Louisville, again, does what it has to do to move on

March 23, 2014 at 5:24AM
Louisville forward Luke Hancock (11) shoots a 3-point shot as Saint Louis forward Jake Barnett (30) defends during the second half in a third-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament Saturday, March 22, 2014, in Orlando, Fla. Louisville won 66-51. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Louisville forward Luke Hancock shot a three-pointer as late-arriving St. Louis forward Jake Barnett tried to get in his way Saturday. Hancock, last year’s Final Four Most Outstanding Player, scored 21 points. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

ORLANDO – Defending national champion Louisville shrugged off poor shooting, 19 turnovers and a subpar performance by star Russ Smith and still won handily Saturday to get back to the Sweet 16 for the third year in a row.

"Everything's not going to be sweet or pretty," Smith said after a 66-51 victory over St. Louis. "We're just getting the job done."

Luke Hancock scored 21 points and the battled-tested Cardinals (31-5) won with defense.

St. Louis (27-7) missed all 15 of its three-point shots and turned the ball over 18 times in losing in the round of 32 for the third consecutive year.

Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Jordair Jett of St. Paul finished with 15 in his final game with the Billikens.

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