Vegas trip was a learning experience for Cardinals

In a city full of fake pyramids, phony replica skylines and celebrity impersonators, the University of Louisville basketball team learned some truths about itself.

The Cardinals went 2-1 on their Las Vegas swing, but the results weren't as important as the early-season education. They began to figure out their new identity without senior center David Padgett.

Edgar Sosa said. "David's our vocal leader on the defensive end, he guards the other team's best player and if our offense breaks down, he's there to pick it up."

Padgett, who broke his right kneecap, won't be back until late in the season, if at all. Senior forward Juan Tello Palacios remains out with a torn knee ligament, an injury that was originally diagnosed with a recovery period of 4-6 weeks.

"If we get a break and somewhere down the road one of the two guys comes back, that will be a big lift to us," Pitino said. "(But) I'm a doubting Thomas with both guys. I'm planning that they're not coming back. It's been six weeks since (Saturday) that Tello has been out, and he's nowhere near coming back."

Pitino stuck with an eight-man rotation most of the past three games and could have to deal with a short bench the rest of the season. But he at least likes the potential of the available Cards (4-1).

Sophomore forward Earl Clark has emerged as a star. He averaged 14.7 points and 11.7 rebounds in the three games, earning a spot on the All-Las Vegas Invitational team. He also played at least 37 minutes in each contest.

"Earl Clark never had to have stamina to his game before, and he's developing stamina," Pitino said. "He's about 30 to 40 percent of how good he can be. Down the road, in the months and years to come, he's going to get much better."

Derrick Caracter also showed flashes of brilliance on the offensive end, scoring a career-high 24 points in Friday's loss to Brigham Young and adding 13 points in Saturday's 64-53 win over Old Dominion. But Caracter only averaged 23 minutes in the three games because of foul trouble and defensive mistakes.

"Derrick is fundamentally not sound, and he's got to get sound," Pitino said. "He does a lot of good things, big things, but he doesn't do the little fundamental things."

Maybe the most important development last week was the re-emergence of Sosa. The sophomore finally appeared to recapture his freshman form in the second half against Old Dominion, scoring eight points and dishing out four assists. His penetration skills and playmaking ability can take the Cards to another level.

"We're a much different basketball team when he's playing well," Pitino said.

Depth remains a major concern, but U of L won't have many stretches like it just experienced. Pitino said the team expended all its energy to win a game at Nevada-Las Vegas on Wednesday. Two days later it lost a high-tempo battle against BYU 78-76, a defeat that looked better when the Cougars went toe-to-toe with top-ranked North Carolina for most of the game Saturday night before losing 73-63. Then the Cards pressed full court for 40 minutes against Old Dominion.

But Louisville will have a full week off in between each of its next three games, consecutive Saturday dates against Miami of Ohio, Dayton and Purdue. The Cardinals likely won't face a ranked opponent until Jan. 17, when they'll host Big East Conference rival Marquette, though there will be several challenges before then.

The Cards spent a week together in Las Vegas, which forward Terrence Williams said helped improve team chemistry.

"We bonded well," he said. "I think this was good for us."

The players didn't have much time for anything except basketball until after Saturday night's game. Several planned to walk the strip of casinos on Las Vegas Boulevard, where they could check out fake versions of Venice, Paris, New York and ancient Rome. For Louisville, though, this trip was about reality.

"We got an awful lot out of it," Pitino said. "We played great competition out here. And to do that this early on with a young team was a great learning experience for us."