The Cardinals will play a series of nine games over six days against the Puerto Rico National Team and Junior Team in four different venues, playing three double headers. On the nights of the doubleheaders, the Cardinals' roster will be split with a predetermined group as the primary participants in each game.
The competition coincides with UofL Coach Rick Pitino's decision to serve as the head coach of the Puerto Rico basketball team in two international events this summer, including the 10-team, 2015 FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City, Mexico on Aug. 31-Sept. 12, where the top two teams qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
UofL began practice for the Puerto Rico trip on July 27, spreading its 10 allotted days out over 14 days. Candidates for the Puerto Rico National Team arrived in Louisville to begin their separate training on July 30. During the games in Puerto Rico, Pitino will coach the Puerto Rico team while his UofL assistant coaches will direct the Cardinals. The opportunity to face off against the Puerto Rican teams was among the top reasons that Pitino took the position.
After a day of travel for both teams from Louisville to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Aug. 10, the Cardinals will play doubleheaders on Aug. 11 and 12 against the Puerto Rico Junior and National Teams at 5:30 and 8 p.m., respectively, each night. The Cardinals will face the junior team on Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. and the national team on Aug. 14 at 8 p.m.
UofL will play its third doubleheader on Aug. 15 against the junior team at 5:30 p.m. and the national team at 8 p.m., before closing the competition with a 7 p.m. game against the national team on Aug. 16. The Cardinals will return to Louisville on Aug. 17. Classes for the 2015 UofL Fall Semester begin a week later on Aug. 24.
All nine games of the Cardinals' venture will be broadcast live through Learfield Sports on WHAS Radio (840 AM) in Louisville. Additionally, barring any local complications, all nine games will be televised through a live stream with a simple production (not HD) on the UofL Athletics web site at GoCards.com/puertorico. A one-time, $9.95 fee will provide access to all nine games and may be purchased in advance beginning Aug. 5.
UofL attained a waiver to allow the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a United States territory, to serve as the destination for the team's foreign trip this year. Louisville last participated in a foreign trip in August of 2011, when the Cardinals played local professional teams in the Bahamas during their visit.
Louisville recently visited Puerto Rico for the 2014 Armed Forces Classic, facing Minnesota in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico in a hangar at US Air Station Borinquen. Prior to the game, the Cardinals toured an MH-65 Coast Guard helicopter, spent time on Crash Boat Beach, watched a helicopter rescue demonstration near the beach, boarded a Coast Guard cutter anchored off the coast and spent time with the Coast Guard families stationed there.
University of Louisville Exhibition Games Schedule
vs. Puerto Rico National and Junior Teams
Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico
5:30 p.m. Louisville vs. PR Junior team
8:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR National team
Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Jose Miguel Agrelot Coliseum of Puerto Rico
5:30 p.m. Louisville vs. PR Junior team
8:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR National team
Thursday, Aug. 13 at Mario Morales Coliseum
8:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR Junior team
Friday, Aug. 14 at Municipal Coliseum of Manati
8:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR National team
Saturday, Aug. 15 at Ruben Zayas Monanez Coliseum
5:30 p.m. Louisville vs. PR Junior team
8:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR National team
Sunday, Aug. 16 at Municipal Coliseum of Manati
7:00 p.m. Louisville vs. PR National team
