© Richard Barnes, USA TODAY Sports Richard Barnes, USA TODAY Sports
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Breaking down 4 seed Louisville's 75-65 win against 8 seed North Carolina State in the East Region semifinals on Friday night:
WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT: In a game that seesawed between the teams for much of the second half, Louisville's strong close during the final six minutes moved the Cardinals past North Carolina State and into Sunday's East Region final. This can be viewed as a surprising development: Louisville limped into the tournament, dropping three of its last seven games to end the regular season, but has since found the right formula on both ends of the court — doing so just in time to make yet another charge at the Final Four under Rick Pitino.
THE BIG PICTURE: Louisville advances to meet Michigan State at 2:20 p.m. ET Sunday in the final of the East Region. A victory on Sunday would send the Cardinals to the Final Four for the third time in four years. North Carolina State's season ends in the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in four seasons under coach Mark Gottfried; in total, the Wolfpack haven't reached the Final Four since 1983, when the program won the second of its two national titles.
THE DECIDING PLAY: Louisville forward Wayne Blackshear picked up his fourth foul with 8:31 left in the second half and his team holding a 53-49 lead, sending the senior to the bench and placing sophomore and Raleigh, N.C., resident Anton Gill — far from a major factor this season — into a high-pressure situation. Despite the heightened stakes, Gill would help fend off the Wolfpack's late charge with a supply of steady defense and a five crucial points in a row with less than six minutes remaining. His jumper with 3:37 left, which pushed Louisville's lead to 62-57, was part of a 9-0 run that put the Wolfpack away.
"Obviously, we know Anton," Gottfried said. "I think he's averaging two points a game maybe, and he jumps up and gets seven at the most critical time of the game. You've got to give him credit. That was really the difference, in my opinion. That stretch right there, they had some separation right at that point of the game. That's what the game's about. Players step up and make some plays, and he certainly did for this game."
BREAKOUT PLAYER: After dismissing guard Chris Jones from the program on Feb. 22, Louisville had no choice but to turn point-guard duties over to freshman Quentin Snider. He's delivered in the beefed-up role, playing at least 30 minutes in seven of Louisville's last eight games and scoring in double figures in each of the Cardinals' three tournament wins.
"They did a nice job," Gottfried said. "They got better, too, after Chris Jones left, which is a sign of the job he did with his team because they improved. And here they are sitting in the Elite Eight. Tremendous, tremendous job by those guys."
KEY STAT: While N.C. State's offensive blueprint relied on long-range shooting, Louisville dominated near the basket. The Cardinals outscored N.C. State 40-24 in points scored inside the paint, eventually wearing down the Wolfpack's overmatched front line.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Breaking down 4 seed Louisville's 75-65 win against 8 seed North Carolina State in the East Region semifinals on Friday night:
WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT: In a game that seesawed between the teams for much of the second half, Louisville's strong close during the final six minutes moved the Cardinals past North Carolina State and into Sunday's East Region final. This can be viewed as a surprising development: Louisville limped into the tournament, dropping three of its last seven games to end the regular season, but has since found the right formula on both ends of the court — doing so just in time to make yet another charge at the Final Four under Rick Pitino.
THE BIG PICTURE: Louisville advances to meet Michigan State at 2:20 p.m. ET Sunday in the final of the East Region. A victory on Sunday would send the Cardinals to the Final Four for the third time in four years. North Carolina State's season ends in the Sweet Sixteen for the second time in four seasons under coach Mark Gottfried; in total, the Wolfpack haven't reached the Final Four since 1983, when the program won the second of its two national titles.
THE DECIDING PLAY: Louisville forward Wayne Blackshear picked up his fourth foul with 8:31 left in the second half and his team holding a 53-49 lead, sending the senior to the bench and placing sophomore and Raleigh, N.C., resident Anton Gill — far from a major factor this season — into a high-pressure situation. Despite the heightened stakes, Gill would help fend off the Wolfpack's late charge with a supply of steady defense and a five crucial points in a row with less than six minutes remaining. His jumper with 3:37 left, which pushed Louisville's lead to 62-57, was part of a 9-0 run that put the Wolfpack away.
"Obviously, we know Anton," Gottfried said. "I think he's averaging two points a game maybe, and he jumps up and gets seven at the most critical time of the game. You've got to give him credit. That was really the difference, in my opinion. That stretch right there, they had some separation right at that point of the game. That's what the game's about. Players step up and make some plays, and he certainly did for this game."
BREAKOUT PLAYER: After dismissing guard Chris Jones from the program on Feb. 22, Louisville had no choice but to turn point-guard duties over to freshman Quentin Snider. He's delivered in the beefed-up role, playing at least 30 minutes in seven of Louisville's last eight games and scoring in double figures in each of the Cardinals' three tournament wins.
"They did a nice job," Gottfried said. "They got better, too, after Chris Jones left, which is a sign of the job he did with his team because they improved. And here they are sitting in the Elite Eight. Tremendous, tremendous job by those guys."
KEY STAT: While N.C. State's offensive blueprint relied on long-range shooting, Louisville dominated near the basket. The Cardinals outscored N.C. State 40-24 in points scored inside the paint, eventually wearing down the Wolfpack's overmatched front line.
