The Louisville Cardinals have gotten out to another stellar start to the ’14-’15 season, primarily because of the play of junior forward Montrezl Harrell(16.7 ppg, 10 reb, .610 FG% on the season), an NCAA Preseason 1st Team All American and one of the top returning players in college basketball this season.
Two years following winning the 2012 NCAA National Championship, Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino has the Cards off to an unblemished 10-0 start to the season, as the newest member of the ACC has been ranked in the Top 5 of the national polls most of the season.
Louisville’s hot start, combined with in-state rival Kentucky’s annihilation of the competition to begin the season, has college hoops fans drooling over the upcoming post Christmas Louisville/Kentucky gigantic match-up next week on December 27th, as potentially one of the most anticipated clashes of the season heading towards March Madness.
But up first for Louisville, was another less publicized in-state rivalry against Western Kentucky on Saturday, one that has had a testy history, and amazingly has seen the Hilltoppers lead the all time series with Louisville 39-38 entering the weekend tilt.
As expected, Louisville cruised to another easy 76-67 victory, to even the all time series 39-39, but what happened at the end of the first half is what has everyone talking, as the Cards star forward Harrell was ejected for throwing a punch at WKU’s Avery Patterson, prompting many to wonder if Harrell will be available for the epic clash with Kentucky next week.
In a scramble for a loose ball, the ever energetic Harrell dove to the floor for a loose ball and was promptly surrounded by 4 WKU players, who appeared to make getting up off the floor difficult for Harrell.
It was in the heat of battle, but Harrell seemed to take offense to the chippiness and decided to take a swing at another player, even throwing one of his own teammates to the ground who was trying to restrain him, connecting with a forearm to the chest of Patterson, even making some contact with an official.
It will be interesting to see if the NCAA and the ACC and C-USA Conferences view the incident as just a Flagrant 2 as was called, or if it will be upgraded to being ejected for fighting, as a Flagrant 2 doesn’t warrant a suspension.
Luckily for college hoops fans, Louisville does have a tune-up game against Cal State-Northridge on Tuesday night, so hopefully if Harrell does receive a suspension, it’s of the 1 game variety, as the Cards will need the services of the All American forward if they hope to upset Kentucky next weekend.
You be the judge, should the infraction be a Flagrant 2, or upgraded to fighting and Harrell receives a suspension?
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
