I want to dive into the difference between the American goal tending/ basket interference rule and that for the rest of the globe.

That was in play in the singular “controversial” moment of U of L’s draw and quartering of South Carolina State, 104-45.

Because there wasn’t much tension after this:

On the Cards’ opening possession, rookie phenom Mikel Brown Jr. tried to connect with J’Vonne Hadley for a thirty foot alley oop. The pass sailed high over the outstretched arms of the receiver.

Next five possessions:

Hadley assist to Isaac McThreely for a triple. (Yes, it’s trite. Too obvious. Too cute perhaps. But gotta be.)

McThreely bomb. Assist Ryan Conwell.

Sanny Fru stopfer. Assist Brown.

Hadley threeball. Assist Brown.

Hadley fast break deuce. Assist Brown.

Dare I go there again after Saturday’s pigskin breakdown? Yes.

“What can Brown do for you?” A lot. Be it Mikel, Isaac or Keyjuan.

C’mon, marketing gurus. How about some billboards with the three of them driving UPS trucks.

Anyhow, three minutes and thirty one seconds in, ball game was over.

5/5 from the field. 5 assists. A couple forced turnovers.

Louisville kept its foot on the throttle. 21-2 at the next stoppage.

27-4 at the 10:40 mark after the dazed visitors tallied their first FG, following a dozen misses.

 * * * * *

Which led to the moment.

Sanny Fru followed an errant shot with a put back.

Goal Tending called.

Pat Kelsey, realizing he wouldn’t need a challenge in the pocket for a critical moment late in the game, called for a review.

Play upheld. Caroming ball which Fru netted said to be within the cylinder.

In International ball, once the rock is on or around the rim, it’s fair game. Makes sense. Especially in contemporary times when rebounding/ put back battles are many and fierce.

That’s the game Fru has been playing in Germany until this season. His play was instinctual.

And, for all the rules that are tweaked year to year, the goal tending rule is one that needs to be.

Sanny’s play should be legal.

But isn’t. Yet.

 * * * * *

The beatdown continued.

27-4 begat 36-8 which begat 59-15 at intermission.

At which juncture, Louisville had 13 assists on 16 made FGs on 31 attempts. 8/19 from Treyville. 19/24 at the line. (Lots of SCS fouls.)

All ten Cardinals had rebounded. ( Fru grabbed 5.) Nine of 10 Cards had scored. Eight of ten Cardinals had an assist. (Brown dished 5.)

Louisville’s relentless press, admittedly against a hapless foe, forced a dozen turnovers. 17 points off of them.

 * * * * *

After the break, same starting scenario.

After a miss on the Cards’ opening foray, this:

Fru to Brown to Hadley for a deuce.

Brown to McThreely for threeball.

Brown drive and dunk.

Conwell FT.

67-15.

Frankly, it was pretty boring from then on. Especially at a late hour with a 9:05 tip thanks to ACCN.

 * * * * *

Notable.

The continuing emergence of Khani Rooths.

Aggressive. Confident. Ballin’.

Dunks. Two handed shot blocks. +1s.

Put up a game high twentyburger on 8/12 marksmanship. 7 boards. 3 assists. Alert D.

Sananda Fru continues to emerge from his cocoon.

8 rebounds. 9 points. A great shot block and save of it from out of bounds which didn’t count because his foot was on the endline. He still had a couple blocks that did count.

The Cardinals were 26/33 at the charity stripe. 79%. That’s one stat which needn’t be considered in the context of the quality of the opponent.

 * * * * *

South Carolina State isn’t any good.

But Louisville did what they should have.

They were relentless. And merciless. At least until it turned understandably sloppy midway through the 2d.

 * * * * *

Oh yeah, Mr. Walk Off, you know that Cole Sherman kid.

He drained the triple to push U of L past the century mark.

Next: Jackson State, a somewhat better but still lesser tuneup before the big one next week.

— c d kaplan