Garcia Shows Brave Front

Francisco Garcia had summoned all the inner strength he could to simply be on the basketball court.

So as the final seconds ticked away in Louisville’s 73-65 victory over top-ranked Florida on Saturday at Freedom Hall, Garcia bent over and cried.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore forward had just played his best all-around game for the Cardinals, scoring 21 points to go with five rebounds, four assists and four steals. He had been tenacious on defense and went after loose balls with reckless abandon.

The emotional release was the culmination of what Garcia had been through since he learned Monday night that his brother, 19-year-old Hector Lopez, had been shot and killed in New York City.

Almost four seconds remained in the game when Garcia came off the court, making a gesture upward after kissing two fingers and pounding his chest.

He walked over to the Louisville bench and hugged Coach Rick Pitino, then made his way through a line of teammates and assistant coaches.

Then came a poignant moment as Garcia was honored as the outstanding player in the second Billy Minardi Classic -- an event Pitino organized in honor of his brother-in-law who perished in the 9-11 attacks at the World Trade Center.

Garcia held back tears as he accepted the award from Minardi’s family as Pitino watched with the team.

Moments later, Garcia spoke of his brother, whose name he has inscribed on his basketball shoes.

“I’m going to dedicate everything to him -- my life, my season, everything,” Garcia said. “He was my blood, my best friend.”

Pitino had referred to his brother-in-law in consoling Garcia.

“My brother-in-law and his [Garcia’s] brother are smiling somewhere,” Pitino said. “Tragedy can bring out the worst and the best. I told him [Garcia] it’s healthy to cry because that means you loved him. Get it out.

“I told him that each day you would celebrate his life and do things to honor him. I told him that you’re living in Minardi Hall [on Louisville’s campus] right now because I wanted my brother-in-law’s legacy to live on forever. You’ll make it someday and you’ll do something for your brother’s legacy and establish something for him.”

Pitino had originally suggested to Garcia that he not play Wednesday against Seton Hall and Saturday.

Garcia spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday alone in his room, according to teammate Taquan Green, but played against Seton Hall, scoring 24 points in an 80-71 victory.

Garcia, accompanied by Pitino, attended his brother’s funeral in the Bronx on Thursday. He returned to Louisville on Friday, and cried for 20 minutes in the locker room before practice.

“He couldn’t come out of the locker room for practice,” Pitino told ESPN.com. “I let him stay in there and told him to sit this one [game against Florida] out. We’ll win. Don’t worry. Twenty minutes later, he had gathered himself and he was out there. He’s a remarkable young man.”

Garcia, who averaged 11.8 points last season and was Conference USA’s freshman of the year, said his mind wandered when someone else was at the free-throw line Saturday.

“This has changed me a lot, made me stronger and will make me work even harder,” Garcia said. “I will always have him in my heart but I’ll keep working and keep going.”

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Later Saturday, Louisville issued a news release that redshirt senior forward Ellis Myles’ father had died at the family’s home in Compton.

Myles, who played at Compton Centennial High, is sitting out the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered in a Feb. 27 loss to Marquette.