Tag Archives: NCAA Tournament

Revival for Cardinal 9?

Baseball,

Because it’s how we roll here, let’s start this shoutout to the Cardinal 9, returning to a Quest for Omaha for first time in three seasons, with a concert last Saturday evening.

Music informs sports, one might say. Me. Or, vice versa?

“This is It”, right? What legit U of L fan doesn’t identify that ditty with a most special moment.

Mandolin maestro Sam Bush played that sweet little festival in Paristown over the weekend.

He who sort of invented newgrass music, and sort of adopted our burg as his hometown after growing up in Bowling Green, appropriately opened his ever energetic set with Grandpa Jones’ “Eight More Miles to Louisville.”

Then did Tim Krekel’s “All Night Radio.” Which could very well be the anthem for those of us who were 12 year old insecure chubbies, but found succor listening to WLAC through an earplug on his transistor radio beside his pillow.*

*God bless Mom and Dad, who never minded. 

Where was I when the lights went out?/ Up in my room listening to twist and shout
Hot summer nights by the window fan/ Out on the airwave, a big dance band/ On the all night radio…/ I gotta hear the new sound/ From across the ocean/ All strange and soulful,/ Full of new emotion

Now to the point — Louisville baseball is in need of a restart. Too many late season meltdowns in recent years. Continue reading Revival for Cardinal 9? →

Chalk Talk: Last Four on the Floor & More

Basketball,

Yeah, chalk talk . . .

. . . . because, obviously, the four #1 seeds are the quartet that remain in play. Chalk.

And, because it reminded me that my first foray into sports punditry was titled “Chuck’s Chalk Talk.” In the early 60s for the Atherton Aerial. Indeed that’s the actual logo above.

Not only is this foursome this year’s best, they each rank in Ken Pomeroy’s Top 10 for all the seasons he’s been at it. Since ’96-’97. They all have adjusted O and adjusted D in the top ten this campaign, factoring in of course their Dance moves.

Plus, and it may be of interest only to me, yet something that simply makes me smile. Three of the coaches are of the Hebrew Persuasion. Bruce Pearl. Todd Golden. Jon Scheyer. The latter two of which have dual citizenship with Israel.

Not to be left out, Houston Cougar Emmanual Sharp is also an Israeli citizen.

A Star of David Final Four.

 * * * * *

Those of us who live beyond the Mason Dixon Line, figuratively if not literally, and outside the Confederate States of America are grateful the uberheralded SEC only has a couple still standing, one of which will battle Monday night. Continue reading Chalk Talk: Last Four on the Floor & More →

U of L GameCap: Creighton

Basketball, ,

Louisville 75, Creighton 89.

This is not the way a magical turnaround season for the Louisville Cardinals “should” have ended.

But it is how it did come to a close.

I am sad.

I am disappointed.

Every Cardinal fan is going to have their own take on what broke down for the Cards on Thursday afternoon. To be honest, I’m not sure I even wish to peek down that rabbit hole.

And, at some point or another, I might. Or maybe not. Probably not.

The year was simply too  surprisingly joyous a reinstatement of Louisville Basketball to dwell on what may have just been inevitable, all things considered.

There is but a singular statistic that I am choosing to wrap my arms around this gray, too cold beginning-of-spring afternoon.

2,191. Continue reading U of L GameCap: Creighton →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Seeding Tsuris

Basketball, ,

“This song, a girl took it away from me. A friend of mine. This girl just took this song. I’m gonna do it anyway.”

After which intro at Monterey Pop in ’67, Otis Redding, backed by Duck Dunn, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones, along with the Memphis Horns — Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love — ripped the joint with an incendiary version of “Respect.”

Aretha’s take was righteous, but My Man Otis, he was something else entirely. The best of them all, y’all.

R*E*S*P*E*C*T.

He took his tune back and proved to be the rightful owner at the hippy gathering.

As, he did when I heard him live at Louisville Gardens a few months before his plane crash.

One more analogy. Then we’ll get to the Cardinals. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Seeding Tsuris →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Quadrants ‘r’ Us

Basketball, , ,

At the risk of this seeming a fawning imitation of Glorious Editor, allow me to commence today’s exercise with some metrics. You know, like how he always starts with a point spread or something.

A little thing that will be known from now until Selection Sunday as 3Gs+Net. Referencing the three most respected hoops gurus, Ken Pomeroy, Bart Torkvik and Evan Miyakawa, plus the NCAA’s official rankings.

The Cardinals as of Thursday morning, January 30:

BT: 22.

KP: 25.

EM: 24.

NET: 25. Q1: 5-5, Q2: 3-0, Q3: 4-0, Q4: 4-0.

For comparison, if I counted correctly, there are 20 schools with winning Q1 records, and another dozen or so at .500 like U of L.

Translation: Were the bracket revealed today, U of L would be more than likely on the 5 or 6 line.

Yes, the ACC is down, way down this season. Louisville has not a lot ahead to add gloss to that resumé. Pitt. Stanford? Uh, that’s about it.

Here’s what’ll secure that spot: Just win, baybee. Starting with GT. And winning, as they have during this double digit W streak, by more than the metrics say they “should.”

