Game 37 - #18 Louisville @ #7 Villanova - January 12, 2011

Game - #18 Louisville @ #7 Villanova - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Line - Villanova -3.5

Result -

Tony Greene officiated his 37th NCAA Division 1 game of the 2010-2011 season, a Big East Conference tilt featuring two ranked teams. Working alongside Tim Higgins - look for some Tim Higgins information in another ITGOTT post later this week - Tony Greene was working what many considered the game of the night. Villanova entered the game at a 3.5-point favorite over the Louisville Cardinals.

When Helping An Underdog, Get Off To A Good Start

The underdog Louisville Cardinals helped themselves by shooting to a quick 4-0 lead less than a minute into the game and forcing Villanova's Jay Wright to call a time-out. Then Tony Greene helped the Cards when he called a phantom foul on a Villanova player as Louisville's Giorgui Dieng drove for a bucket just over a minute into the game. Dieng converted the bucket AND the free throw, and the Cards were out to an early 7-0 lead on the road, and the Cards were off to a GREAT start on the road against a Top 10 team.

Louisville withstood a brief Villanova run and extended their lead back to 7 at 16-9 before a Villanova spurt allowed the Wildcats to take a brief lead. Back and forth they went until halftime, neither team able to take a significant lead (remember, Louisville was a 3.5 point underdog) and halftime saw the game nearly even, with Villanova holding a scant 1-point lead, 42-41, but Louisville covering the spread considering their 3.5 point underdog status.

As the second half began, it became obvious that neither Louisville nor official Tim Higgins could keep up with the frenetic pace. With no apparent officiating bias, the Wildcats were able to turn their 1-point halftime lead into a 7-point lead, then a spurt midway through the second half stretched the Cats' lead to 13.