It was a somewhat surprising turn for Louisville Basketball the past few days after the Cards 8th consecutive W in front of the largest home crowd in years.
Hoopsylvanians everywhere outside the Greater Louisville Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area began to take notice.
One might offer — OK c’est moi — that the hunter has become the hunted.
Circumspect, I call it unnerving.
The analytics dudes and NET place the Cards firmly in the 29-30 range. While the AP writers have vaulted them to #25. After starting the campaign without anybody looking in this direction.
From underdog to the data gurus saying the Cards should be faves in every game after tonight’s.
Yes, bets’r’us.com had the Mustangs as a short favorite. But U of L hoops is legendary. The Cards are sitting above SMU in the league standings. Andy Enfield was ready to make a statement in his new home.
So, yeah, Cards became the hunted.
Which is what faced this surging mature squad in Big D.
* * * * *
And . . . and . . . and . . . well . . .
. . . uh, never-mind.
There is a motif going on here.
Louisville’s maturity.
Louisville’s presence.
Louisville’s ninth win in a row.
Louisville 98, Southern Methodist 73 .
A 25 point crusher that frankly wasn’t close to that close.
I mean, really.
Cards got in foul trouble late, slowed down. One couldn’t help but think a war of attrition was afoot.
But. They. Were. So. Far. Ahead. The. Whole. Game. It. Didn’t. Matter.
The personality of this incredible U of L team — fast rising to status as one of the fans’ favorites ever — was on display coming out of Pat Kelsey-called timeout with 5:37 left.
James Scott, Chucky Hepburn, J’Vonne Hadley and Reyne Smith had four fouls each.
U of L’s once 30+ advantage was down to 17 at 82-65. The listing ship was taking on water.
Then, this.
Reyne Smith triple.
SMU answer with a deuce.
No biggie. Terrence Edwards three.
Stop.
James Scott slam off another of Hepburn’s school record 16 assists.
Stop.
Then the Cardinals put the foo foo on the boo boo, baby. (A lyric I heard in a Lettuce tune the other day that I’ve been wanting to use.)
James Scott from beyond the arc.
Come On!!!!!
Which barrage pushed the advantage back to 26.
Just when you thought it might fall apart, that the Cardinals might end up with a nail-biter, they went full on Emeril, kicked it up a notch.
Oh my.
* * * * *
There are too many things that were so sweet to talk about.
But it is way way way past my time for beddie bye.
So, I’ll mention a few. And probably, maybe, possibly post a Part Deux on the morrow.
Fair?
U of L had 27 assists on 31 FGs.
I thought the first one without an assist was Hadley’s shot clock prayer with 12:44 left. But just double checked the box score, and Chucky was given an assist on that one.
I know it was 14 on 14 at the half when Louisville led by 23.
Oh well.
Louisville netted 19 three-pointers (Down Under went school record 10/17), 12 deuces. In all, 31/67. 46% Long range, 19/42. 45%
17/19 at the line.
U of L never trailed. Hepburn hit his first couple treys, Hadley his. 9-4 lead very early. Smacked in the face, SMU never really recovered.
So sorry kids, I’m starting to fade here.
The thrall of this victory has worn me to a frazzle.
I’ll have to get back to you.
* * * * *
What follows was written in advance of the tilt, knowing it wouldn’t be over until late.
The image is indelible.
Black and white.
High contrast like a Weegee photo.
Film Noir.
More grisly.
Staring at the TV in The Professor’s den on 3/17/67 when the #2 Cardinals gave up an uncontested layup after a center court jumpball on a held ball. (Yes, kids, this alternating possession is a relatively new thing, instituted because zebras have trouble tossing it up straight.)
Thus U of L was felled by unranked SMU in its first NCAA game. 81-83.
Worst ever, says I.
Worse than San Diego.
Worse than US Reed.
Worse than Dave Corzine.
Did tonight’s boffo victory extinguish that memory?
Probably not.
But that will not be the SMU game I’ll dream about this cold night.
— c d kaplan
VERY nice “beddie-by” piece and no doubt fueled by unbrideled exuberance.
I should have bet the “nine” and taken odds. You know, it must be “Reyne drops falling from your eyes” Seedy. If not yours, then mine.
This a TEAM which loves assisting, rebounding and playing D as much as generating O.
Our team made SMU reminded me of how we looked too often in the last few years. PK predicted rock fight, but they threw bricks and we made string music.
Pls pardon my 3am grammar, but you get the point?
Elite basketball is a pure joy. Thank you, Coach Kelsey.
Beat Wake.
Yes that 1967 loss was due to very faulty coaching decision by J Dromo when Fred Holden our guard with a really good “J” but no hops, was jumping at center court against the SMU center and we had our other guard behind Freddy “protecting”our basket….. but to get to another point at least in my opinion more kudos to PK for using requests for reviews of plays for potential flagrant fouls several times which provides for more rest for his short bench during min timeouts to be able for his players to continue to go at top speed. A basketball adaptation of the football players remaining on the ground “needing medical attention” and then running off the field. PK is always thinking
To think I was so tentative about this game! This coach, this team, this is what I so wanted for so long. Next we start pulling in relatively unknown ballers as fresh!
The Texan fans sure showed up. Hearing a super loud CARDS cheer near the end of the game was another goosebumply moment.
TIL the alternating possession arrow is because of the refs. I don’t like the change because a team can fight valiantly for possession only to see it go right back. Can’t the tech folks invent a handheld automatic precision ball tosser for that perfect toss every time?