For any type of an attempt of astute analysis of U of L’s  79-70 OT W over West Virginia, I may have to get back to at some point later when I come down.

No, truth, I will have to get back to you. I’m sure that turkey-makes-you-sleepy thing will help.

For the moment, minutes after the Cardinals outlasted, outstrategized, outplayed when it mattered and outscored a plenty fair Mountaineer team, I am still more than a bit verklempt.

The victory was Winthropian.

Meaning ugly, hard fought, a slog of sorts, not a classic. Plus this one was in doubt until Pat Kelsey eschewed the motion, pass and cut offense, and put the game in Chucky Hepburn’s hands.

It’s the hair, Seedy, it’s got to be the hair.

 * * * * *

I had forgotten.

Forgotten what it’s like to be so nervous you change Cardinal ballcaps at halftime, take out the little Cardinal doll that sits on a bookcase shelf and set it down next to the TV screen.

Forgotten what it’s like to have to get up and stretch during every stoppage. To try and stand at crunch time, to realize you gotta sit down. To try and sit during crunch time, and realize you have to stand.

To pump your arm so hard when it’s obvious the Cardinals will survive, your blood pressure and heart rate and pulse redline.

To be so happy after the buzzer all you can say to your peeps on the phone — with tears of joy in your eyes and voice — is “I LOVE THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS.”

Friday evening at 5:30, the 5-1 University of Louisville Cardinals will play Arizona or Oklahoma for Battle 4 Atlantis title.

Pittsnoggle that.

 * * * * *

Seems to this guy, the key sequence of the game started at the 1:49 mark of the 1st.

Javon Smart — who is a really good basketball player — netted a stepback trey to push the Mountaineers lead to 28-17.

It seemed dire.

Then, nineteen seconds later, Chucky Hepburn, bless his heart, answered with a triple. Fouled on the connection, he missed the charity toss, but Kasean Pryor rebounded. Seconds later he slammed a deuce through.

Then Pryor, the Cards’ alpha dog, drained a couple FTs.

Which cut the intermission deficit to a significantly more manageable 4 points.

 * * * * *

The second half comeback was hardly the legendary stuff of the ’05 Elite Eight, but was still a tough climb.

With a couple ticks more than eight left, a Hepburn longball, a second chance three, knotted the battle at 50.

The Cards forged ahead.

The Mountaineers fashioned an 8-0 skein to retake the lead at 60-59 with 2:00 on the clock.

U of L held steady, forced a shot clock on a possession when WVU could have sealed it with nanoseconds left.

Louisville’s D, a huge question mark, was key throughout.

U of L never trailed in OT. Reyne Smith hit a second chance triple on their first possession.

West Virginia tied it again at 67.

The last hurrah of the vanquished.

Louisville controlled the rest of the way, making 8/9 of FTs. The Mountaineers wore down. Louisville took advantage.

 * * * * *

I’d ramble on more. It’s certainly more fun writing about Ws than otherwise.

But, I gotta get to Thanksgiving dinner.

Tis a blessed day.

— c d kaplan