In the 70s I was a sorta hippie*, masquerading as a counselor-at-law** at Legal Aid.

*I was fully immersed in the stoner, sex, drugs & rock & roll part, but never went full patchouli.

**I have classmates to this day who have never quite figured out how I scored enough points to pass the bar exam. Given that I spent the evening before the last day in Cincy at a concert by The Who and The James Gang. More than surprised myself actually.

During the holidays our office abided by the Schuetze plan. Half the staff would have off Christmas week, the rest New Year’s week. I’d always take the latter.

My propensity for a life of frolic cranked to 11 would come to a screeching, depressing road block New Year’s night, right about halftime of the Orange Bowl. The grind returned with the morning’s dawn. A pall ensued.

These days my life is more subdued. Understatement that.

But that same feeling of emptiness arrives on the morning after the final Monday of the hoops season.

Yesterday it was especially heavy. A friend inquired how I was doing, to which I answered I’d love to go to sleep and wake up at opening tipoff next November.

Not really, but you catch the drift.

So I muddled through the day, a jonesing hoopaholic seeking succor through some other less than impactful obsessions than blow. I bought a pair of sandals I kinda need. And a funky pair of shorts which I absolutely do not.

Then took a deep dive into a piffle of a new Ted Lasso-ish comedy series, starring Kate Hudson as the owner of a professional b-ball franchise. While power consuming ten times the MDR of truffle popcorn.

Somewhere along the way while on the elliptical, I happened upon a game in the African pro league. Despite the presence of Anas Mahmoud, it was about as satisfying as some of the ahem I bought back in the day, which had been stepped on more than a welcome mat at the entryway of a Buc-ee’s.

Eventually the day did turn.

When I saw the first of the plethora of Way Too Early Top 25 predictions.

Withdrawal morphed to anticipation.

At theathletic.com, CJ Moore has the Cardinals in the 4 spot. At cbssports.com, Gary Parrish is little less bullish, but still ranks U of L at 12. USA Today has Louisville at 10, 24/7 at 11.

John Fanta at foxsports.com places PK and his revamped squad at 3. As does Jeff Borzello at espn.com.

Heady stuff.

That’s a consensus #7.

Smokin’

My heart lightened.

Later in the day, came the news about J’Vonne Hadley. Who will be the mature old head in the locker room.

Huzzah.

 * * * * *

As for Monday’s game, not much to share that you haven’t read or heard already.

We’re down to sticks and stems.

What I’d offer is a team has a better chance of winning if it doesn’t turn it over on the last four possessions of a one score game.

For which, much credit to Florida’s D.

Plus I have a theory about why the Cougars haven’t gotten over the hump yet in Kelvin Sampson’s run. Despite Houston’s incredible effort and defensive intensity, the offense is meh.

There is an inelegance to it, a lack of sophistication and panache.

The young guys, not only are embracing analytics, but are also finding new ways, nuances, to move the rock, get guys open.

Todd Golden. Dan Hurley. Pat Kelsey. Grant McCasland. They are the future. Plus actually the now.

Sampson. Tom Izzo. Even lauded Rick Pitino. As marvelous as their coaching continues to be, the undercurrent is always old school.

It’s nature’s way.

— c d kaplan