The University of Louisville Cardinals are making final preparations for their opening NCAA men’s basketball tournament game Thursday in Denver.Coach Rick Pitino says there’s no doubt that Denver’s mile-high altitude will have some effect on his team, especially given its fast-paced style of play. "It does, I played there in the pros, it does. Every athlete training for the Olympics will tell you that. But it’s the same for every other team," he said. Pitino says his team is well-conditioned and should be able to adjust to the thinner air. The Cards face Morehead State Thursday at 1:40pm Eastern time. Kentucky also opens tournament play Thursday; the Wildcats face Princeton at approximately 2:45pm in Tampa, Florida.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.