New arena for Louisville

[Swamp Daddy]

Hi all: U of Ls new 22,000+ seat arena in the downtown will open this fall (2010) with NCAA runner up Butler coming to town. The old arena, Freedom Hall, on the Kentucky State Fairgrounds will no longer have U of L as the prime basketball tenant. After 56 years at Freedom Hall, Louisville will now play at the new place.

When Freedom Hall opened in 1956-7 it was the largest indoor arena at that time (over 18,000 seats) and hosted 6 final fours in the next decade before bigger arenas were built and domed football stadiums started coming into vogue for final fours.

ULs last game in Freedom Hall was last March 6th when they defeated then #1 Syracuse to close out the Hall.

have fun, Swamp Daddy

[Swamp Daddy]

The new arena has proved a charm with UL being 8-0 to start the new season including beating last year's runner up Butler in the first game. Followed a couple of days ago by whipping 20th ranked UNLV .

Officially called the "KFC YUM! CENER", we mostly call it 'The Bucket' around here. It even has a big KFC bucket in the lobby. 5 of the next 6 games are also here at home including UK which should be a barn burner .

Maybe Petino is making a big comeback. This years group plays as a team with no large egos around. He has top players for next year and 2012 is looking good too.

Swamp Daddy

[Dossenator]

In 1994 Arkansas opened it's new 22,000 seat Bud Walton Arena and won the National Championship (they were runners up n 2005). Not a bad way to open an arena....may we see the same thing for Louisville this year?

[Swamp Daddy]

Well, as much as I would like that comparison to come true , UL will be lucky again this year to make the NCAA. While compiling a good record against cupcakes and overranked opponents they wilted against UK who is good but not exceptional. Looks like a long, tough, disapponting Big East this year.

Petino is coming under increasing fire for his inconsistency lately. It's a NOW world in basketball. I am not sure who would be a good replacement for him; but, if next year (his newest [so far] recruiting superclass) doesn't pan out there will be some out loud grumblings for sure .

As an eternal optimist, I still have my fingers crossed ; but, not very tightly.

Swamp Daddy

[Swamp Daddy]

Well, halfway through the season, I am quite impressed with this team. They are much better than I thought they would be. Tougher part of the Big East schedule coming up. At home, in the new Yum Center Arena, they are tough dismantling St. Johns by 25 last night making them 4-1 in the conference at this point.

Some of these road games will be losses as they are not nearly as good looking on the road .

If they are hitting the threes in "lights out fashion" [as they have several games this year] then they could beat most anyone . However, this has been erratic at times.

In red feather heaven at the moment, hope the awakening isn't too bad; it looks like BB is down overall this year.

Swamp Daddy

[Swamp Daddy]

Hi all: UL has turned into a very good home team despite an irregular lineup due to injuries. They have shot the lights out recently at home .

Playing away has been a different story . Though in contention in most games until the end they have had trouble closing games when away. With 2 away and 2 home games left I hope three returning regulars will give us at least one win on the road games putting us in the upper 1/3 of the Big East.

Not sure where this puts us in the NCAA; but, given the right types of teams in the matchup we could go Elite 8. A bad matchup and we might be out 2nd game .

Swamp Daddy