Doc called last Saturday morning, asking if I’d want to join him at the U of L open hoops pick up games at the Yum! practice facility. Of course I wanted to, but had another obligation.

That afternoon I checked back for the observations from my man courtside. Doc’s an astute observer of all matters hardwood. He used to work out Cardinals during drills before practice when Denny Crum was in charge.

He’s also hard to please. He mentioned a couple of returnees and how they’re doing. Then talked about a younger kid, whom he did not recognize, who, he said, “was clearly the best player on the floor.”

“It couldn’t be one of the grad transfers,” we agreed, “they’re all older guys.”

Mystery was solved a couple of days later when Texan Jaelyn Withers pledged to the Cardinals.

The evening, another call. ” Withers who just committed, he’s the one I was talking about.”

Sooooooo, Chris Mack, who has yet to coach his first game wearing a red tie, seems to be hitting on all cylinders so far. Opening up these Saturday pick up games is a brilliant move. And the hundreds of fans that showed up to watch the other day obviously impressed Withers.

Three legit commits. An energized fan base.

The Mack Attack back to relevancy is on.

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I vowed in the Comments section of my recent post about Rick Pitino that I would no longer weigh in here at cardchronicle.com on that whole situation.

I shall keep that promise.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t mention, as a public service, that Michael Sokolove, author of “The Last Temptation of Rick Pitino,” will be signing his book and giving a chat next Thursday September 27 at 7:00 pm at Carmichaels on Frankfort Avenue.

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Quick fall sports update:

The men’s soccer team fought back from two down to draw with Charlotte Tuesday evening at the Lynn. The 4-1 Cards are ranked #6 in the land. And senior forward Tate Schmitt is one of only 30 nominees for the Senior CLASS award, bestowed for futbol prowess, academics and community service.

Meanwhile the women’s soccer team is off to a 7-1 start, the best in school history. They host Notre Dame tonight (9/20 @ 7:00) and Syracuse on Sunday at 1;00.

Cardinal Cross Country star Dorcas Wasike has been named USTFCCCA — don’t ask, I haven’t a clue — DI Women’s Performer of the Week, after capturing her second W in a row, by almost 12 seconds no less, in the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic 5K.

The 7th ranked Field Hockey team is 6-2, and winners of three in a row.

The Women’s b-ball schedule has been completed and released. Highlights include a couple of big ones at the Yum!. UK visits on the afternoon of Sunday, December 9. And UConn comes for a visit Thursday, January 31.

— Seedy K