Art.
That’s where I’m going to start.
Not by invoking my favorite Cardinal Art(s), Kaplan and Zubrod. Who somewhere up there watched this together, as they do, making sure the Cards make their FTs.
I mean art art.
Specifically Alexander Calder.
You familiar with this 20th C artist of note?
He’s most famous for his mobiles.
Different geometric shapes hanging in various configurations by thin wiring. Which somehow stay in balance, though it never seems like it ought to be.
That’s the brilliance of the configurations.
That’s also the importance of team chemistry. Balance. Each portion in its place.
Ah, but but subtract a piece, move one to a different spot . . .
. . . no more balance.
Koyaanisqatsi.
That’s a Hopi word for “life out of balance.” (I know, come with the movie reference.)
Which the University of Louisville Cardinals had to overcome to best a game but overmatched BC squad Saturday afternoon.
75-62 was the final in what should not have been — under normal circumstances — a dog fight. Or bird fight, Eagles and Cardinals, don’t you know.
But . . .
No Mikel Brown. Again.
As the grumbling grows, and questions mount.
No Ryan Conwell. Knee.
Described as not a major problem. Fingers crossed.
Thank the scheduling Gods for today’s foe. Tougher opponents ahead.
* * * * *
Without their PG Brown, who happens to be Louisville’s second leading scorer, and Conwell their leading scorer, the Cardinals, despite pulling away in the 2d, were never really in sync.
Understandable. But not optimal for success moving forward.
Saturday’s recipe for victory was pretty simple.
First, satisfy the Art(s) and make your FTs.
19/25 (76%). My guys are smiling. Versus 7/16 (44%).
+12.
Second, eschew the usual modus operandi — firing long range ballistic missiles at will — and batter the visitors in the paint.
38 for Louisville. 18 for BC.
+20. Exclamation point.
* * * * *
U of L’s first advantage came after 26:00 minutes of action, with 14:00 left to the buzzer.
An Aly Khalifa triple. 44-43.
But, after an Adrian Wooley FT, the Cards surrendered the advantage. As they did all night, until, thank heavens, a few moments later.
When the Cardinals’ defense tightened up. When Isaac McKneely found his focus.
A triple by the former Wahoo pushed Lousville ahead 53-50. BC answered.
Finally with a bit over 8:00 left, Lousville took charge.
Another McThreely. Followed by a stop. Then a Khani Rooths deuce. Sananda Fru in the paint. A Wooley steal and end to end score.
62-53.
The Cards were in control. Dodging what might have been a serious season-altering bullet.
* * * * *
Louisville’s indispensable Ich bin ein Berliner double dubbed with 19 and 13. A couple of blocks and a steal. +24.
Adrian Wooley was a difference maker with 16, 6 boards and 4 assists.
Khani Rooths thankfully has escaped the doghouse. Great D, 11 boards, and a couple blocks.
Mr. Glue, J’Vonne Hadley a solid 11 and 4.
Isaac McKneely’s 13 were imperative for the W.
* * * * *
Wins like today’s, overcoming adversity, are always to be savored.
Let’s hope all those pieces return soon.
And with them the balance so crucial for Cardinals long term success.
— c d kaplan
odd that Johnson was dressed and went through pre-game warm-ups, but was in T-shirt and sweats and watched his teammates warm ups before the 2nd half standing on the baseline
Seedy I don’t know if you saw my post on an older stale thread or not, but whoever I read that said Kentucky is now a Quad 2 win was correct.
https://bballnet.com/teams/louisville
Saw it. Shrug. Out of our control. And subject to change back, should UK get its act together.
Yes it could move back the right direction. Out current 2 – 4 Qaud 1 record is a bit depressing, but oh well.
I check out KSR every now and then. They seem to think uk’s issues are unfixable.
It was pretty clear early that PK had added to his teams playbook. First it was guarding someone without using your hands. The 1st 2 subs got a physical demonstration from him. I could then see that all the guys on the floor weren’t extending their arms and making contact with the opponent. The second change was adding an inside game to our repertoire. It took a while for the team to practice what coach had preached but with 6 or so to go in the first half they got more confidence in this novel approach of getting the ball to someone on our team real close to the basket. We even saw a couple of mid range jumpers in the second half.
The drama around Mikel is uber distracting for the fan base. It has brought out the Heird and Kelsey haters in force. I don’t enjoy arguing with fellow Card fans but sometimes I am weak and other times I just leave the forum.
Make the first one ❤️❤️
I won’t refer to him as McThreely until he adds about 5 points to that open 3 shooting percentage. While his 13 second half points could be called imperative, his empty first half minutes helped put us in that halftime hole.
Against a schedule of teams with a plan to keep him from shooting treys, he’s connecting on 38%.
True, but discounting our 6 blowout wins against lesser foes, he is at 31%. Since December 1, its 29% (excluding Montana)
As the Wizard of Westwood often exclaimed, “hurry but don’t rush”.
If I were a person in a position to so advise, I would consider doing so w respect to paint touches.
Koyaanisqatsi., an excellent flick , highly recommend in these times.
Go Cards get healthy and even more balance