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| Two Louisville basketball players turned postseason ban into audition for pros | Two Louisville basketball players turned postseason ban into audition for pros |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The day Louisville guard Damion Lee found out his school was imposing a postseason ban on its men’s basketball team that would rob him of his last chance to compete in the NCAA tournament, he went from being shocked to being angry, and from being angry to being sad. Then he began counting. | The day Louisville guard Damion Lee found out his school was imposing a postseason ban on its men’s basketball team that would rob him of his last chance to compete in the NCAA tournament, he went from being shocked to being angry, and from being angry to being sad. Then he began counting. |
| He started at 360: the number of minutes he had left on the court in his college career. Lee, a Baltimore native who was the nation’s fourth-leading scorer with 21.4 points per game last season at Drexel, chose to spend his final year of eligibility at Louisville over other powerhouse programs including Maryland and Arizona. He and fellow graduate transfer Trey Lewis, an undergraduate standout at Cleveland State, had come to Louisville to fulfill dreams of playing in their first NCAA tournament. When that dream was denied, with an announcement by the school on Feb. 5, the Cardinals’ two leading scorers had no choice but to shift focus. | He started at 360: the number of minutes he had left on the court in his college career. Lee, a Baltimore native who was the nation’s fourth-leading scorer with 21.4 points per game last season at Drexel, chose to spend his final year of eligibility at Louisville over other powerhouse programs including Maryland and Arizona. He and fellow graduate transfer Trey Lewis, an undergraduate standout at Cleveland State, had come to Louisville to fulfill dreams of playing in their first NCAA tournament. When that dream was denied, with an announcement by the school on Feb. 5, the Cardinals’ two leading scorers had no choice but to shift focus. |
| “We came here to play in a tournament, we thought we had that chance to showcase what we were made of,” Lewis said Thursday in a phone interview. “Not only us, but as a team, we felt like we were a championship-caliber team, one that could make it to the Final Four. Then when we found out the news, it was more about finishing the season strong. We knew that every game from here on out was our playoff game.” | “We came here to play in a tournament, we thought we had that chance to showcase what we were made of,” Lewis said Thursday in a phone interview. “Not only us, but as a team, we felt like we were a championship-caliber team, one that could make it to the Final Four. Then when we found out the news, it was more about finishing the season strong. We knew that every game from here on out was our playoff game.” |
| [Mason Madness: Inside the most unlikely run in NCAA tournament history] | [Mason Madness: Inside the most unlikely run in NCAA tournament history] |
| The guards, both NBA hopefuls, will log their final minutes on Saturday at No. 4 Virginia (23-6, 12-5 ACC), the Cavaliers’ senior night. At the end of the game, with an appearance in the ACC tournament ruled out as well, Lee and Lewis will look back hoping they used the month in an unwanted national spotlight to show potential NBA employers their resilience. | |
| “I don’t have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament, but at least I have a chance to show my character,” Lee said, “to show the type of player I’ve become and show how I’ve grown in the past few years.” | “I don’t have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament, but at least I have a chance to show my character,” Lee said, “to show the type of player I’ve become and show how I’ve grown in the past few years.” |
| It’s a consolation prize for two players bearing the consequences of violations committed from 2010 to ’14, before they arrived on campus. The penalty stemmed from allegations made in a book published last fall by a self-described former stripper and escort, Katina Powell, who claimed a former Louisville staff member paid her and other dancers to strip and have sex with players and recruits. | It’s a consolation prize for two players bearing the consequences of violations committed from 2010 to ’14, before they arrived on campus. The penalty stemmed from allegations made in a book published last fall by a self-described former stripper and escort, Katina Powell, who claimed a former Louisville staff member paid her and other dancers to strip and have sex with players and recruits. |
| Cardinals Coach Rick Pitino made clear to Lee and Lewis that without a postseason, focusing on the team and showcasing leadership qualities and personality was all they could do. | Cardinals Coach Rick Pitino made clear to Lee and Lewis that without a postseason, focusing on the team and showcasing leadership qualities and personality was all they could do. |
