It is now time — long past time actually — for you conspiratorial Philistines to crawl back down that hole you crawled out of.

Let Snowmageddon freeze it shut and seal you there once and for all and forever.

I’m talking about those who came with No Nothing Chitter Chatter about Mikel Brown Jr during his injury absence.

Calling into Glorious Editor’s or Marques Maybin’s show and espousing some BS you heard from a dude on his 11th Bud at Gerstle’s how MB and his dad are keeping him out because: 1) They don’t want to hurt his draft stock; (As if that strategy actually made sense.) or 2) They want more money, or 3) Some other poo poo ka ka.

During Brown’s absence, the Cards went 4-4 (following a 9-1 start with him), averaging 15 less ppg.

In case you were tied up standing in a check out line at Aldi behind people actually handwriting checks for their groceries and balancing their account before moving on, here’s what Brown did on Saturday in Louisville’s 85-71 W over an icy hot shooting, shot blocking Virginia Tech squad.

After in case you didn’t notice, Brown wore his back brace during warmups.

During his astounding 28 minutes of PT, he scored a team leading 20 on 7/11 (3/6) shooting.

Grabbed three rebounds. And served up 6 assists.

Among his many significant contributions:

He tallied the Cards’ first score. A triple.

Hustled down court on fast breaks twice early on. For a deuce to make it 13-11. For a rim hanging slam for a 32-19 advantage,

He tallied a +1 on my favorite play of the game, when Sanada Fru sealed off a lane to the hoop. 42-24.

Midway through the 2d, he was the only Card in double figures. (Fru with a double double, Ryan Conwell and Mr. Steady J’Vonne Hadley entered that category for the game.)

When Tech proved they weren’t going to cool off from distance, Brown had several answers. A couple more treys. Another +1. Several timely dimes.

It has been clear to anybody with any sense of the situation, with even the merest scintilla of knowledge of the game and Brown’s personality . . .

. . . he wanted back on the court ASAP . . .

. . . and Louisville is a Much More Formidable Team when Their Best Player Is On The Court.

 * * * * *

Louisville can thank that 14-3 surge over the final 3:54 of the 1st for W.

It gave U of L that fifteen point advantage, 37-22 at the break, which proved significant.

Because the Cards defense during the final stanza was matadorial and lenient.

The Hokies never pulled closer than 8 in the second. Thanks to that margin at the break, the game didn’t become a barn burner.

Plus to mention that the Cards immediately went up 11 on the next trip when that Brown fella found his German teammate for a +1.

How lax was Louisville’s D in the 2d?

The visitors drained  17 of their 29 attempts. 59%. From beyond the arc it was even more disturbing. 11/17. 65%.

The Cardinals should feel blessed that VT’s defense wasn’t exactly lock down.

Also, to be worried over is the Cardinals’ continuing propensity to cough up the orange.

 * * * * *

Next: Duke. Monday. Durham, NC.

Am I the only one hoping it gets postponed, even cancelled due to snow?

— c d kaplan