Bodog Beat

Cardinals coach Rick Pitino didn't have too much to complain about in the first round. (AP Images)

Rick Pitino has voiced his dissatisfaction with his young group of Louisville Cardinals this season. On Friday, he could only be delighted.

The No. 3 Cardinals demolished No. 14 Boise State, 79-61, in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore guards Earl Clark (15 points) and Jerry Smith (12) combined for 25 points, and senior forward Juan Palacios added 13 in only 16 minutes as the Cardinals won their opening-round game in Birmingham, Ala.

The streaky Cardinals ended their Big East campaign on a low, falling to Georgetown in the regular-season finale that cost them first place then bowing out in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament to Pitt.

Pitino quickly got the team regrouped for March Madness. They flew out to a 13-point halftime lead against Boise State and were never threatened as they easily covered the point spread of 14.5.

Louisville advances to face No. 6 Oklahoma on Sunday for a chance to reach the Sweet 16.

In other late action in the East Region:

No. 9 Arkansas 86, No. 8 Indiana 72: You’d think a game with this much offense would play right into the hands of Eric Gordon, the Big Ten’s leading scorer. But the freshman was blanketed by the Razorbacks and finished with only eight points as underdog Arkansas beat the three-point spread in Raleigh, N.C. Sonny Weems blew up for a career-high 31 points to lead the Razorbacks, who must now contend with No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday.

Get complete March Madness first round results and college basketball lines and March Madness odds for the second-round games of the NCAA Tournament. The tournament continues with games on Saturday afternoon.