The train kept movin’ all night long/ The train kept a-rollin’ all night long/ With a heave and a ho . . .
That Burnett Brothers tune came to me sometime during this rock fight of a hoops encounter. Jotted it down. Just in case, ya know, the University of Louisville Cardinals pulled it out.
Well, Johnny and Dorsey and that gal from NYC made stops in Albuquerque and El Paso.
The Cards stopped in Pittsburgh on their way to Syracuse.
Took the time to quiet the wildebeests in the Oakland Zoo.
And those sillies thought it was feeding time.
Louisville 82, Pitt 78.
* * * * *
The Cardinals who coming in led the league in FTs, having made more than their foes had taken, were 7/15 at the line, -13 to the Panthers who drained 20/22.
Didn’t matter.
Gotta have on the court J’Vonne Hadley was called for his fourth personal foul with 8:45 to go.
Didn’t matter.
Gotta have even more on the court Chucky Hepburn perpetrated his third transgression with 17:31 left.
Didn’t matter.
U of L pulled ahead by five, 72-67, when that Chucky nailed a fall away shot clock triple with 3:50 on the clock.
After which Terrence Edwards made a mental error, something he and these oh-so-much-fun-to-love Cardinals rarely do. He fouled on a trey. All of which were canned.
Didn’t matter.
Louisville started out clanking 9 of the first 10 triples they attempted.
Didn’t matter.
Pitt grabbed some mo with a long ball to grab the advantage at 60-62.
Didn’t matter.
Because this Louisville team did what needed to be done at any pivotal moment.
Like after the Cards plugged ahead late, the home team secured the advantage again, with a missile at 3:00. 72-73. Cards scored on a Reyne Smith Down Under Special out of a timeout to regain a margin.*
*Those sets that free Smith just enough are my favorite inbound plays since the days of Allen Murphy.
The good guys never fell behind again.
Loved Hepburn’s aforementioned triple, several key assists, and savvy use of the Cards last timeout at the :41 mark to save a possession. After which, Hadley snared a board on his own miss. Resulting in Chucky’s game securing layup at :08.
* * * * *
Both teams played tough defense.
Both teams had droughts of significance.
Both teams had runs of significance.
But, ya know, the shorter contingent — significantly shorter it must be mentioned — playing on the road, won the battle of the boards.
44 glass swipes vs. 31. Offensive rebound advantage: 17-5.
Second chance tally margin for the victors: 15. 22-7.
James Scott had 8 and 9, including a couple Jim Jammin’ Rim Rams.
Hadley finished with 13 and 5, after only marking 2 and 1 before the break.
It Reyned for 25.
Edwards scored 14, 5 rebounds, 4 assists.
Chucky led. As in leadership. Also had some stats: 15, 7 and 7.
Khani Rooths was solid in his 17 minutes off the pine. 5 points. 6 swipes.
* * * * *
Oh, I’m runnin’ out of bon mots.
What I know is this was a really good, really tough, really hard fought game . . .
. . . between two really good teams.
What I know is the University of Louisville Cardinals are now 12-5. Undefeated on the road in the conference, 5-1 overall.
Upward and onward.
— c d kaplan
This Team Is Special.
Correct, held my breathe for last five minutes thinking we would lose on a last second three
Great bench coach just like Denny RIP
The Burnetts have been gone for sixty years. There is not another sportswriter in the USA who would make that reference. Billy Reed maybe but he is in Rock and Roll Heaven too. Pretty creative, Mr. Seedy.
Thanks.
“This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train
This train don’t carry no gamblers, this train
No whiskey drinkers, and no high flyers*
This train is bound for GLORY, this train.”
This Train
Sister Rosetta Tharp
Yes, THIS train does have many high flyers!
That works.
Cagers meet cage match. Good guys overcome homecooking.
I try to not complain about poor officiating, it goes both ways, often. But, I can’t remember (and wouldn’t condone) Cardinals pulling shorts to prevent the opponent rebounding. Their big guy flailing about ending up with his arm striking #1 around the head/shoulders and knocking him to the ground doesn’t even warrant a review? I stop at those two examples.
I am glad we have a team playing with purpose and guts. And growth. A favorite part of watching U of L has always been seeing players grow into the job. Good coaching makes the game fun to watch. Players with heart makes it work. Etc.
Last sentence, paragraph 2. I dropped the word ‘will’. I will stop at those examples, implying others were noticed.
Mark this down
Final four team as long as no injuries appear. Moxie , toughness, desire, and above all DEFENSE, are my reasons to believe.
Not sure about that. But hope has fully bloomed.
Beat Syracuse. Period. The only game that matters is the next one.
RIP Ricky Gallon.