Hunch feeling.

That this 74-64 grind it out victory in the 101st game against Cincinnati will prove to be more meaningful as the season progresses.

Many of U of L’s gnawing issue were again exposed.

And overcome against a pesky Bearcat squad, though the flaws remain to be worked around.

Important, it says here, was the team’s maturation.

U of L was, can I say it, discombobulated from the start.

Louisville missed the first 10 FGs it attempted.

With 12:27 left in the 1st (7:33 gone), Mikel Brown Jr. hit layup. To pull the Cardinals within 9 at 6-15.

That kickstarted a 13 nil U of L run to counter Cincy’s. That deuce was followed by a Ryan Conwell three, a Brown triple, and a third by Queen City homie Kobe Rodgers.

Then a punch/ counterpunch muckfest unfolded. ending with a 4 point disadvantage at the break.

Flaws were exposed.

Brown’s rookieism. Aly Khalifa’s decision making. As well as his severe lack of hops. Sananda Fru’s lack of full realization. J’Vonne Hadley’s concerning propensity for head injuries. The questions about Kasean Pryor’s extent of contribution.

Khani Rooths lack of PT?

What happens when Louisville doesn’t shoot lights out.

Against the second best adjusted defense in the land, Louisville looked . . .

. . . Ordinary.

7 made FGs. 26%

-6 rebounding.

-8 paint points.

Too many fouls. Too many turnovers.

U of L looked quite beatable under the microscope of the first road game.

 * * * * *

The Cardinals calmed after the break, circumventing the quicksand.

Still not playing Second Weekend basketball, after a Pryor steal and Adrian Wooley drawing a two shot foul, they took a 38-37 lead with 16:38 left.

It was not relinquished.

An instant or even eventual classic it was not.

Former Xavier Musketeer Ryan Conwell, familiar with the crosstown rival, fueled the charge. He led the Cards with 25, 17 after halftime.

Mikel Brown calmed down, committing only one turnover, after giving it up three times early on.

He was Chucky at the line. 12/14. Louisville was 24/28. 86%. +14 even though committing four more personals than Cincinnati.

 * * * * *

Introspective interlude.

I now realize how arid this game rehash is.

Devoid of any clever bon mots. Lacking in wit.

No presentation of analytical data that might be missed by any but the most observant.

It’s not like I didn’t have shtick prepared.

Like how Rodgers and Kelsey spent more time on their cellphones paying attention to the X/ Elder football game than the hardwood encounter.

How the most significant Cincy game of my lifetime was in January ’67, a 58-59 L at the Bearcats old fieldhouse, a game I attended instead of taking the Graduate Records, thereby changing the course of my adult life.

Reality: This was not a very well played game by the Cardinals.

Making it a great win.

Prevailing ugly is a valuable character trait.

Gamecapping ugly, not so good, but it happens.

 * * * * *

Must herald U of L’s second half defense.

They jumped 15 spots in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings, from #49 to #34.

Louisville didn’t hit a field goal in final 3 minutes of the game.

No problem.

Eastern Michigan and New Jersey Institute of Technology next week.

Then the Bataan Death March Litmus Test.

— c d kaplan