For sure I’m enamored with the ’05 Cardinals.

Not just because they got us back, back in, back in the FiFiFinal Four.

Self Indulgences:

That January the Film Babe, another couple and I visited The Professor and his bride, who took to wintering in Sydney. Where it was summer. The dates of which holiday were aligned so we’d be back for a big game against Marquette on the 26th.*

*A return journey that had us spending a second sleepless Saturday night (International Dateline and all) on cots in a baggage claim area at O’Hare when we missed our connecting flight home. While some workers were jackhammering the sidewalk right outside. Why four allegedly intelligent people would fly through Chicago in dead of winter remains unexplained.

2005 was before we schlepped a laptop with us everywhere we went. At least my old school krewe.

So The Prof and I would stroll a block away to the closest internet cafe for Cardinal results. When on separate computers we simultaneously discovered Louisville had surprisingly won at Cincy, we turned and started whoopin’ and hollerin’ and high fivin’ to the confusion of the others present, cricket fans all.

That was the year U of L opened its tourney journey in Nashville. In the elevator of my hotel upon arrival I ran into (Name Drop Alert) Micheal Wilbon, whom I of course engaged, regaling him with factoids about my team.

I ran into him again right after the Cardinals had hammered Georgia Tech in Round 2. Remembering our previous conversation, he smiled, rolled his eyes and said, “They’re legit. A contender.”

One more thing about that tourney. I thought exactly the same thing as Larry O’Bannon when the Cards were placed in Washington’s region. No prob. True. Cards over Huskies by an easy 14.

We all got Pittsnoggle game tales. Mine are no different than the norm. Fun.

Worthy recipients of of all accolades, those ’05 Louisville Cardinals

 * * * * *

The opening of this exercise is like an LP that keeps playing the same interlude at that spot where you dropped a seed while handling some herbal refreshment.

It’s how I roll.

Louisville Cardinal Metrics Check:

Ken Pomeroy: 28

Bart Torvik: 24

Evan Miyakawa: 26

NCAA Net: 28

That ESPN BPI Outlier: Somewhere south of Never Never Land.

Human Beings:

Bracket Matrix: 7 Seed.

The polls: 27, 28, 29 ish.

As with most things in this life that tend to balance out over time, U of L’s remaining schedule is a blessing and a curse. To invent a phrase.

It is obviously much more manageable than the gauntlet with which the Cardinals opened. Which also means a burp and that “Should Be In” status gets more precarious. Takin’ care o’ biz is the mantra from here on out.

Losing by a lot to Tennessee in November is not as hurtful as if the Cards falling to California at home in March might be.

It must be remembered these numbers are contextual. It’s not only what the Cards do, but what every other team does, especially the ones that U of L has competed against, and the ones similarly situated.

Which universities include but are not limited to UCLA, Baylor, Ohio State, Clemson (Who’d they piss off at the ACC for a Duke/ Carolina Saturday/ Monday?), Texas, Creighton, UConn, Pittsburgh, Georgia & Others.

Also, given the abundance of results in, way more than a majority of what there shall eventually be by Selection Sunday, any single result is unlikely to move the needle very much in either direction on the meter.

Witness the Eastern Kentucky escape. Witness the Georgia Tech setback.

Absent a meltdown of, oh, Phoenix in July proportion.

So, what I’m saying here is what I’ve said all along, win the next one. The KP, BT and EM rankings have injury situation factored in. The others not so much.

Here’s what would be good for Louisville. Chucky Hepburn back on the court. James Scott back on the court with as many teeth as are left.*

*Why aren’t these kids all wearing mouth guards?

Most important: Win next.

Beat N.C. State.

 * * * * *

I am somewhat ambivalent about the unis the Cards wore during the Miami victory.

Love there was simply the Dunking Cardinal and a number on the front. Seriously cool. Also kind of like absence of players’ names on back.

But I’ve never taken to Louisville taking the court in black. Or gray for that matter.

It’s obviously sweet to honor Black Excellence as it was to honor the iconic Dirt Bowl.

Though I gotta admit, don’t know how exactly the uniforms did that. Other than people saying it was so. At first glance at the ones on Saturday looked like they were for Maryland and got shipped here by mistake.

Anyhow, it is of no consequence really. The players seem to like the constant changes. And, as long as adidas wants to pay for the privilege, bring ’em.

 * * * * *

My feelings about Rick Pitino are not exactly love/hate.

Never loved the guy. Remember talking with long time Asst SID Kathy Tronzo at the Rick’s introductory coronation and we rolled our eyes, agreeing it was a devil’s bargain.

Got that right.

Don’t hate him. Do hate what happened, hate his actions and inactions that germinated into years of trudging along Desolation Row. But . . .

. . . the fellow is charismatic. Intriguing.

He can really coach. Really coach.

Love watching St. John’s. Violent D. Do what they can on offense. Which is an old school mid range game.

The Johnnies got it goin’.

 * * * * *

Sayonara Mike Woodson.

Will be fascinating to see who sits in his chair next year.

Dusty May is obviously the first call. The Wolverine coach, former Bobby Knight manager was coy when asked about the job after Michigan won in Assembly Hall over the weekend.

If not him, I got two Pat Kelsey-ish suggestions for the Crimson & Cream decision makers.

Texas Tech’s Grant McCasland.

Drake’s Ben McCollum.

Remember when Florida hired San Francisco’s Todd Golden, whom most had never heard of? Seems to be working out for the Gators. Won at Auburn on Saturday.

— c d kaplan