This is being written, TV off, immediately after the final buzzer in Chestnut Hill.

Louisville 84, Boston College 58.

What are absolutely positively unequivocally the most important takeaways I do not know the answers to as I sit.

Chucky Hepburn’s health?.

J’Vonne Hadley’s health?.

Hopefully you will know the answers by the time you read.*

*I did not see Hadley’s postgame TV interview, but am advised he indicated both were OK, were “dogs.” I am further advised Pat Kelsey was somewhat more circumspect in his remarks about those issues. Fingers crossed.  

CH was observed joshing and laughing on the bench for the last fifteen minutes of the game. After taking one in the ol’ block & tackle. A good sign. 

The extent of JH’s malaise, if any, I haven’t a clue, other than the above second hand knowledge. 

If they are OK, the beatdown is even more heartening than that the Cards eventually got back in sync, slicing and dicing an overmatched conference foe on their home floor. It would mean U of L can suffer a temporary loss of their two key cogs, and still soar.

When Hepburn hobbled off the court with 15:15 left, the Cardinals were up 9 at 48-39. They prevailed by 26. My abacus, confirmed by a slide rule double check, tells me they were +17 the rest of the way. 

They were also +3 after Hadley left. 

Again, assuming no lasting injuries, that’s boffo.

 * * * * * 

The one stat from the first half that really grabbed my attention: Cards committed only one foul. 

I thought the defense was lax, the ten point advantage at the break sort of an illusion. BC had 5 treys, but were held to just one more after intermission.

Also too many turnovers. Eight before the break, only three after. 

The opening stanza was a game of runs. Classic cliché. But true here. 

Cards 12-0 to forge ahead 16-4.

Eagles 8-0 to pull within 5 at 19-14.

Cards answered with next ten for a 29-14 lead.

BC pulled closer scoring the next 8. 29-22.

 * * * * * 

Eight and a half minutes into the 2d, Louisville up only a dozen, I jotted in my notes: “No Kills.” (Three stops in a row.)

The Cardinals had the home team measured. But the hammer hadn’t come down.

Yet.

Then came this :48 sequence: Terrence Edwards deuce. Khani Rooths steal, Edwards bucket. Hadley pilfer, Rooths fastbreak layup. 63-48.

U of L broke ’em. 

 * * * * * 

Noah Waterman returned to the hardwood at the 13:25 mark of the 1st. 

Another blessing. 

Which was sanctified when he threw up a stop sign to an Eagles surge with his first triple since the 12th of Never.

Once again Kader Traore was catalyst upon entry and when needed. 

He scored on the first two possessions he was on the court. An alert follow slam on a fastbreak. A two in the paint next trip down. He stopped a BC minirun with another paint 2 for a 37-29 advantage. 

He finished with nine points, and a team leading 11 rebounds.

 * * * * *

Edwards proved he can run the show, and still do what he usually does. At least in the short term. 

19 points. 8 rebounds. 6 assists.

Hadley 22 and 4.

Rooths 7 and 4.

 * * * * * 

It was far from a work of art. 

But saying that about a 26 point conference W on the road is fun. 

U of L stands 17-6 (10-2), and absent a meltdown like that insurance shill’s wax statue of himself, will hear its name called on Selection Sunday. 

As. Long. As. They. Keep. Takin’. Care. Of. Biz.

Beat Miami. 

— c d kaplan