(WHAS11) -- Coach Pitino entered Thursday night with some concern. How would his team respond after a double-bye? A career-high 22 points for Mike Marra, a near triple double for Preston Knowles, and a 25-point victory over Marquette provided plenty of relief.
The Cards started out slow, falling behind 11-2 just minutes into the game, but Mike Marra provided a major spark with a few stellar defensive plays and a trifecta of triples. The Cardinals' defense has been suffocating as of late, last night it left Marquette breathless.
Marquette was shut down....29.8% from the field, 20% from beyond the arc, and only 13 offensive rebounds. Even when the Golden Eagles tried to mount a comeback in the second half, Chris Smith scored a quick five points to put the Cards ahead safely by 15 points.
Friday is an interesting matchup for the Cards. They'll be taking on a team with great spacing, great passing, and a number of great shooters from the outside. Sounds like a Louisville practice. Notre Dame shares a similar philosophy with Louisville, except their depth has been replaced with senior leadership; should be an absolute Shoot-Out at MSG Friday.
Tune in to GMK on Saturday for complete highlights and breakdown!
