Context: Bahamas Select was a put together squad. Not very good.

But still . . .

. . . what we saw Tuesday evening was fresh and invigorating and did nothing to diminish the hope that had already manifested itself in the Cardinal Nation.

U of L made 43 FG on 85 attempts. That’s a smidge over 50%.

Of those fireaways, 47 were long balls. 20 of those tickled the twine. That’s 43%.

But here is the most important takeaway of the whole 111-59 thumping.

38 assists.

Allow me to repeat myself: 38 assists on 43 FGs.

One more time: 43 FGs made. 38 assists.

Yes, the foe such as it was had a dude aged 38 — Jauran Burrows, their leading scorer with half their points — and a kid aged 13. Jevon Colebey.

That team wasn’t even duct taped together, they were scotch taped.

But still . . .

. . . 38 assists on 43 FGs.

OK, I’ll move on. I trust you get that the number impressed me.

The ball moved.

The players moved.

When a guy drove the hoop — which wasn’t all that much given the vanquished was playing a zone and the Cards passed the ball a lot — there would be another surging to the hoop from the weakside or along the baseline for a drop off layup.

Also against that zone there was always a guy hustling to the FT line in the middle. So schooled were the Cards, a pass to the spot was often instigated before the fellow filling it had fully arrived.

How many times did the ball go the full 94 on three passes and a dribble or two?

A lot.

Not a lot of dribbling in the front court. Only once can I remember Card tom tomming it too much and turning it over. Kasean Pryor late along the sideline.

The Cards had 12 steals. And 10 blocks.

More than a handful of times when Select pushed the ball on a break, a Cardinal would zoom back and break up a pass or hurl himself out of bounds to save an errant throw.

Guys hit the floor.

Up 29 at intermission, a bit of sloppiness crept in after the break.

It happens. But the final margin was still 52.

And there did not seem to be a whole lot of fatigue creeping in, even though it was pedal to the metal the whole way.

At garbage time, when even commentator Debbie Antonelli’s walk on son was on the court, Louisville canned their last five shots.

There frankly wasn’t a player who didn’t impress me in some way.

I noticed several things Aboubacar Traore did. Cutting to the hoop. Cutting off the endline to take a charge. He had 7 boards, six assists and 11 points on 5/7 shooting.

Koron Johnson scored 15 on 6/8 marksmanship. Plus 5 caroms and 9 assists.

Rookie Khani Rooths steadied late, draining 4 of 9 triples, with six rebounds.

J’Vonne Hadley: 18, Pryor: 17, Reyne Smith: 12, Terrence Edwards: 10.

Noah Waterman DNP. Ankle.

A point of concern, because the quality of the foe doesn’t affect it.

5/15 at the Charity Stripe. One has to assume, all else considered, that was an anomaly.

But, when Frank Anselem-Ibe missed a freebie, he got his own rebound.

It was a most heartening beginning of the next chapter in Cardinal hoops.

Pat Kelsey is in charge now.

— c d kaplan