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Louisville “B” vs. Puerto Rico Junior National Team: 79-77 Puerto Rico
Louisville vs Puerto Rico Junior Game Box Score
The Cards “B” squad fell for the 2nd time in as many days to the Puerto Rican Junior National team 79-77. Sustaining a nice comeback at the end, the young Cards couldn’t get over the hump in enough time to draw the game into a tie or take the lead. The “B” squad got some extra help with the addition of freshman Donovan Mitchell and junior Mangok Mathiang.
Raymond Spalding shined playing 30 minutes scoring 19 points, 7-10 from the field, with 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 5 blocks. Donovan Mitchell notched 21 minutes and added 16 points with 5 rebounds and 3 steals with a block. Jay Henderson continued to play well logging 39 minutes and scoring 12 with 5 rebounds.
The Cards were doomed with just 33.8 shooting from the field and were just 3 of 20 from 3 point range, while the Puerto Rico squad was 12 of 28 from beyond the arc. In the end, Donovan Mitchell had a chance to tie the game and lost control of the ball in the lane as time expired.
Louisville “A” vs. Puerto Rico National Team: 96-62 Puerto Rico
Louisville vs. Puerto Rico Natl Box Score
“We were horse shit” – Rick Pitino following Wednesday Night’s 34 point loss to Puerto Rico.
The energy level was significantly lower for the Cards on Wednesday than we saw a day earlier and it resulted in a diminished performance from last night when Louisville gave the Puerto Rico National Team all it wanted. Puerto Rico hit 35-68 from the field on 28(!) assists. Ramon Clemente once again provided a huge lift off the bench for PR with 11 points, but were led by Angel Daniel Vassallo with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.
For Louisville the Cards didn’t get much from 3 of its bigs as Mangok Mathiang, Anas Mahmoud, and Matz Stockman were a combined 33 minutes, 2-13 from the field for 4 points, 0-4 from FTs, 7 rebounds, and just one block. Also Damion Lee was much cooler from the field than he was in the opener finishing with 9 points and just 2-11 from the field. Trey Lewis also continued to struggle from the field from a night ago finishing 2-10 from the field.
The good news is that Jaylen Johnson put together a nice game and Donovan Mitchell found a bit of a groove after also playing in the “B” game, along with Deng Adel who continued to show aggressiveness.
Summary
Moving on in the next 5 games Louisville really needs to bring the energy that it showed the night before. The Cards went to Puerto Rico to get better and for a team that really has been touted for its character and attitude the team allowed Puerto Rico’s performance to affect their effort and attitude. Effort and attitude are the only things that are constantly in a player’s (or team’s) control. The officiating clearly has bothered the squad including Ralph Willard. That has to stop, Louisville came to Puerto Rico to get better against professional competition by players who are more developed and playing for their country in front of their home fans.
Louisville is in Puerto Rico to win in March & April. Not August. It’s important that the fans and team remembers that.
Louisville is back at it again with another double-header.
Thursday, Aug. 13 at Mario Morales Coliseum (5,500 seats)
Arena address: Ave Santa Rosa, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00969
5:30 p.m. Louisville vs. PR Junior team
8:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR National team
Tickets available for $8 for adults, $4 children at prticket.com
Click This Link to Watch Mangok Mathiang With your Mobile Device
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