The University of Louisville men’s basketball team is actively recruiting a bunch of prospects in the class of 2014 and according to Scoutsfocus’ Joe Davis, Rick Pitino is turning up the heat on 6’6, 170 lb forward Devin Robinson:

Robinson, who plays for Christ Church School in Churchview, Virginia is currently listed as a 4-star small forward by 247Sports.com. The Cards already have a commitment from 6’8 small forward Shaqquan Aaron so it will be interesting to see how things materialize with Robinson over the next few months. Rick Pitino likely won’t want to put all of his eggs in one basket and the departure of Luke Hancock following the 2013-2014 season will open up an immediate opportunity on the wing. Regardless, if Robinson were to commit to the Cards he would be a mismatch nightmare for opponents as he can score from inside-out and rebound the ball effectively. He also hits his free throws at a high clip and, as you can see in the video below, he’s not exactly vertically challenged.

photo – si.com

UofL came out earlier this week and said that soon-to-be All-American Teddy Bridgewater didn’t want the school to promote him for college football’s most prestigious award, the Heisman Trophy.  In typical Teddy fashion, he wanted the 2013 season to be about the team, not #5.  While that may be what he wanted, the exact opposite is happening as national outlets are marveling at the idea of him being so humble.  Sporting News came out with an interesting angle while managing to downplay Louisville’s Sugar Bowl win as Matt Hayes wrote that Florida got off the plane and “sleepwalked” through their game against the Cards.  Here’s a sampling of the national media’s take on this topic.

*CBSSports.com’s view

That’s why a school like Louisville must strike now, while it still has a Bridgewater to brag about. Having a player of his caliber on the roster gives the Cardinals a unique shot at building its brand.

*What Yahoo! says

There’s nothing wrong with a player not calling off a Heisman campaign (just something wrong with any voters who need it to guide their decision). But Bridgewater’s team-first approach, especially considering Bridgewater won’t be on television as much as Heisman candidates from more high-profile conferences, is admirable. It’s a great indication of what kind of leader he is. NFL teams will certainly notice that too.

In the end, Bridgewater won’t get as much manufactured publicity, but his reputation will probably grow among those who are paying attention.

*FOX Sports’ take

With concerns over managing his Heisman hype behind him, Bridgewater instead can move on to more important things, like living up to last year’s expectations this season, Louisville’s final in the Big East before moving on to the ACC. And that’s how Cardinals coach Charlie Strong likes it.

On this program, the guys brought on 5-star stud JaQuan Lyle for an update on his recruitment and insidetheville.com’s Mike Hughes for the latest on UofL football and basketball recruiting.  For daily updates, follow us on twitter @LvilleSprtsLive.

With JaQuan:

-he gave us his updated list of schools and decision timeline

-how he sees himself fitting into Louisville’s program

-the recruiting angle Coach Pitino is taking

-what he loved about UofL during his visits

With Mike:

-an update on Oklahoma State transfer Wes Lunt; timeline and visit date

-UofL football targets on commitment watch

-Teddy Heisman campaign talk

-why Louisville should be preseason #1 and can return to the Final Four

-X-Factors for another title run

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE

*iPad/iPod users, or if you have any trouble accessing it, listen below

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:38:20 — 33.8MB)

In exactly 100 days, the 2013 Sugar Bowl Champions will once again step foot on the gridiron. A near-unanimous preseason top 10 pick, the Louisville Cardinals will start the 2013 season with arguably the most talented and hyped team in the program’s history. The hype really began after underdog Louisville took the field against heavily favored Florida in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl, and starting with the first 10 seconds of play, absolutely throttled the Gators. It was Cardinal domination from start to finish, and Florida coach Will Muschamp can lie all he wants about how Florida lost the game as opposed to Louisville winning it. Facts are facts. The better team won that night, and won big. After causing a nervous breakdown for every Louisville fan when he nearly left for Tennessee, coach Charlie Strong outcoached Will Muschamp in every aspect of the game. It was such a one-sided coaching affair, one might have thought it was Nick Saban coaching against Steve Kragthorpe. Now, that same Louisville coach will lead several returning members of that same Louisville team onto the field on September 1st as the Cards take on Frank Solich’s Ohio Bobcats. The biggest obstacle for the Cards this season is an incredibly soft schedule, at least in the eyes of the BCS,  and they will truly be moving against the current in hopes of reaching the BCS National Championship game.

