I chat hoops often with a long time pal. (Against whom as I advise him periodically I had my greatest scoring game ever, albeit it came centuries ago in Biddy Basketball.)

We work out at the same place, and we’re both hoopaholics.

He knows the game. He played a role of some consequence on Seneca’s ’63 state title.

(Though not quite as significant a contributor as Westley Unseld or Mike Redd.)

Anyhow yesterday morning in advance of Pat Kelsey’s last tuneup  as man in charge, before the real deal starts next Monday against Morehead State, Jon and I were chatting about the new Cardinal coach.

“He’s going to learn a lot this year.”

Which I hadn’t really thought of as he meant it, but is true.

Coaching game in, game out, season in, season out at Winthrop and Charleston, dancing with powers like Alabama but once a year is a different deal altogether than facing Tennessee, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Duke, North Carolina, Indiana and maybe Gonzaga on the hardwood . . .

. . . before both of the CFP semi finals in Pasadena and New Orleans have finished on the first day of 2025.

Which I thought of last evening in the Yum!. When it was apparent immediately in the Cardinals’ 99-54 rout of undermanned, undersized Spalding that the game plan was significantly different than it had been a week earlier against Young Harris.

Louisville’s plan last night was to take it to the hoop, as opposed to hoisting a triple at every opportunity. Or so I would posit.

Postgame PK denied that was a pregame objective, that they simply took what the defense allowed. Yet, to these eyes, it still seemed part of the MO to take it to the paint, to the hoop.

On any number of occasions, Cards drove, teammates were open beyond the arc on the weakside, but the ball stayed inside. Either to force it to the hoop, or for a dump-off to an open guy cutting in.

As when Koren Johnson — emerging into perhaps my fave of the new Cards — dished to driving (and driven given his intensity to tally) Kasean Pryor early in the 2d.

Whether by design or by adjustment, the indication is a stylistic, strategic flexibility for these totally madeover Cardinals.

Given last week’s mode of operation, that the first launched (and netted) triple wasn’t in the scorebook until 15:37, when Noah Waterman let loose soon after entering the fray, tells me PK might have been prevaricating a bit in his comments.

Matters not.

In Pat Kelsey, I believe. At least so far. His postgame take on the game indicated he’s on top of the situation. With a plan.

As Snoop Dog’s pal Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing.”

 * * * * *

These Cardinals are nine deep without a loss of quality. Last night, J’Vonne Hadley and my man KJ were the only ballers with 22:00 + minutes on the hardwood. James Scott with 18:00 + was the only non-garbage guy with less than 19:00. Other than utility sub Frank Anselem-Ibe with a smidge over 8:00.

 * * * * *

Free throw shooting needs to improve.

21/34 (62%) is not a winning number given the gauntlet ahead and the quality of the improving Atlantic & Pacific Coasts Conference.

 * * * * *

Even though there seemed the appearance of a lotta kinda selfish guys charging to the hoop on their own, U of L still had 24 assists on 35 FG connections.

 * * * * *

The ball moves.

I’ll repeat: The ball moves.

These Cardinals get it up the court, and into the offense more quickly than  . . . ever.

Quicker than Peck. Quicker than Denny. Even quicker than Rick, who always gave lip service to such. (Yes, it was fast in ’13, but honestly nothing like this.)

 * * * * *

Defense still needs work.

Though Kelsey mentioned a “record number of deflections” and there were 28 forced turnovers, including 21 steals.

 * * * * *

I’m anxious to see how matters play out on the boards.

Given how lean the Cardinal “bigs” are, and their propensity — other than Scott — to roam outside (by design of course), rebounding strategy remains a question mark.

Appears it’s going to be by committee.

 * * * * *

Peripheral stuff:

More butts in the seats than last week. Still a long way to go, attendance wise.

Fans there were very appreciative. Gave the team a standing O at 2:22 media stoppage in 1st @ 47-20.

Love x 3: No flash pots during intros. Significantly shorter and understated intro video. Those two insufferable screaming timeout shills we’ve been force-fed for the last couple of years were nowhere to be seen or heard. May it stay that way.

It should be about the game, not the razzmatazz. Sayeth the old fart.

Let the season commence.

— c d kaplan