U of L beats the Fighting Irish and Pitt - who's next?

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090120/SPORTS02/901200485/1028

Teammate Edgar Sosa labeled University of Louisville guards Andre McGee and Preston Knowles the "Microwave Twins" for their special brand of defensive pressure.

"They come out there and just heat the ball up," Sosa said. "I wish I could play defense like those guys. They can guard you 94 feet and just be on you."

McGee and Knowles no longer are starters, but they have latched on to their defensive roles during the Cardinals' five-game winning streak. They played a big part in disrupting the offensive flow in victories over nationally ranked Villanova, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, which was No. 1 going into Saturday's game.

"That's what we try to hang our hats on, especially in crucial situations," said Knowles, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore. "We try to be reliable when Coach brings us in to stop their best player. If we can do that every single night, we're going to be a wonderful team."

The No. 9 Cards (13-3, 4-0 Big East) travel to Rutgers tomorrow night before heading to No. 8 Syracuse on Sunday. The Orange will present another challenge with a top-notch backcourt led by Johnny Flynn.

McGee and Knowles will be ready. McGee said the two feed off each other on defense, and some of their effectiveness comes from their preparation.

"We all have to really focus on how they are going to attack us and know what position we have to be in to make certain rotations," said McGee, a 5-foot-10 senior co-captain.

U of L coach Rick Pitino said the two do a great job of moving their feet and applying pressure without having to use their hands. It keeps both out of foul trouble.

Pitino singled out the Notre Dame game, when McGee helped fluster point guard Tory Jackson into seven turnovers.

"That's as fine a defensive performance as I've seen… just totally taking the point guard out of running the other team's offense," Pitino said. "He just did a wonderful job of that, and down the stretch it helped our other players get over screens. He buys time for players to get over screens. That's what both players do."

Pitino began the season alternating Sosa and McGee as starting point guard. Following the Minnesota loss, Pitino started Knowles and Smith in the backcourt for two games. When Sosa's performance against Kentucky solidified his starting role, Pitino felt most comfortable bringing McGee and Knowles off the bench for their defense.

It's been working since. Opposing guards have struggled thanks in part to McGee and Knowles.

South Florida's leading scorer Dominique Jones, who had averaged 17.1 points, was held to 11 on 1-of-10 shooting and four turnovers.

Villanova's Scottie Reynolds, after torching Seton Hall for 40 points, had just 11 against U of L to go with two assists and four turnovers.

Pitt point guard Levance Fields had a stellar 4.7-1 assist-to-turnover ratio until McGee and Knowles helped bait him into a season-high six turnovers. Fields had gone six of his previous seven games with one or zero turnovers.

"There are so many great scorers and great athletes, but there are few Bruce Bowen guys who really just strap down defenders," said McGee of the San Antonio Spurs' defensive stopper. "That's one thing I try to pride myself on."

In late-game situations, Pitino has gone with McGee and Knowles when he needed a defensive stop.

Against Villanova, McGee's tip of an in-bounds pass with four seconds left prevented the Wildcats from scoring the winning basket off the lob.

On Notre Dame's final possession in regulation, McGee hounded Jackson into making an errant pass to an empty space and Knowles deflected it into the backcourt. They helped prevent the Irish from getting a shot up despite having 24 seconds to do so.