Midterm exam time: Cards earning a solid 'A'

And I'm inclined to give their coach an A-plus.

As a nearly lifelong fan of University of Louisville basketball, I feel qualified to say that rarely has a U of L team achieved more with less. In a season where expectations were modest even before a rash of injuries hit the team, head coach Rick Pitino's Cardinals passed the midpoint of the Big East schedule at 17-5 overall and in a three-way tied for third place in the league at 6-3, a half-game behind second-place Notre Dame.

Considering Pitino hasn't had the luxury of the same roster three games in a row all season (or so it seems), to my mind it would constitute a miscarriage of justice for him not to receive the Big East Coach of the Year award. Indeed, he should at least get votes for the national award.

What with Samardo Samuels jumping to the NBA and two front line recruits never making it to campus, U of L has struggled for an inside presence. Jarod Swopshire's yearlong absence due to a groin injury hasn't helped, either; nor has the broken finger suffered by Rakeem Buckles. Freshman Gorgui Dieng has proven surprisingly adept at blocking and altering shots, but lacks the bulk and strength to hold his ground against the linebackers and tight ends that pass for forwards and centers on other Big East teams -- and he has lost time to leg injuries and a concussion.

Now top scorer and senior leader Preston Knowles has tweaked a hamstring and will miss the next game. That's the bad news; the good news is, U of L should handle a hapless DePaul team without him, playing at home. Knowles is the eighth different Cardinal to miss at least one contest due to injury -- if you're keeping score, that's more than half the team.

I submit Pitino is doing his best coaching job since Kentucky's "Unforgettables" in 1991-92. The current Cardinals have that squad's dogged refusal to accept defeat, and they have bought into Pitino's system lock, stock and barrel. It doesn't seem to matter to these guys who scores the points, as long as collectively they have more than the opposition when the clock runs out.

In a landscape thickly populated with one-and-dones and stat hogs, that's a refreshing attitude -- one worthy of a nickname.

How about "The Team that Wouldn't Die"?

* * * * * * * * *

A brief football note: I was very disappointed to see Seneca High School star quarterback DaMarcus Smith renege on his verbal commitment to U of L to sign with Central Florida -- as a Seneca alumnus, I was looking forward to seeing Smith don the red and black.

Nevertheless, Charlie Strong's recruit class has garnered Louisville's best ratings ever. Provided everyone passes the NCAA Clearinghouse and arrives on campus eligible, Strong should enjoy a level of flexibility in deciding whom to play and whom to sit or redshirt that hasn't happened at U of L in several years.

Bravo to him and his staff -- Cardinal football appears on its way back to prominence.