Another in a series when I rewatch a key game from the past and file a GameCap as if it was played yesterday.

As loud as it was in Freedom Hall at the conclusion of the final regular season tussle against Memphis State, when Milt Wagner did what he does — swishing important FTs — little could we have imagined it would be a harbinger of how the Cardinals would advance in the post season.

Ever improving U of L is heading yet again to the Final Four after a harrowing 84-76 win over feisty Auburn in Houston in the Elite Eight.

This will be HC Denny Crum’s sixth trip to the last weekend of the season, fourth in six years.

A W over Dale Brown’s LSU Tigers and Louisville will have an opportunity for another championship banner to hang in Freedom Hall.

The possibility didn’t come easy.

And it came to pass thanks to the Cardinals’ prowess at the charity stripe down the stretch.

U of L finally snatched what would be the lead for good with three minutes left, thanks to a J from Billy Thompson. 71-70.

The outcome was still in doubt when BT stepped to the line for 1 +1 at 1:26, Louisville only up three. Both went down for a 77-72 margin.

Thompson’s pair made him 22/25 freebies for the tourney in the last four minutes.

Herb Crook followed with another pair. He’s 22/26 in the last four minutes of the Dance.

Then Milt hit a couple.

Of course, he did.

His totals in the last 240 seconds of tourney games is 35/37.

“Make your FTs, Win the game.”

It’s been pretty much an absolute since that Naismith guy put up the first peach basket, an added FTs a few years later.

The Professor reminds just about every game.

 * * * * *

This one was tight the whole way.

Auburn netted their first five shots. A couple of Chuck Person’s jumpers were from long range, near the NBA three point line on the Summit hardwood.

The Cards matched them for the most part. Neither squad had more than a three point advantage in the 1st.

Cards led 44-43 at the break. Both teams at that juncture were draining shots at well over 50% from the field.

The Tigers led for most of the 2d, but their largest margin was 4 at 54-50.

That boffo marksmanship continued throughout despite stalwart D by both the Cards and Tigers.

U of L was 34/63 for the afternoon. 54%. Auburn, 33/62, 53%.

At the line, U of L was 16/20 (80%), Auburn 10/14 (72%).

 * * * * *

Superb Herb Crook led the Cards with 20, and on the boards with 11.

Milt Wagner, 8/8 at the line, scored 16, 12 in the 2d.

Pervis Ellison tallied 15, Jeff Hall 14, and Thompson 13.

 * * * * *

Another tourney matchup with UK was thwarted when the Wildcats fell in the Mideast Final.

Beat Louisiana State.

— c d kaplan

A recap of a Cardinal game from the past, as if it was just played.

Given what is now a fitful night of tossin’ and turnin’, a half eaten breakfast — if that — and a double dose of Pepcid away, the abject tension of Louisville’s victory over Arkansas is just about a faint memory of the distant past.

The pivot from last night to next has been palpably immediate.

Tomorrow afternoon, on the composite court of Stokely Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee, the University of Louisville will battle the University of Kentucky in a basketball game.

It is of consequence. The victor shall advance to the Final Four.

Of considerably more importance, the victor shall be King of Hoops on the dark and bloody ground of the Commonwealth.

B-Ball Supremacy in the epicenter of college basketball awaits.

The Wildcats punched their ticket with a narrow 64-59 W over Indiana in the doubleheader’s opener.

Then, thanks to a literal last second tip in by Scooter McCray or Charles Jones or both the Cardinals advanced, 65-63.

It is a dream match up, a quarter century in the longing.

Since U of L upset UK in the ’59 ME regional final, outscoring the Cats by 23 in the 2d to prevail 76-61, there have been a couple of misfiring drive bys. In ’75, U of L couldn’t close UCLA. Last year, UK choked against Middle Tennessee.

The long awaited match up is now on the morrow.

And, as it is my charge, I need to chronicle how the Cards got there. Continue reading Roundball Rewind: Arkansas ’83 ME Semi →

Not So Breaking News:

The latest (and oldest) on the upcoming Cards’ blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Bahamian adventure.

No TV. No streaming. No radio. No second game. No OEjr. No KK. (Learn the squad’s initials, you’ll be seeing them a lot here.) No chartered flight. No Tommy Bahama souvenir merch.

If I hear any other info as or right after it happens, you’ll hear it second. Always call my guy Smarts first.

 * * * * *

Who among us has not contemplated a demarcation line of some sort along the way?

Studying 20th C History?

There’s the Maginot Line. Gun placements and impediments of various sorts, intending to fortify France, ostensibly protecting its eastern flank against the aggression of Germany.

In baseball, there are the ballplayers who infamously “aren’t hitting their weight.”

If the realm is elderly golfers, there’s the gold standard of scoring lower than you’re age.

Which brings me to a Saturday morning contemplation about college basketball players who shall be making more money next season than LeBron James, who is taking his talents to Philadelphia. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Caribbean TripTik & LeBron NIL Line →

He arrived at Louisville the same year as Denny Crum.

Planning to try out for the Cardinals’ freshman team. A New Yorker he was aware of but not fully immersed in local hoops culture.

Needing to ball, Rich Shay meandered over to Crawford Gym one afternoon before classes started for the semester.

The gym was empty but for one guy shooting around by himself. Soon enough, they started playing one on one. First half court, then full court.

Shay advises he held his own, could get to the hoop. But was dazzled by the fellow’s long range shooting.

“Louie Dampier.”

Welcome to the epicenter of hoops, my man.

Shay’s next significant encounter in Crawford was with the answer to the great Louisville hoops trivia question, who was Wes Unseld’s backup? Continue reading Crawford Chronicles: Shay Edition →