Comeuppance: “a fate deserved.”

That would be the relative No Show in Fayetteville.

The antonym of that: Well, absolution, and/or uh exoneration kinda but don’t exactly work. It’s still early in a long season.

Vindication.

That’s the one.

Louisville 87, Indiana 78.

What follows may be gibberish.

Despite the Cardinals überfast start — 16-0 after six minutes — despite the reality that U of L never relinquished the lead — the closest IU came was 7 late — despite all that your scribe was a nervous wreck, has a major pit (sorry for too much info) and my fingers are still wobbly as I try to decipher my copious often illegible notes, and knock out this homage to a great W.

The Cards have another great moment in NapTown.

 * * * * *

Before I start, here’s what I know is going to happen.

Readers are going to say, how could you not mention . . . ?

My apologies in advance.

I’m going to start with Kobe Rodgers, next to whose name at one point I jotted POG? And not one but two of my peeps have texted his name postgame.

He was so steady in relief.

Scored some big points, made some major plays, including a couple triples.

Stat-wise he fashioned a perfecto.

4/4 2/2 2/2. A couple of rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal.

More important, a calming national championship presence.

 * * * * *

Next: Isaac McKneely. More important than his five treys in 9 attempts is how important each net tickler seemed to be.

On two consecutive possessions after the first media stoppage of the tilt for that 16 nil advantage. Letting Indiana and a nervous U of L fan base understand that the Cardinals were locked, loaded and not to be denied,

Then early in the 2d after the horrible third foul call on Mikel Brown.

Another with 9:15 left after a few fallow possessions.

And what has come to be known as the dagger: With 1:27 to go for an absolutely positively insurmountable 12 point lead.

 * * * * *

I’ve said it before and repeat: J’Vonne Hadley is the most important dude on the squad.

He is the epoxy, the stickum that holds this whole developing Cardinal contingent together.

His stats don’t really matter, but are telling.

16 points. 6 rebounds. A team leading +15.

 * * * * *

Sanny Fru, who is becoming a more significant cog by the game.

12 points. 3/3. 5/7 at the line. Team leading 7 boards.

 * * * * *

OK, it’s time to talk Ryan Conwell.

Playing in his home town in front of family and friends.

Team leading 21 points.

While wearing lavender blue dilly dilly sneakers.

 * * * * *

Other stats/ things/ moments that come to mind in this delicious delirious aftermath:

The Big Pyramid (Aly Khalifa), a threeball and 3 assists.

Adrian Wooley, six rebounds in only 8 minutes.

The clearout Pat Kelsey drew up for that Brown slam out of a timeout for a 71-56 lead. Which kickstarted a minute long interlude with a couple steals and a couple deuces for 19 point measure with just under five left to play.

The Charity Stripe: Louisville drained 86% of its FTs.

Including this: 17/17 after intermission. That, my friends, is 100%.

Louisville’s old schoolish unis.

How Louisville for the most part answered whenever the Hoosiers seemed to get a possible momentum changing hoop.

OK, maybe there’s more. Maybe tomorrow. Its time to just rest and savor this one.

—  c d kaplan