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Louisville hopes to regroup from Big East loss

Mar 21, 2008 - 11:18 AM No. 14 Boise St (25-8) vs. No. 3 Louisville (24-8) 9:40 pm EDT BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Ticker) -- Despite entering the NCAA Tournament with a two-game losing streak, Louisville wasrewarded with a No. 3 seed.One of eight teams to receive berths from the Big EastConference, the Cardinals (24-8) face an unfamiliar foe whenthey take on No. 14 Boise State in an East Region first-roundcontest on Friday.Louisville lost to Georgetown, 55-52, in the battle for the BigEast regular-season title, then suffered a 76-69 overtime lossto Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament.It marked the third straight year the Cardinals fell in theconference tournament to the Panthers."We're excited to be in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 3 seed inthe East," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. "I think it's agreat compliment to us, having played the sixth-toughestschedule in the nation and competing in the nation's toughestconference."Louisville has faced Boise State only once and that also was inthe NCAA Tournament in 1994, with the Cardinals posting a 67-58victory in a West Region first-round game.Boise State (25-8) is a high-scoring team that won the WesternAthletic Conference championship game on New Mexico State's homecourt. The Broncos won a 107-102 triple-overtime thriller inwhich tournament Most Valuable Player Reggie Larry recorded 31points and 16 rebounds.Pitino may not know much against the Broncos, but he does knowthat they have one signature win. Boise State won at BrighamYoung, 73-70, at home on December 29, while Louisville lost tothe Cougars, 78-76, in the Las Vegas Invitational on November23.The winner of Friday's contest meets either No. 6 Oklahoma orNo. 11 St. Joseph's in the second round on Sunday.