Here is what we learned a posteriori about Kader Traore.

He makes a difference.

The Cards missed him while he was out with a broken arm.

In U of L’s Oh My! 70-50 evisceration of UVa in Charlottesville, Traore scored 15 points on 6/10 shooting, hit his only triple and both FTs. He grabbed 8 rebounds.

In only 16 minutes of action.

So it is now clear beyond peradventure that KT helps the surging 10-5, 3-1 Louisville Cardinals.

 * * * * *

Though there is still not an overabundance of evidence, I should know better by now than to question Pat Kelsey.

I mean I have been the guy since mid summer who tells all willing to hear my pontifications that he was the perfect hire for Louisville in this transitional time of college sports. More so than those others U of L chased to no avail.

But, I had to question what he did when the Cards got the rock with 7:02 left. Yes, the Cavaliers had netted four straight to cut the Louisville’s advantage to 7 at 52-45. But the clock would stop at the next break in play, and it left U of L with only one when the game still seemed far from closed.

Why waste the timeout?

But Chucky Hepburn needed a blow. For one.

For two. Out of the timeout, U of L ran one of their several oft used configurations which give Reyne Smith a wide open trey. Which he stroked for string music in the John Paul Jones. 55-45.

The mature Cards not only led by double digits then and the rest of the way, they doubled that margin at the finish.

20 point W. In the league. On the road.

Who saw this comin’?

U of L is now 3-19 against the Wahoos since joining the A&PCC. This is the first victory in Charlottesville since February ’90.

I was so much younger then, I’m older than that now.

 * * * * *

There’s a singular word I’ve used way too often when describing Tony Bennett’s ownership of the series.

Time and again, I’ve stated how the Cards were schooled.

Well, he was sitting in the stands, checking his phone when the camera cut to him.

Kyle Guy — you know THAT guy — is on the staff now, where he is a lesser evil.

On Saturday, pupil turned teacher.

 * * * * *

U of L out-tallied the home team, 13-3 in the final four or so minutes.

On the road. A league game. Where the school hasn’t won in 35 years.

 * * * * *

After a woeful night at the line when battering the Baby Blues, the Cards drained 13/14.

93%. Glossy.

 * * * * *

A shout out to James Scott, whose key role is more clearly coming into view.

Other than the dumpoffs for dunks, U of L runs no sets for him. As in literally zero.

But he had three assists, second only to Chucky’s 7. Plus 9 caroms. 6 points.

 * * * * *

Captain Steady J’Vonne Hadley: 11 and 5.

Terrence Edwards: 7 and 9.

 * * * * *

Louisville trailed once.

6-7.

For all of :22 seconds. On the road. In a league game. Where they haven’t won in 35 years.

 * * * * *

Which brings me to Seedy K’s Play of the Game.

UVa had the ball down 20-24. Andrew Rohde pump-faked Hepburn in the paint. Faked out, Chucky leaped . . .

Lamar-style . . .

. . . over the head of Rohde. Who was so shuck up, he missed the gimme. Traore grabbed the board. That guy from Down Under hit a threeball.

 * * * * *

Louisville left Not So Sweet Virginia tryin’ to stop the waves behind their eyeballs.

 * * * * *

A shout out to loyal reader DCR north of the border, who was the first to write me after the splendid victory.

From Waterloo, Ontario.

— c d kaplan