There have been few Louisville teams that have been as talented and deep as the one fans will see this fall. It is the first year people can officially stop saying Louisville is “young and talented” and just say “talented.” The players Strong recruited who had/have so much talent now also have the experience to go along with it. Players like Heisman Trophy contender Teddy Bridgewater, DeVante Parker and Preston Brown all return as seasoned, veteran players who all appear well on their way to playing at the next level. Louisville returns a large chunk of its key contributors from last season, and it is easier to list who is gone rather than who is returning. On offense Center and team leader Mario Benavides is gone, as are left tackle Alex Kupper, wide receiver Scott Radcliff, running back Jeremy Wright and tight end Nate Nord. The defense loses a major playmaker in defensive back Adrian Bushell along with linebacker Daniel Brown. That is it. That is what the Cards lose. The rest of the team returns, and oh yeah, here is who the team gains. Florida transfers Gerald Christian and Robert Clark are now eligible at tight end and wide receiver, and each is expected to have big years. In place of Kupper, the Cards will insert the massive Abraham “Nacho” Garcia, who looked great in limited time last year and has the ability to be an elite left tackle. Auburn transfer Zeke Pike, who has had several off-the-field issues that led to his transfer, will try to put his troubled past in the rearview mirror as he lines up on the other side of Christian at tight end. While the Cards do lose a solid back in Wright, they welcome back Dominique Brown from injury, as well as bruising redshirt freshman Brandon Radcliff. Fans will also likely see more of speedy home run threat Corvin Lamb and hope to see 2012 leading rusher Senorise Perry back and healthy from an ACL injury. Then there is Michaelee Harris, who has an uphill battle as he tries to come off of his 3rd serious knee injury in 2 years. He will not need to be a superstar, but if he can come back at even 75% of what he was, it will make the WR corps that much more dangerous. The biggest questions will be concerning center and defensive back, where the Cards will try to make up for the loss of Benavides and Bushell.

Due to the depth and experience of the current roster, this will be the first year where Strong and staff will not need to rely on the immediate impact of multiple incoming freshman. That does not mean that a select few will not help the team, though. On defense, both incoming freshman linebacker Lyn Clark and incoming freshman defensive tackle Finesse Middleton have been making a name for themselves in offseason workouts. Other freshmen who have not yet arrived, such as defensive end De’Asian Richardson and defensive back Richard Benjamin, have the talent to make immediate contributions as well. The big name fans are going to look out for, though, is Louisville’s own James Quick, the highest rated recruit to ever commit to the Cards. The highly talented and speedy Quick, who was named MVP of the prestigious Army All-American game this past January, is expected to be a part of the team’s plans this season. In a crowded group of wide receivers, he is really going to have to distinguish himself in training camp to take playing time away from guys like Parker, Clark, Damian Copeland and Eli Rogers, but he does have the talent to do so. At the very least, he could become a dynamic return man, an area in which the Cards have struggled in during the Strong era.

The most depressing aspect of the upcoming season is the fact that due to conference affiliation and a weak out-of-conference schedule, the chances of Louisville being considered for the national championship are about the same as Teddy Bridgewater coming back for his senior season. It is not due to lack of effort, as the program bent over backwards trying to schedule an out-of-conference game against Texas A&M, Alabama, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, but came up short after every attempt. After Boise State bailed on the new Big East, or American Athletic Conference as it is now being called, the Cards’ highest touted opponent will be Ohio. The one without the “State” at the end of it. That does not bode well for the Cards. In order for the team to get stronger consideration, it will need to completely blow out everyone on the schedule and hope teams like Rutgers, Cincinnati and South Florida are all better than advertised. It also would not hurt if Alabama and/or Ohio State had major collapses, but the chances of that happening are also slim. The lone good thing about this for fans is that the team will not be able to afford to take their foot off the pedal this season if they want serious postseason consideration. Fans were…well…let’s say less than thrilled when Strong decided to call the game mid-3rd quarter against a Kentucky team whose team and fanbase had been obnoxiously running their mouths for no reason. That cannot and will not happen this season against UK or anyone, so expect some offensive fireworks and hard-nosed, punch-you-in-the-mouth defense.

No, the schedule is not exactly “marquee.” Yes, the chances of a national championship are slim. But guess what? Charlie Strong turned down big money at not just a big time SEC program, but one of the most traditional programs in the country whose fans would fill up their massive stadium in a hurricane if the team was playing Akron. He turned that down for Louisville, seeing the bright future and the faith he had in the program and in the fanbase. Do not make him regret that. Show up to the games. Pack the house and remember what the man sacrificed and understand how special this team is. At the very least, it is an opportunity to see several future NFL players, including a possible no. 1 pick, dominate team after team on their way to another BCS bowl. Remember where the program will be next season. Better yet, remember where this program was 4 years ago. Things could be a lot worse. Support the team. Football season: get here already.

