Love, reign o’er me/ Love, reign o’er me/ Reyne on me, Reyne on me

Have I mentioned before how much I love the Louisville Cardinals?

Of course, I have.

In defeat as much as victory.

But ya know with performances like Saturday afternoon’s in Tallahassee, the heart is even more full.

Louisville 90, Florida State 76.

This is a game U of L needs to win.

Cardinals did just that.

A conference W on the road is always to be admired, regardless of the foe.

 * * * * *

After the conclusion of SMU’s waxing of BC, the CW had to toss in a couple of adverts before throwing the feed to U of L vs. the Seminoles.

Gotta gotta gotta sell that insurance.

So, we viewers in the chill of the Ville joined with 18:32 on the clock, the Cards down 0-3.

Then U of L tallied on five consecutive trips. While giving up only one FG, that inside the arc.

Noah Waterman triple. Terrence Edwards deuce. J’Vonne Hadley layup on a fast break. James Scott in the paint. Terrence Edwards threeball.

That 12-2, 7-0 skein pushed the Cardinals up 12-5.

They never relinquished the lead. The Seminoles pulled within a penny thrice. Once before the break, twice after.

Louisville had an answer. Every single time.

 * * * * *

Especially during that sublime interlude midway through the 2d, when U of L’s Aussie bombardier Reyne Smith launched successfully from, well, let’s go there, Down Under, on three consecutive possessions.

Do you come from a land down under?/ Where women glow and men plunder?/ Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder?/ You better run, you better take cover.

Not sure anybody asked him at the postgame presser, but I must surmise Leonard Hamilton heard the thunder, felt the plunder.

Mr. Smith led the Cards in scoring with 27. After intermission he fashioned a perfecto. 5/5 from the field. All which were beyond-the-arcers. 4/4 at the line.

 * * * * *

Tip o’ the cap to coach Pat Kelsey.

One local scribe at a recent press conference asked about U of L’s long range shooting woes. A bit miffed at the question, from, OK, me, he assured the assembled they would start falling.

Louisville netted 15 of their 29 longballs Saturday. 52%. That’ll work. (Though Cardinal fans certainly shouldn’t expect that to become the norm. It will regulate to the norm.)

I bow, suitably chastised.

Chucky Hepburn canned three. Noah, four. Edwards only made one, but he continues to be oh so steady in the paint, from 12′ in, and at the hoop. He finishes. Second leading scorer with 19. 7 boards.

Hadley: Solid as ever. 9 points, team leading 8 glass wipes.

Further credit to Kelsey.

While the game the short-handed Cards now play is not as aesthetic or flowing as originally planned, it certainly worked on Saturday. By plan, there’s more isolation, which means more dribbling. Somewhat frrustrating to watch, but it is by plan, and it seems effective.

The Cardinals still had 18 assists on their 28 made FG.

While committing but 7 turnovers.

U of L was way more than solid at the charity stripe. 19/23. 83%.

 * * * * *

A reverse perspective.

State hit 53% of their shots, 40% from Treyville. Only gave it away nine times. Outscored the victorious visitors by 8 in the paint, and blocked 4 shots.

And were still crushed by 14 at home.

Obviously there are some intangibles I won’t get to, because I want to get this up, and I want to watch the CFP and Lamar.

Louisville’s performance was steady. Mature.

They never wavered, even during that trio of moments when State came oh so close.

A happy Chrismukkahivus for Cardinal hoops fans.

Again, that final from FLA.

Cards 90, Seminoles 76.

— c d kaplan