Ladies and gentleman, Louisville’s way too harrowing than it oughta been 78-76 escape over Eastern Kentucky shall be known in my neck of the woods as a Rubenstein.

The Card’s jailbreak W came at the hands of Noah Waterman and his driving baseline layup at the end of a bumper car harum-scarum last chance possession.

The dagger was plunged when the clock read :01.2.

Why a Rubenstein?

Read on.

 * * * * *

Your history lesson.

January 4, 1961.

It was a school night but The Professor and I were in the Hall anyway. He’d probably done his homework. I probably lied about doing mine.

The Maroons, as they were then known sometimes, were an equal and big rival. The crowd of 9,257 was the largest of the season.

The Cards were down five with two minutes remaining. Cut it to three at :48. Then to a penny at :01.5, Eastern’s ball out of bounds. The Maroons inbound pass hit a teammate and rolled out of bounds.

It was an era when the clock did not stop when the ball went out of bounds.

Zebra Max Macon, helped by a forgiving clock operator, whistled a stoppage anyway.

“There was too much confusion going on,” he said after the game.

It is said that Eastern Ky’s coach Paul McBrayer was . . . pissed.

It allowed the John Turner, Bud Olsen, Howard Stacy, Fred Sawyer, Ron Rubenstein team one last opportunity.

C-J sports scribe Johnny Carrico: “Ron Rubenstein looped a 25-footer from the northwest corner to nullify a great performance by the underdog Maroons.”

70-69.

 * * * * *

Too many parallels to Saturday afternoon in my mind.

That out of bounds review. How the game seemed Eastern’s. Great performance by the underdogs.

So, yeah, Waterman = Rubenstein.

Helped, more than a smidge considerably I might add, by Reyne Smith’s deficit-overcoming triple at 2:00 for a 75-73 advantage.

Which the too often less than steely Cardinals immediately gave up, or EKU seized with a second chance trey. It was the Colonels final tally at 1:22

 * * * * *

After scoring on its first two possessions after intermission for a 50-37 lead, the Cardinals wobbled. EKU answered with a 12-2 run.

Soon thereafter, at 14:29 to be exact, the visitors from Richmond had the lead.

And, as we are prone to say, back and forth it went.

U of L pulled ahead again by 10 at 71-61, then oops let their foe right back in it, and forge ahead.

Actually I may have misspoke. (Hold your applause.) Louisville was steely, stalwart, resonant in one regard. After the Maroons fought their way ahead, U of L never allowed them a two possession advantage.

 * * * * *

Devontae Blanton was Eastern’s alpha dog. He owned the paint, when his team had the ball.

He committed his fourth foul with 6:40 left, the Cards up 68-61.

Which is when Louisville’s significant roster flaw — no beef in the middle — and schematic flaw — little inside offensive presence — showed up bigley.

There was nobody to go at Blanton, to try to get him out of the game.

 * * * * *

U of L (19/24) was +13 at the line. Critical. 12/16 in the final 20:00 was a major factor in overcoming woeful 2/15 lack of marksmanship from beyond the arc after the half.

Eastern Kentucky was feisty. And ready.

Louisville won.

 * * * * *

Kader Traore is rusty.

But his return is welcome.

He shall contribute.

 * * * * *

Next: North Carolina. New Year’s afternoon. Followed by UVa, Clemson and Pitt.

It will not be a Road Less Travelled.

— c d kaplan