Terry Rozier is the crown jewel of Louisville’s class

It appears that Louisville, for the second time in three years, will have another top-10 recruiting class. The Cards’ 2013 haul includes Terry Rozier, Chris Jones, Anton Gill and Akoy Agaua and finished 8th overall according to Scout.com’s final team rankings. Not surprisingly, Kentucky once again holds the top spot, followed by Kansas, Duke, Arizona, Memphis, Indiana, Florida, LSU and Marquette. Rozier’s final ranking of 15 makes him the highest rated recruit to commit to Louisville (at least according to Scout) since Samardo Samuels in 2009. Chris Jones is ineligible for a ranking number since he’s a junior college player, but he was a consensus top-50 player coming out of Memphis in 2010 when he originally pledged to Tennessee. Since then his stock has grown exponentially after being named the two-time Juco player of the year at Northwest Florida State. We asked Evan Daniels of Scout.com on our radio show a few months back where he would place Jones if he were eligible for a ranking and he said somewhere in the top 30. Anton Gill checks in at #48 and will bring another solid scoring option on the wing. Agau is still a bit raw judging by what we saw in the Derby Festival Classic, but his size and skill-set are undeniable. In two years he will be a huge presence on the blocks for Rick Pitino.

Watching this video hurts…..we’ve all been there.

We’ve all been there. And most of us have embodied all kinds of various reactions after our team loses a big game. Depression, anger, hostility, utter disbelief – a full range of emotions flood through your body as you stare in disbelief while the other team and its fans celebrate. There’s really no worse feeling in the world. Maybe when your dog dies…..maybe. But that’s even pushing it. The fine folks at Grantland just released a piece that brilliantly sums up these varying feelings as your team comes up short in the big game. In their eyes, there are precisely 20 different types of depressed sports fans. I can attest to seeing (or at one time or another, being) each and every last one of them while watching a Louisville basketball game. The notorious wall-puncher, the weirdo that decides to take a mid-game stroll down the block so as to not disturb a comeback, the “I knew it” guy, the pessimist, the “how” guy, the “why” guy, the single f-bomb guy, etc, etc. Just like you, I’ve seen em’ all.

1. The Fan Who Punches a Wall

This guy (and it’s almost certainly going to be a guy) reacts to a devastating loss with physical violence. Usually that comes in the form of a wall-punch, though occasionally he’ll mix in a double-palmed coffee table slam or a pulverized remote control. This will be followed by an uncomfortable silence as everyone slowly inches away from him. Eventually, somebody may try to break the tension by offering him a drink or complimenting his Ed Hardy shirt.

Your level of amusement with this fan’s antics will be directly correlated to whether you’re watching the game at his house or yours.

2. The Single F-Bomb Fan

This fan is a traditionalist. He or she responds to every negative twist and turn with a single f-bomb, followed by a brooding silence. Simple. Timeless. Almost, dare we say, elegant.

This fan actually comes in two sub-varieties: The short f-bomb, or the drawn-out f-bomb. The former gets bonus points for volume, while the latter is aiming for endurance.

16. The Fan Who Suddenly Has to go for a Walk

This fan responds to adversity by removing himself from the situation. Sometimes, this will be accompanied by a hurried explanation. Often, he’ll just quietly get up and leave. You may or may not ever see him again.

If you find yourself watching an important game with this fan and he announces that he’s leaving, let him go. Do not try to talk him into staying. There’s a reason he doesn’t trust himself to be around other human beings right now. You do not want to find out what that reason is.

17. The Fan Who Isn’t There Because He Only Watches Big Games at Home Alone

You won’t see this fan because he’s politely declined your invitation to watch the game with a group. He takes sports more seriously than friendship or camaraderie or even basic human interaction, which is to say that he has his priorities straight. (Side note: This fan’s absence also might be related to that one time that he was the Might Be Crying Fan.)

You may get a text message or two from this fan as the game goes on. More likely, you won’t. Once the game is over and the magnitude of the disaster has become clear, be a good friend and phone in a police wellness check.

18. The Non-Reaction Fan

This fan barely acknowledges what’s just happened. In fact, you have to study him carefully to find any reaction at all. He might slump slightly, or offer a subtle head shake. There’s a slim chance that he might mumble something indecipherable under his breath.

