Associated Press
 Notre Dame (17-9, 6-7 Big East) at Louisville (16-9, 7-5 Big East), 7:00 PM ET, February 17, 2010 Freedom Hall, Louisville, KY |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville men’s basketball head coach Rick Pitino and freshman guard Mike Marra met with members of the media on Tuesday at the Yum! Center to preview Wednesday’s game against Notre Dame. The Cards and Fighting Irish will tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET at Freedom Hall and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
U of L returns home for one of its three remaining games in Freedom Hall. Louisville picked up a huge win at then No. 2/3 Syracuse on Sunday, winning 66-60. Marra buried four three-point goals to score a career-best 12 points for the Cardinals in the game.
Notre Dame (17-9, 6-7) has lost its last two games, including its last one at home vs. St. John’s 69-68 on Sunday with its top player on the bench. Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year Luke Harangody injured his knee against Seton Hall on Feb. 11 and may not play against the Cardinals.
Harangody, who ranks third in career scoring in BIG EAST games with 1,324 points, averages a league-best 24.1 points and is second in rebounding (10.0 rpg).
Notre Dame leads the nation in assists-to-turnovers ratio (1.73) and is in the top ten in assists (3rd, 18.0), fewest turnovers (5th, 10.4) and three-point goal percentage (6th, .410). Junior guard Tim Abromaitis is second nationally in three-point pct. (.490, 73-149) and averages 16.9 points. Senior guard Ben Hansbrough leads the BIG EAST and is third nationally in assist/turnover ratio (3.13) and averages 11.8 pts. Notre Dame is No. 78 in the ratings percentage index (RPI) and is No. 70 in the Sagarin Ratings through Feb. 14.
Louisville leads the series 15-9 and has won 10 of the last 12 meetings. The teams split last year’s two meetings: U of L won 87-73 in overtime over No. 13 Notre Dame in Freedom Hall (1/12/09); and the Irish hammered U of L 90-57 in South Bend (2/12/09).
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