| Date: Dec. 1, 2001 | Score: Louisville 81, Tennessee State 63 |
| Leading Scorers: U of L: Reece Gaines (24) Tennessee State: Garrett Richardson (20) |
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| Although it was an ugly game, the Cards bounced back from their 27-point trouncing at the hands of the Oregon Ducks. The Cards forced five turnovers before the first timeout, and grabbed a 9-0 lead to open the game. While Tennessee State never got closer than six the rest of the way, the Tigers, coached by Nolan Richardson III, son of the famous Arkansas coach, used a full-court trapping defense and a 2-3 zone to confound the Cards into making 26 turnovers to help keep the game close. A three-pointer by Simeon Naydenov gave U of L a 25-14 lead at the 11:08 mark of the first half, but the Cards managed only one field goal in the last four minutes of the first period to lead at halftime 45-35. |
Tennessee State went on a 7-2 run to pull within six early in the second period, but the Cards went on a game-deciding 25-9 run to take a 73-51 lead with 5:06 left to play. Reece Gaines, who led all scorers with 24 points by scoring 12 in each half hit, two of three three-pointers in the run to help fuel the Cards offense, while defense by Gaines, Joseph N'sima and Ellis Myles won praise from Coach Pitino. Myles had a record night: he scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds, the most for a Cardinal player in a single game since Wes Unseld in the 1967-68 season. Overall, U of L had a 58-36 edge on the boards, which led to a 17-1 advantage for U of L in second-chance points. Luke Whitehead was the other Cardinal in double-figures, scoring 13 points to go along with nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Bryant Northern started in place of the still-slightly injured Carlos Hurt, though both players saw five minutes of action. Garrett Richardson scored 20 points for Tennessee State, which shot only 4-22 from three-point range and committed 21 turnovers.  |
| Game Summary: Tennessee State | Score: Louisville 115, Tennessee State 76 |
| Leading Scorers: U of L: Marques Maybin (23) Tennessee State: Kurtis Murray (26) |
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| Well, what would you expect out of this game? Of course U of L would come out hungry, and they did. Naturally, the shooting touch came back. U of L shot 53% in setting their highest point total of the season. Marques Maybin led the Cards with 23 on a blazing 9-12 from the field but a frigid 4-8 from the line. Maybin did manage to grab a career-high 11 rebounds, however. |
| Also firing it up for the Cards was Tony Williams with 22 points and nine rebounds, Nate Johnson with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals and, pleasantly, Tobiah Hopper also with 14 points on 6-9 shooting. U of L forced 30 turnovers and outrebounded the Tigers 51-29. |
| After leading 52-34 at the half, U of L went on a 11-0 run to start the second period, then another 10-2 run three minutes later. The Cards broke the century mark with 3:15 remaining; with the exception of Kevin Smiley, every Cardinal on the roster scored, including walk-ons Derek Walcott and Andres Rodriquez. |
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| Game Preview: Tennessee State | Date: Dec. 20, 1999 |
| Site: Freedom Hall | Records: U of L: 5-3, Tennessee State 0-5 |
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| Whenever you get knocked down you've just got to pick yourself up again, right? Well, the Cards better prepare for another night in the ring, because a true heavyweight awaits in the next few days. First though is Tennessee State. Coming into the game, the Tigers of Tennessee State are 0-5, including an eight-point loss at Northern Iowa and a six-point loss at Georgia. |
| Frankly, this game will have more in common with last week's Central Florida game than the one against UK. This time, at least, maybe the Cards will actually show in the first half and blow this team away early. The parallel match-up of the UK contest comes on Thursday, again on national television, this time against the more powder shade of blue of North Carolina. |
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