NC State vs. Louisville 2015 results: 3 things we learned in the Cardinals’ impressive victory

Rick Pitino’s sterling record in the Sweet 16 was on the line when No. 4 Louisville faced No. 8 N.C. State on Friday night in Syracuse. Pitino entered with an 11-1 record all-time in the round, while Mark Gottfried was coaching the Wolfpack in the Sweet 16 for the second time in four seasons. Pitino’s experience won out, and Louisville took home a 75-65 victory to advance to the Elite Eight for the fifth time in eight seasons.

It was the close game most of the way. Louisville started to take control around the three minute mark when Terry Rozier took a rebound coast-to-coast and finished through contact for the and-one layup. The basket was the highlight of a 9-0 run for Louisville that was enough to secure the victory. Pitino’s team will play the winner of No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 3 Oklahoma in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Four Louisville starters finished in double figures, led by one-two punch of Rozier and Montrezl Harrell. Rozier was incredible, finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds in the win. Harrell added 24 points and was the type of physical presence NC State couldn’t contend with:

NC State was led junior Trevor Lacey, who finished with 18 points and five rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting from deep. The Wolfpack also got a big effort off the bench from Kyle Washington, who added 11 points in the loss.

Here’s three things we learned in Louisville’s victory:

When Chris Jones was dismissed from Louisville on Feb. 26, it seemed like the Cardinals’ streak of postseason success in recent years might be on shaky ground. So much for that. The Cardinals’ offense has been as impressive as its been all season in its last two NCAA Tournament victories over Northern Iowa and NC State.

Louisville’s calling card is its defense, entering No. 5 in adjusted efficiency. It held NC State to 38.3 percent shooting from the field in the victory.

Louisville’s offense has been searching for contributors next to Harrell and Rozier all year. The freshman Snider and senior Blackshear have stepped up.

Snider 14 points and three assists in the backcourt, while Blackshear turned in another solid effort, finishing with 10 points.

When Villanova and Virginia each went down in the round of 32, the East became the first region to lose its top two seeds before the second weekend of the tournament since 2004. There are now three teams left in the region, and all of them could conceivably go to the Final Four.

Few would have expected Louisville to be in this position after Jones was dismissed, but here they are. With a coach like Pitino, there’s no cap on how far they can go this season.