So, what is there to be learned about the Louisville Cardinals from this one, an easy 100-68 victory over perhaps the least good team of the Scotty Davenport regime at Bellarmine? Minus one of their best players at that.

U of L was also short-handed.

Before tip, it was announced that Koron Johnson was not going to play because of a shoulder injury. He, of course, Louisville’s PG#2. Which role was filled by Terrence Edwards Jr.

And that Kader Traore is going to be out for awhile with a broken arm.

So, that’s never good any time, especially three games into the season for a still coalescing contingent. Especially for a team that plays fast paced and needs lots of interchangeable parts to maintain the zest.

Any other negatives, before I move on to a number of heartening developments?

Yes, giving up points in the paint. U of L’s D was actually pretty good after they tightened up several minutes in. But, the Knights backdoored — and frankly went in the front door also — for too many easy points close in. Thirty. That needs to be cleaned up.

And there’s that second half lull, when the Norris Placers ran off 11 in a row.

 * * * * *

My favorite observation.

Kasean Pryor reigned it in. He didn’t force a dribble drive to the hoop for the first 26 minutes of the game. Unlike before Tuesday evening, the ball didn’t stop in his hands. He even passed up an open trey for a Khani Rooths deuce.

KP hit his first two bombs, both within the offense, to tie the score at 7, and push the Cardinals ahead for good at 10-7.

He was also 9/10 at the line. A lot of them late, when ever the provocateur actually provoked a Knight into being ejected.

Louisville was a steady 18/24 (75%) at the charity stripe.

Louisville’s interior passing didn’t always work — and will be harder to effectuate given the uptick in competition just over the horizon — but it was nice to see. Drives and dishes. Including a nifty Reyne Smith bounce pass close in to James Scott for a slam. This after a Chucky Hepburn interior dime to Scott for a dunk.

My favorite J’Vonne Hadley moment of the contest was during a Bellarmine breakout. JH trailed the play, but hustled to catch up, eventually drawing a charge in the paint on the fastbreak.

With his increased ballhandling role, Edwards had more opportunities to dribble to the rack. Which is his wont. A few, but not many moves were forced. But the kid’s talented and still adapting to the step up in level.

That learning curve still pertinent, he led the Cardinals with 26 on 10/14, 4/7, 2/2 shooting. Plus four rebounds and three assists.

Hepburn was more assertive from a scoring standpoint. More important, his team leading five assists and 4 steals.

 * * * * *

Not a whole lot else.

U of L remains a work in progress.

They were expected to have their way with Bellarmine.

And did.

— c d kaplan