Jan. 8
It's amazing to see the Louisville Cardinals sitting at 10-2 entering Wednesday night's home game against Marquette. Remember, the Cardinals won 12 games all of last season.

	Rick Pitino has a new address at Louisville, but he hasn't changed his trademark intensity -- and his Cardinals have played accordingly.

Louisville does it one way -- with unbelievable scrappiness. The Cardinals claw and hustle as well as any team in America. In fact, I feel nobody plays harder than Rick Pitino's kids, and that's a tribute to the coach.

It hasn't been easy getting to the 10-win mark. Louisville hasn't shot better than 50 percent in a game all season (the Cards were right at 50 percent against Eastern Kentucky). Also, Louisville has outrebounded only three opponents in 12 games.

Louisville rallied from a six-point deficit in the final 30-plus seconds to beat Tennessee. There were other close calls against Ohio State (won by five) and Tennessee Tech (a four-point W).

Since the Cardinals struggle shooting the basketball, it's vital for them to get momentum by being effective from the 3-point line. Reece Gaines has been a standout all year.

Just wait and see what happens when Pitino gets his talent level to where he wants it. This program will improve with the addition of three recruits next season. There is Taquan Dean, a 6-foot-2 guard from Neptune, N.J., who can flat-out stroke the jumper. Pitino also will welcome 6-7 Francisco Garcia from the Winchendon School in Massachusetts (he previously played at St. Raymond's High School) and 6-10 juco transfer Kendall Dartez.

Trust me, you will start to see the making of a championship-quality basketball team. I can't believe the Cardinals are currently 10-2. I know that coach Tom Crean and his Marquette Golden Eagles better lace 'em up and come out ready to battle Wednesday night. The kids from Louisville will never give you an inch.

The Cardinals will be right in your face, scrapping and hustling from the opening tip until the end of the game. If not, they will become assistant coaches -- the kind Pitino doesn't need -- sitting next to him on the bench. What Pitino does need is for some people to tickle the twine.