Tag Archives: Stephan Van Treese

Louisville Card File: Kentucky

dunikcardFree Throws.

Closing the Deal.

* * * * *

Rare is the team whose fatal flaws — the ones that shall spell ultimate doom — don’t manifest themselves during the course of a long, long season.

There are exceptions. The recent Kemba Walker-led UConn Huskies were certainly were one outfit that overcame previous bouts of malaise to win it all. This year’s Kentucky Wildcats might be another.

The Louisville Cardinals, with 31 Ws against but six losses, proved the rule. Not the exception.

Free Throws.

Closing the Deal. Continue reading Louisville Card File: Kentucky

Louisville Card File: Houston

dunikcardThere is, of course, but one philosophical rumination that is paramount in the wake of yet another essentially indescribable performance last night — the best yet, frankly — by He Who Is Russ.

Coach Rick Pitino pulled Smith out of last night’s basting of Houston with 6:09 to play, the Cards up by 29 (84-55), and . . . Russ just four points short of breaking Wes Unseld’s all-time single game scoring record of 45.

Did Russ Smith deserve the opportunity to go for that record?

Given Unseld’s premier importance in the development of U of L basketball, was it better to leave the record be, to allow #31 to remain at the top of that list?

There is no easy answer. Continue reading Louisville Card File: Houston

Louisville Card File: Rutgers

dunikcardOkay, hmmm, uh . . . well . . . uh, ahem (throat cleared) . . . uh, well . . . uh . . . okay . . .

. . . Truth: There’s simply not much even a verbose fellow like myself can say about that, uh, I guess you can call it a game against Rutgers.

Of course, I’m sure I’ll find some things to say, if only to keep you occupied for a few more minutes. Though, to be honest, there’s really nothing to dissect about yesterday’s 61 point blowout.

Louisville is much better. Louisville was ready to play.

Rutgers sucks. Rutgers wasn’t ready to compete. Rutgers quit.

The Scarlet Knights should be ashamed. Coach and former star Eddie Jordan should be ashamed. AD Julie Hermann should be ashamed. Calista Flockhart, Mario Batali, Alexi Lalas, David Stern — notable Rutgers alums all — should be ashamed. And I’m sure Paul Robeson and James Gandolfini, also grads, who surely watched in the clouds, were both disgusted and ashamed. Continue reading Louisville Card File: Rutgers

Louisville Card File: UConn

dunikcardIt is said this is the winningest senior class in U of L basketball history.

116 Ws. Which is not to mention two Final Fours and a national title. And counting. The Cards seem to have swallowed the pill to make that number — those numbers — larger. Go ask Alice.

Ever the contrarian, I feel compelled to ask. Shouldn’t we count the 20 wins from SVT’s freshman year? After all, this is his fifth season as a Cardinal.

Or subtract from the total those of the transfer season that Luke Hancock sat out?

Do we call in the Roger Maris Asterisk Committee?

Of course not. Just wanted you to know I’m paying attention.

I do recall an indelible moment, which memory puts this incredible recent run by the Louisville Cardinals in perspective.

Join Mr. Peabody, Sherman and me in the Way Back Machine, as we travel to the basketball luncheon before the ’10-’11 season. Continue reading Louisville Card File: UConn

Louisville Card File: Houston

dunikcardNowhere to be found last night — and I know for sure because I sought him out — was the dunderhead mentioned in my SMU report, who ragged incessantly on Wayne Blackshear that whole game. More’s the pity.

Whattayathinknow, asshole?

Anyway, it was after that game, and interlude, that I wrote this:

I bring up Blackshear because a) the Cardinal Nation has been expecting more from the Golden Arches All-American than he has delivered so far, and b) one guy’s opinion, the Chicagoan is the X factor on this Cardinal squad that’s still searching for its identity, personality, and success in March.

He is not without game. Yet that talent has not consistently been on display. Most important, the switch can still be flipped.

At Media Day before the season, I asked Blackshear what he’d been working on this summer?

“My confidence.”

Yet to come, that remains elusive. I, for one, am not giving up on Wayne Blackshear. It’s not like he’s playing below his talent level on purpose. Besides, if his game clicks into gear, this Cardinal team becomes significantly better.

One game does not a seismic shift make. But it’s sure a hopeful start. Continue reading Louisville Card File: Houston