ORLANDO, Fla. — Rick Pitino may have taught Steve Masiello too well.
Facing his mentor — and defending national champion Louisville — in Manhattan’s first NCAA Tournament game in a decade, Masiello’s 13th-seeded Jaspers nearly pulled a stunning upset in its second-round game with the fourth-seeded Cardinals. Luke Hancock made back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 80 seconds, though, to lift Louisville to a 71-64 win and buried a Manhattan dream which seemed within reach only minutes earlier.
The Cardinals (30-5), who will face No. 5 Saint Louis in the third round, nearly suffered the same fate as fifth-seeded Florida in 2004, which fell to the 12th-seeded Jaspers in their last appearance.
“I thought Manhattan was the better team tonight until four minutes to go in the game,” Pitino said. “I told [Masiello] he should be really proud of his basketball team and I told him I was very proud of his coaching, his preparation. … I knew this game was going to be this way.”
Manhattan’s hard-nosed defense was as effective as ever against Louisville, its physical play and superior preparation — aided by Masiello’s intimate knowledge of Louisville, which allowed Pitino’s former assistant of six years to call out virtually every offensive play the Cardinals ran — helping contribute to the Cardinals’ 36.4 percent shooting from the field.
After trailing 35-29 at halftime and never trailing by more than eight, Manhattan (25-8) opened the second half with an 8-0 run and held its latest lead at 60-58 with under three minutes remaining, sparked by Ashton Pankey’s (16 points) inside presence.
But the champs showed why they wear the crown, with last year’s Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, Hancock (16 points), fueling a 10-2 run, which included a steal, two free throws and back-to-back 3-pointers, including the backbreaker with 28 seconds left to put Louisville ahead 68-62.
“I thought we played well for about 39, 38 minutes, but that’s what happens when you play great teams,” Masiello said. “You give them that one opportunity, they make you pay. They saw a crack in the door, they took advantage of it. I thought their experience being here showed a little bit down the stretch.”
With unfamiliarity on a big stage and the pressure of Louisville’s similarly relentless defensive pressure, the Jaspers, who average 14 turnovers per game, had 10 first-half turnovers, but the team soon settled down, looking like it was just another game at Draddy Gymnasium.
Masiello had played his confidence close to his chest all week, repeatedly joking that luck and prayer would be necessary to take down the powerhouse favored by 16½ points, that the matchup couldn’t have been worse for his team.
But privately — and repeatedly — the coach told his staff and players they were going to win the game. He knew it. He could feel it. His team couldn’t have been more ready.
“We’re going to shock 10 million people tomorrow!” Masiello yelled during Wednesday’s practice at an Orlando high school.
They almost shocked more. And if Manhattan is back in the NCAA Tournament soon, it won’t shock anyone.
“Unfortunately there’s only one team that gets to celebrate this time of year [but] I thought we came out, I thought we executed some things well,” Masiello said. “But I’m proud. I’m proud of my guys. I’m proud to coach these men.”