Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The Louisville Cardinals have a lot of players to thank for winning the National Championship. Although, if you ask Rick Pitino, I bet he would tell you that if it were not for Peyton Siva, not only would they have not won the game, but not even made the Final Four.
Siva, who feels like he has been in college since Captain Planet was a regular airing on Saturday mornings, has ended his college career as a winner.
The game Siva had could be used as a perfect way to define his career. The senior has been known to completely vanish from games, the first half being a good example of that. Outside of a few good moves to the basket, Siva’s only memorable highlights were of him turning the ball over or making some poor decisions in transition.
This was not just any game, however — it was the National Championship game, the type of event where Siva is known to step up and play at otherworldly levels. The second half began and Siva came out playing as well as everyone knew he was capable of. It was as if he traded in the bad version of himself at half and kicked in a few bucks to get the version that played during the last two conference tournaments.
Pitino has been quoted as saying Siva is one of the best players he has ever coached. For a player who is as inconsistent as he is good, the praise sometimes felt insincere. I guess the joke is on us, though, as Siva not only led the Cardinals to the title game but helped them win the whole shebang in his last game as a college basketball player.
Slow clap for you, Mr. Siva. Slow clap.
Joe is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @JosephNardone, “Like” his Facebook page and add him to your Google Circle things.