Then come 7:00 pm on March 16, the Red&Black Nation be goin’ all Nicholas Brothers and Fred & Ginger. Jitterbuggin’. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Quadrants ‘r’ Us →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Days Dwindle with Controversy

Basketball, ,

No I’m not going to talk about the plane snafus of Hurley’s Huskies.

Flying sucks.

But shall comment briefly on the UConn women’s situation, exclamation-pointed by Geno Auriemma’s every pissy, passive aggressive postgame take.

As someone whose team’s fortunes went south this season after a ref’s untoward call cost them an important game against a league rival, I understand the frustration and resulting ire of UConn fans.

A blocking call against Aaliyah Edwards cost her team, down one with seconds to go, a shot at winning the national semi.

To my eyes, it was a legit foul. She moved to her left, spread her feet outside her shoulders, raised her forearms to her chest, and leaned into the defender.

It happens.

I’m of the belief that refs should not let the game play out amidst physical chaos if fouls are committed. An infraction of the rules in the 1st is also one with three tics on the clock.

That said, let’s hope this increases the focus on the egregiously less than acceptable officiating generally in the women’s game. It’s been a problem for years. Now that the sport has emerged into the nation’s consciousness, it’s time to fix it. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Days Dwindle with Controversy →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Musings of Title Week

Basketball,

Terrance Edwards Jr., star of 30+ win James Madison, Sun Belt POY, Transfer Portal Top 10, has announced his commitment to Pal Kelsey and the University of Louisville.

And there was evening, and there was morning, a the sixth day.

Yes, fellow hoopaholics of the Cardinal persuasion, it’s been about as invigorating week as a diehard could possibly hope for.

Three recruits. Most of the staff. A million simolien gift to the 502Circle.

Be still my beating heart.

And, loyal readers, be grateful I didn’t morph full biblical on ya. I did pull out The Holy Scriptures presented me at my Bar Mitzvah to see if I could somehow fashion a lengthier lede. But, since it is a sacred time of year — Easter, Passover, Ramadan — thought I’d be respectful. I do have a filter on occasion.

U of L Hoops is a matter of faith, but, ya know, not quite the same.

A new coach is not exactly the Second Coming, but . . . hope springs.

 * * * * *

Chris Mack to College of Charleston.

How symmetrical. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Musings of Title Week →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Frosh, Final Four & the Portal

Basketball,

How many conversations did I have with my bestie hoopaholic pals — Smarts and Doc — over the weekend?

Correct answer: A whole lot.

During one with Doc, he asked rhetorically how many freshman were playing significant roles for the teams still alive?

The only name that immediately came to mind was UConn’s Stephon Castle.

We agreed that college hoops success is now — and possibly always has been frankly — predicated on experience. Among other factors, like, oh, talent and a great guard running the show, etc.

So, looking for some anecdotal evidence, I actually did some research on the squads of the Final Four survivors.

Of the players on UConn, Alabama, NC State and Purdue who have averaged double digit minutes over the course of the season, exactly four are rookies. Castle, one kid balling for the Boilermakers, and a couple rolling for the Tide. Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Frosh, Final Four & the Portal →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Tip Off Tuesday

Basketball,

Yes, my fellow hoopaholics, the Dance is just hours away.

Thank you, Naismithius.

Before I get to other peripheral considerations, all signifying nothing really, one more gratuitous diss of a former Cardinal coach.

Not the one who once upon a time wore leisure suits, but the one who was all bespoke all the time.

Because, well, it’s what I do, because it’s what taking hostages in fandom is about, because I’ve got the key to get it up and into the cybergalaxy. Because the devil makes me do it, and I’m not about to argue.

And yes I’m obsessed.

It makes me so so sad that he shan’t be stomping those new custom made tassel loafers on an NCAA sideline. Not.

But the new, mature, wisened, seen it all and going to just sit back and relax Rick, at his “final coaching stop,” couldn’t help himself after his Johnnies were not tabbed to participate.

During his post reveal presser, which he actually held, unlike the time here in Louisville when he failed to show up at Porcini’s because he was pissed with his seed, RP said “bitterness doesn’t help,” and “we’re not gonna gripe.” Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Tip Off Tuesday →

Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Selection Sunday

Basketball,

Warning: This was posted before Sunday’s conference finals.

Let the madness commence.

Oh yeah, it already has.

But first, a didactic riff on my annual admonition.

I had the opportunity the other day to advise a friend of  Seedy K’s College Hoops Post Season Rule #1.

At our regular weekly lunch on Wednesday, Mike mentioned how he’d already set his DVR to record Kentucky vs. Tennessee in the SEC title game.

At which instant, after a spit take, it was time to set him straight.

Understand this fellow knows his basketball. He played in HS, and claims to have gotten the best of Wes Unseld, once anyway, which he shares with sort of a wink. He was a senior. Wes was still learning how to play early in his first varsity year.

What gives a scintilla of credence, if that, to my pal’s claim is he owns that a couple of months later Unseld turned him over under sideways down.

My guy also played collegiately, albeit in the Ivy League.

But I digress. (As those of my ilk are inclined to do these days as we anxiously await the announcement that Coach X will be coaching the now coachless University of YouKnowWhomI’mTalkingAbout next season.) Continue reading Hoopaholic’s Gazette: Selection Sunday →