Marshall Signs Four-Year Hoops Pact with University of Louisville
by Grant TraylorHuntington News Network Sportswriter
Huntington (HNN) — Marshall's lack of success has resulted in a lack of patrons at basketball games, but athletic director Bob "Kayo" Marcum is working hard to curb that trend.
On Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, the athletic office announced that a contract had been signed with the University of Louisville to play a home and-home series for the next four seasons.
The series will start next season with the Cardinals traveling to Huntington for a contest on the Thundering Herd's initial Conference USA home campaign.
Ironically enough, the Cardinals will be leaving Conference USA at the same time Marshall will be entering. Louisville will be moving to the Big East Conference in 2005-06.
Still, the match-up is expected to generate great interest in the Huntington region, especially with a coach like Rick Pitino coming to the area.
"It is a great opportunity to play against a coach like Rick Pitino," Joe Miles said. "He's coached in the NBA and now he is coaching a great team like Louisville. I'm also happy that our coaches have enough confidence in us to schedule a team like that.
Marshall coach Ron Jirsa said that the signing of Louisville reaffirms his desire for the team to maintain a tough non-conference schedule for seasons to come in addition to the Conference USA slate that the team will face beginning next season.
"I think with Louisville, West Virginia and being at Virginia Tech in addition to our Conference USA schedule, mission accomplished (for scheduling) next season," Jirsa said.
The bulk of Marshall's squad will be young in 2005-06 as the team will feature only two seniors after the graduation of five seniors from this season's squad.
For Marshall's young players like Miles, the opportunity to play Louisville-style basketball is exactly what they want in an opponent.
"That's the type of basketball we are comfortable with and we like to play it," Miles said. "I think that will be a very exciting game for us and our fans."
While Marshall's attendance has been struggling this season, the addition of Louisville as an opponent will definitely serve as an exciting atmosphere leading into conference play.
Pitino will be bringing a group of individuals that have been in the national limelight for the past few seasons.