Louisville hoops injuries

[Fishin is life]

I'm gonna have to disagree with people who says Ricky P's pushing them too hard in practice....Has anybody watched most of their recent games where they get behind and pull a helluva run out at the end of the game because they are in better game shape than their opponents...UConn, Marquette, WV all looked like they were dead in the last 5 minutes and Lville continued their uptempo pressing style without losing their legs and pulled the games out...You know what that's due to? Hard practice and physical conditioning....Look at Rick's overall body of work as a coach and who are we to be questioning his methods?

[Tim_T]

I agree with you that we are usually better conditioned, but I feel we have every right to question a coach. Rick pitino makes over $2 million per year to coach, some of that money comes from me because I go to as many games as I can and spend money on concessions and cardinal gear. He is a public figure who is not immune to criticism.

[Fishin is life]

Criticism is the American way...Just saying that he is taking a team that is not as talented in some cases and getting them to compete....They keep it close the first 35 minutes and then you see those hard practices that everybody is "criticizing" come into play....Having played basketball as many years as i did I can tell you you'll see as many injuries come at half speed as you will at full speed....I once had a coach that would run us until somebody on the team puked, then we were done....At the time we thought it was harsh but when games rolled around the last 5 minutes we were still wide open while the other team was bending over and gasping for air you realize the purpose

[Tim_T]

I agree that what he has done with this team is exceptional, I believe with all the injuries, having to constantly change the line up and rotation etc. Coach Pitino is doing his best coaching job since he has been at Louisville. I just think that it is easy to overwork a team. Once you get in your best condition, you only have to maintain it, not try and build on it. Physiologically you can only reach a certain level of fitness (it varies in each individual) then you are actually tearing the body down.

[Fishin is life]

I agree with that....but if you work the hell out of your players in the offseason and get them in their top physical condition and then once the season starts you only play 2 days a week and practice lightly the other days you will lose some of it....