| “From [February] on, me and Trey transferred our thoughts, no pun intended, to being like ‘How can we act more like pros,’ ” Lee said. “That’s what the biggest shift has been, ever since everything broke, is us making sure we conduct ourselves in a professional manner. So when we do get those interviews or get the chance to play professionally whether it’s here or overseas, we can look back and say, ‘We started our professional careers early’ and at least be satisfied with it. | “From [February] on, me and Trey transferred our thoughts, no pun intended, to being like ‘How can we act more like pros,’ ” Lee said. “That’s what the biggest shift has been, ever since everything broke, is us making sure we conduct ourselves in a professional manner. So when we do get those interviews or get the chance to play professionally whether it’s here or overseas, we can look back and say, ‘We started our professional careers early’ and at least be satisfied with it. |
| “That’s more what the pros are leaning towards, a person who has great character, who’s a leader and can work with the people around him.” | “That’s more what the pros are leaning towards, a person who has great character, who’s a leader and can work with the people around him.” |
| [Which Duke is the real Duke?] | [Which Duke is the real Duke?] |
| Led by Lee and Lewis, 11th-ranked Louisville (23-7, 12-5) has gone 5-3 since the ban was imposed. Lee, 6 feet 6 and projected as a second-round NBA pick by DraftExpress.com, leads the team with 16.2 points per game. Lewis, who is 6-2 and not projected to be taken in the two-round draft, is second on the Cardinals with 11.4 points per game. | Led by Lee and Lewis, 11th-ranked Louisville (23-7, 12-5) has gone 5-3 since the ban was imposed. Lee, 6 feet 6 and projected as a second-round NBA pick by DraftExpress.com, leads the team with 16.2 points per game. Lewis, who is 6-2 and not projected to be taken in the two-round draft, is second on the Cardinals with 11.4 points per game. |
| Neither regrets choosing Louisville. The postseason penalty forged a deep team bond, and Lee and Lewis said had never experienced a fan base and community like Louisville. Lee even released a Louisville-dedicated rap, “For the Ville,” on Thursday. | Neither regrets choosing Louisville. The postseason penalty forged a deep team bond, and Lee and Lewis said had never experienced a fan base and community like Louisville. Lee even released a Louisville-dedicated rap, “For the Ville,” on Thursday. |
| Their bond with Pitino is just as strong — “I don’t think I could’ve gotten through this with any group,” the coach said in a teleconference Monday — and on Louisville’s senior night Wednesday, Pitino gave Lee and Lewis championship-style rings and presented the guards their own “One Shining Moment” montage. | Their bond with Pitino is just as strong — “I don’t think I could’ve gotten through this with any group,” the coach said in a teleconference Monday — and on Louisville’s senior night Wednesday, Pitino gave Lee and Lewis championship-style rings and presented the guards their own “One Shining Moment” montage. |
| The ceremony very nearly healed the wound of the postseason ban. | The ceremony very nearly healed the wound of the postseason ban. |
| “That’s everybody’s dream of how you want to go out; it was such a surprise for coach to do all that,” Lewis said. “I remember literally as soon as we gave our press conference in February — that was such a tough time for the whole team — but as soon as we got back in the locker room someone cracked a joke right away and we just started laughing. As soon as I got back with my teammates I knew it was gonna be okay. | “That’s everybody’s dream of how you want to go out; it was such a surprise for coach to do all that,” Lewis said. “I remember literally as soon as we gave our press conference in February — that was such a tough time for the whole team — but as soon as we got back in the locker room someone cracked a joke right away and we just started laughing. As soon as I got back with my teammates I knew it was gonna be okay. |
| “When you go through a tough time, as long as you have people that really care about you and love you, you’re gonna make it through. We’ve been basically playing off love for each other and passion for the game.” | “When you go through a tough time, as long as you have people that really care about you and love you, you’re gonna make it through. We’ve been basically playing off love for each other and passion for the game.” |
| When Lee and Lewis’s minutes run out Saturday, both plan on using the extra time to work out, and occasionally check in on the NCAA tournament. But mainly, they’ll try to enjoy the first proper spring break they’ve had in five years. | When Lee and Lewis’s minutes run out Saturday, both plan on using the extra time to work out, and occasionally check in on the NCAA tournament. But mainly, they’ll try to enjoy the first proper spring break they’ve had in five years. |
| Lewis feels they deserve it: “It’s been a really, really long year.” | Lewis feels they deserve it: “It’s been a really, really long year.” |