But that’s it. Whatever chaos is unfolding around him, he won’t acknowledge it. If you didn’t know any better, you’d almost think he was at peace with what he’d just seen. There’s a sense of serenity to him, like a still pond on a windless morning.

Make no mistake: No fan is hurting worse than this one.

One year after participating in the U-18 world championships for Team USA, Louisville sophomore-to-be Montrezl Harrell has once again accepted an invitation to the training camp trials in Colorado Springs, June 14-19th. Along with Harrell, 23 other elite high school or college players (19 years old or younger) will attend camp before the field is cut in half down to the final 12 roster spots. The final roster will then travel to Washington DC and the Czech Republic before ultimately competing in the FIBA World Championships from June 27th-July 7th. Harrell was particularly sharp down the stretch for the 2013 champs, connecting on 15 of his 21 field goals in the NCAA Tournament. He also helped the Cards storm back against Syracuse in the Big East Championship with an unforgettable 20 point, 7 rebound effort to lift Louisville to their second straight conference tournament title. The team will be coached by Bill Donovan (head coach – Florida), Shaka Smart (assistant coach – VCU) and Tony Bennett (assistant coach – Virgina). The final team will be announced on June 15th following the final morning try-out.

Here’s a look at the complete list of players invited

The 2013 NBA Draft will be held on June 27th, but until then all we have to go on will be mock drafts.  Gorgui is a guarantee to be selected in the first round, and his stock has been trending towards the late lottery.  Siva, as stated below, is seeing his stock rise after a great showing at the Combine last week.  Currently, NBADraft.net has Gorgui going 24th to the Knicks and Siva going 48th to the Lakers.  DraftExpress.com sees Gorgs going 20th to the Bulls and Siva going 52nd to the Timberwolves.  While these two sites aren’t perfect in their predictions, but they get many more right than wrong, so it’s great to see Peyton getting some second round love.  Even CBSSports.com got into the mix, as Jeff Goodman released his too.  He projects Dieng to the Knicks at 24 and Siva to the Timberwolves at 59.   Check out the results from Siva putting in work at the Combine, finishing in the Top 20 in all six categories.  (Only he, Isiah Canaan, and Tim Hardaway, Jr. accomplished that feat.)

via @TheRyanFeldman

LSL comes at you today at 6 on ESPN 680 and ESPNLouisville.com week as the guys talk all things UofL.  We will be joined by 5-star hardwood phenom JaQuan Lyle at 6:30 to get the latest on his recruitment.  Insidetheville.com publisher Mike Hughes will come on at 7:15 to talk about the Cards’ chances of repeating, Teddy’s Heisman talk, and recruiting.

Other topics include:

-will UofL land Oklahoma State QB transfer Wes Lunt?

-the ACC’s new bowl lineup

-an update on basketball and football recruiting

-TWill’s troubles

As always, we want you to be apart of the program, hit us up at 267-9680 and on twitter @LvilleSprtsLive.

While the college football bowl lineup is still a couple of weeks out from being finalized and released, the ACC as well as the other power conferences have gotten the majority of their games in place.  Now the leagues are working to secure deals with the lower level bowls. ACC Commissioner John Swofford said last week he expects the conference to have 9 to 10 games when its lineup is finalized.  SI.com came out with a story that – based on reports over the last few weeks – pretty much gives us a snapshot of what the major bowls will be for each power conference.

Starting in 2014, ACC partial member Notre Dame will be eligible for any of the ACC’s “non-BCS” bowl spots if it finishes the regular season within one win of the highest-available ACC team. All indications point to the Russell Athletic Bowl moving up a rung to take the Chick-fil-A’s No. 2 spot in the ACC’s lineup.

The league will also share spots in the Gator and Music City bowls with the Big Ten, with each league participating in each bowl three times in six years. The plan is for those two bowls, the Belk Bowl and the Pinstripe Bowl to comprise one pool. There may be a second pool, but beyond the Sun it’s unclear which games — and how many — will partner with the ACC. ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported that the Detroit Lions are starting a new bowl that will replace the Little Caesars Bowl and pit the ACC against the Big Ten. The AdvoCare (formerly Independence) and Liberty bowls have also been mentioned as possibilities.

  vs. Big Ten, SEC, or Notre Dame

vs. Big 12

vs. SEC

vs. SEC

vs. SEC

vs. Big Ten

vs. Pac-12