The Louisville Cardinal Men’s Basketball team is one of the hottest in the nation, having won 12 out of 13 games heading into the NCAA Tournament. The defending National Champs are peaking at the perfect time, but Coach Rick Pitino isn’t very happy heading into the first weekend.
According to Fox Sports, Pitino is angry with the opponent his Cardinal drew. Louisville will be facing 13th-seeded Manhattan, coached by former Pitino assistant Steve Masiello.
Masiello served as ball boy and assistant coach under Pitino and also played for the coach at Kentucky, so needless to say the two know each other very well.
Pitino said the matchup is tougher than when Louisville got paired against Florida and coach Billy Donovan, who also played and coached for Pitino, in a 2012 regional final.
“We press like him, we trap like him, his offensive sets are just like ours,” Pitino said. “That’s why I don’t like the game. I don’t think it’s fair. I don’t like it. I don’t know why they would do it. I just don’t like the game at all for either one of us. We won the national championship and obviously we’re more heralded, but this is anybody’s game. This is not a 1-16.”
Louisville is widely considered a favorite to win the entire tournament, so most people probably haven’t even thought twice about their first round opponent. But if Pitino is right, a lot of brackets could be busted immediately. It will be interesting to see how this game plays out.
