Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Cards, Quad +++

U of L Cardinal fans, raise your hand if you expected to be calculating NCAA NET rankings and Quad parameters on January 20, 2025?

Here’s what I say to the few of you bold enough to take the bait: “Liar, liar, pants on fire.”

But, it’s fun, right?

Indeed. (Not talking about the ubiquitous commercial either.)

The Cards are currently ranked #29 in the official NCAA NET.

Which is good. Q1: 3-5. Q2: 3-0. Q3: 4-0. Q4: 4-0.

Buuuuuuuuuut, the woefulness of the ACC this year could kick ’em in the arse.

I’ll explain. Here’s how the ruling body itself explains the importance of Quad Ws and Ls: “The number of Quadrant 1 wins and Quadrant 3/4 losses will be incredibly important when it comes time for NCAA tournament selection and seeding.”

Key word: “incredibly.”

A Q1 W is a home victory over a NET Top 30, or an away W over a NET Top 75.

Which is to stress the absolute significance of tomorrow night’s game at SMU. Their rank is #35. A W would add a Q1 win. A loss to any of the bottom feeders on the road, of which there are plenty in the league, not so good.

As the rankings currently stand, Tuesday presents U of L’s last opportunity for a Q1 win, given the remaining schedule. Those numbers are fluid, depending how teams fare as the season plays out.

Which means Cardinal fans should be rooting for Pitt (#33) to win all their games, except when they visit the Yum! on March 1.

The ACC will beat up on each other. But Cardinals fans should also be rooting for wins by every team U of L has played. Including that school not many miles to the east.

Most important for the Cardinals: Keep Winning.

Starting tomorrow.

Beat Southern Methodist.

 * * * * *

One more thing about the Cards.

As if we can ever have enough when the good times are rollin’.

Louisville has won all four of its away ACC games. Despite the level of competition, not a trifle.

For example, last Thursday.

Three ranked teams fell to unranked schools away from home. Gonzaga at Oregon State. Memphis State at Temple. Michigan at Minnesota.

 * * * * *

But the secret to XXX’s success is that he has landed smart, hungry players who have bought into his culture and done the work to become great players.

You know how this works.

That quote by a national hoops scribe is not about Pat Kelsey and his Louisville Cardinals.

But, of course, it fits.

It’s a take on T.J. Otzelberger and his very good Iowa State Cyclones.

More about them in a bit.

 * * * * *

One of the fascinating deals with the Portal is the most desired, most bought and paid for ballers aren’t necessarily the ones impacting the sport.

Oumar Ballo topped a lot of lists. Mike Woodson — and his deep pocketed dudes who reportedly dug out $7 mill — convinced the big to take his talents from LA to Bloomington.

Where said legacy coach and squad managed to eek out a wobbly victory Friday night over the Buckeyes, somewhat turning down the volume on the boo birds. At least from 11 to, oh, 8 or 9.

A national observer of the scene, an IU grad methinks, opined in advance of that game that it was existential for Woodson’s future mentoring at his alma mammy.

If Ballo wasn’t the most desired, it was probably Johnell Davis, whom one John Calipari has turned into an afterthought in Fayetteville.

So, it goes.

Meanwhile, with guys from Long Beach State and Charleston and James Madison, the Louisville Cardinals — and a goodly number of other schools — are upticking, getting the proverbial boffo bang for their buck.

UK is ascending with a transfer from that academic school — all together now — Drexel.

 * * * * *

As for Iowa State, Otzelberger’s newcomers are brawnier than the Cards.

Which is to be expected, since their coach looks like that dude in the gym doing arm curls with 70 pound weights.

What else Iowa State does — as do all elite teams — is play defense.

When watching them dismantle Kansas the other night, I noticed an interesting quirk. Something which used to be considered a no no.

With their footwork and positioning, they invite guys in the corner and on the wing to drive the baseline. Where there is always a trap waiting — two guys and the endline — and weakside help to prevent a skip pass or a feed to somebody cutting down the lane.

It is a major reason why the Cyclones’ are perched at #2 in the polls and in the top five of all the stats’ gurus. They also score the ball. Top 10 in offensive efficiency as well as their stop rate.

Love watching them.

Also love that they lost over the weekend to West Virginia (NET #30) whom the Cardinals conquered in the Bahamas.

 * * * * *

In the ACC, our left coast rookies — Cal and Stanford  — swept Tobacco Road on Saturday. The Golden Bears over the Wolfpack. The Cardinal over the Tar Heels.

U of L  welcomes them the final two battles of the regular campaign.

 * * * * *

There are but four “high majors” — I’ll spare you a joke about Cheech & Chong — who have yet to garner a W in their conference.

South Carolina. Colorado. Miami.

And that outfit mentored by our personal favorite whipping boy, Coach Cal. The Arkansas Razorbacks. 0-5 after getting crushed by Mizzou.

Even Chris Holtmann at Glorious Editor’s secret love DePaul is off the schneid, after winning at Georgetown.

  * * * * *

Pat Kelsey is firmly and justifiably in every conversation about possible National Coach of the Year.

Said it before, say it again: PK was The Best Choice.

Which was cemented even more the other day, when I read a story which indicated that Dusty May turned down a U of L offer, partially because he didn’t want a “fish bowl job.” My memory is he’d already accepted Michigan before the U of L spot was officially vacant.

But, like many things, I could be wrong.

Whatever, Pat Kelsey has embraced Louisville hoops, with its voracious fan base.

Props again to my man Smarts. He was on Kelsey before most had even heard of the guy.

— c d kaplan

One thought on “Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Cards, Quad +++

  1. A few personal observations, for what they’re worth:

    As much as I enjoy seeing the Hoosiers lose, Cards fans need to be rooting for them the rest of the season. See the Quad definitions above.

    I’ve noticed that the most recent ex-Card head coach is assisting Coach Cal in Fayetteville. Wonder if that explains the Razorbacks’ poor start in the conference?

    Speaking of the Razorbacks, one of the best names of the season has to be guard Boogie Fland.

    And I’ve noted this before. They Cards play tough defense, without getting called for a lot of fouls. Hope they can keep that going.

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