 4 seed. But I don't feel my basketball team deserves a 13 seed. ... They have a chip on their shoulder. We have a chip on our shoulder. We'll see what happens.''
Louisiana-Lafayette isn't the only confident underdog in Nashville.
No. 12 seed George Washington (22-7) is enthusiastic about facing fifth-seeded Georgia Tech (19-11) in the other Albuquerque Regional game Friday night.
In the Syracuse Regional, fourth-seeded Florida (23-7) faces 13th-seeded Ohio (21-10) and fifth-seeded Villanova (22-7) faces 12th-seeded New Mexico (26-6) in the afternoon.
This week, George Washington coach Karl Hobbs has been wearing the national championship ring he won as an assistant at Connecticut in 1999 as motivation against Georgia Tech, which made a surprising run to the Final Four before losing in the championship game last year.
The Yellow Jackets struggled after getting off to a fast start, but are talented enough to make another run -- especially if guard Jarrett Jack (ankle) and forward Isma'il Muhammad (knee) are healthy.
Both players practiced Thursday and are expected to play.
``I wanted to see us get on a little bit more of a roll coming into this tournament. But this team is very capable,'' Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said.
``There are so many good teams out there now, seeds really don't matter. Unless you are playing well, especially playing defense and rebounding well, anybody can get knocked out of this thing.''
Hobbs agrees.
``I like the fact that we haven't been here before, so we don't know what to expect. I like the fact that we will be a little bit nervous, which means we will play extremely hard,'' the George Washington coach said.
``And also, I like the fact that there will be a great deal of pressure on Georgia Tech because of all the expectations. I really like the situation we are in.''
So does Louisville, which has won nine straight.
Pitino and his players say they have gotten over the initial shock of not being seeded higher and are ready to atone for a first-round loss to Xavier in 2004.
``We're a mature basketball team. We know games are won between the lines, and that's what we plan on doing,'' Louisville's Ellis Myles said. ``Arguing and getting mad isn't going to do anything,'' Larry O'Bannon added. ``They aren't going to change it. Just go out and prove them wrong.
The Cardinals face Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round Friday night, and Pitino would just as soon be playing somebody else. Louisville (29-4) was surprised to be seeded fourth in the Albuquerque Regional after winning 18 of its last 19 games to claim the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles
``Someone asked me what's the big deal about seeds,'' Pitino said Thursday. ``With No. 1 and 2, there's definitely a disparity in talent. A 3, you have a little bit of an edge. If you get a team like Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a team like Louisiana-Lafayette, you get a great basketball team. So we know what we're up against.
``They've got experience, talent, great athleticism. They understand what winning is all about. That's what happens when you get a four seed.''
Pitino called the matchup with the Sun Belt Conference champions the toughest he's ever had in the NCAA tournament.
The Ragin' Cajuns (20-10) have put together four consecutive 20-win seasons and are eager to make a name for themselves after shooting poorly in a nine-point, first-round loss to North Carolina State a year ago.
``It's an unbelievable opportunity for us, and I feel we have the type of team that's capable of pulling off this upset,'' Louisiana-Lafayette coach Robert Lee said.
``I understand the mind-set Louisville is going to come out with. They're going to want to show the (selection) committee, show the country they don't deserve the 4 seed. But I don't feel my basketball team deserves a 13 seed. ... They have a chip on their shoulder. We have a chip on our shoulder. We'll see what happens.''
Louisiana-Lafayette isn't the only confident underdog in Nashville.
No. 12 seed George Washington (22-7) is enthusiastic about facing fifth-seeded Georgia Tech (19-11) in the other Albuquerque Regional game Friday night.
In the Syracuse Regional, fourth-seeded Florida (23-7) faces 13th-seeded Ohio (21-10) and fifth-seeded Villanova (22-7) faces 12th-seeded New Mexico (26-6) in the afternoon.
This week, George Washington coach Karl Hobbs has been wearing the national championship ring he won as an assistant at Connecticut in 1999 as motivation against Georgia Tech, which made a surprising run to the Final Four before losing in the championship game last year.
The Yellow Jackets struggled after getting off to a fast start, but are talented enough to make another run -- especially if guard Jarrett Jack (ankle) and forward Isma'il Muhammad (knee) are healthy.
Both players practiced Thursday and are expected to play.
``I wanted to see us get on a little bit more of a roll coming into this tournament. But this team is very capable,'' Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said.
``There are so many good teams out there now, seeds really don't matter. Unless you are playing well, especially playing defense and rebounding well, anybody can get knocked out of this thing.''
Hobbs agrees.
``I like the fact that we haven't been here before, so we don't know what to expect. I like the fact that we will be a little bit nervous, which means we will play extremely hard,'' the George Washington coach said.
``And also, I like the fact that there will be a great deal of pressure on Georgia Tech because of all the expectations. I really like the situation we are in.''
So does Louisville, which has won nine straight.
Pitino and his players say they have gotten over the initial shock of not being seeded higher and are ready to atone for a first-round loss to Xavier in 2004.
``We're a mature basketball team. We know games are won between the lines, and that's what we plan on doing,'' Louisville's Ellis Myles said. ``Arguing and getting mad isn't going to do anything,'' Larry O'Bannon added. ``They aren't going to change it. Just go out and prove them wrong.