Forgetting for just a moment all the positives and negatives of the Cardinals’ opener, remember this: It is the most significant opening game W for U of L since 12/05/92 when the school beat #18 Michigan State, 73-69. (For the record, that Morton/ Minor/ Rozier squad ended up an underachieving 22-9 after being spanked by IU in the NCAA Midwest Regional semi.)
So, after a diet of BYU-Hawaiis and Tennessee-Martins, an opener that might actually mean something was a yum!my delicacy for the fans to savor. (And that’s the last time I’m going to devolve into such syntactical cuteness.) The W was as good as heading over to Benny Impellizzeri’s across the street after the game for a slice or two of the world’s best pizza.
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It was the best of halves. It was the worst of halves. (And, after using that Dickensonian reference for the second time in the last little bit, it too shall be retired.)
U of L was ready. Butler was not. (Except for Lexington, Ky’s Sheldon Mack, who blistered the Card for 17 points/ 9 boards in the first stanza alone.)
From Mike Marra’s first of many many many treys this season just :29 into the season, the Cards were game on.
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Truth be told, the second half was B*O*R*I*N*G.
Too many fouls. Too many errors.
While Mack was on the bench with an injury of some sort, U of L broke down at both ends, trying to let the Bulldogs back in the game.
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On a opening night when one must keep the disappointments in perspective, Peyton Siva came closest to disappointing for U of L. He made some bad decisions at both ends, fouling out. (In fact, the Louisville starters spent the night hacking away, garnering 20 of 25 possible fouls.)
Kyle Kuric played with the reticent timidity that punctuates his personality.
TJ, while stepping up a bit, still displays a stunning lack of fundamentals.
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Like Larry O’Bannon and Kyle Kuric before him, Elisha Justice proved his deserved a scholarship offer way before The Rick came up with one.
The kid’s a winner, who will perform just fine, even in the guard-tough BEast.
Stephan Van Treese continues to prove he’s the most hoops savvy baller on the squad. He runs the court. Is in the right place. Makes fundamentally sound decisions. Adds bulk and speed to the lineup (a great combo).
Rakeem Buckles was sweet.
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Gorgui Dieng played only 6 minutes, many fewer than I expected.
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The biggest worry coming out of the game is whether Preston Knowles’ senior season is going to be injury plagued. Keep your fingers crossed.
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The evening’s most disturbing stat: Louisville was 28/43 from the charity line. That’s an NIT-worthy 65%.
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The 22,000+ throng again blew it on song selection, eschewing OutKast and Carl Douglas’ seminal “Kung Fu Fighting” to hear again the overheard “We Will Rock You” by Queen.
– Seedy K
6 Comments
Wait a minute! You mean youi would rather hear “Kung Fu Fighting” more than one of rock’s classic anthems from Freddy Mercury? I am outraged!
I didn’t mean to imply I don’t like Freddie Mercury’s song. Just that we hear it too much, unlike “Kung Fu Fighting” which isn’t appreciated enough.
When the greatest rock ‘n roll song of all time, “Satisfaction” by the Stones, was easily trumped by Bon Jovi, I knew the new game would never be for me!
I might have casted a no vote in the selections last night.
agree with almost all of your Seedy observation,however,I have a few that are a bit harsher.TJ,while needing a fundamentals workshop,could use a tad more aggresion and aggressiveness in his mix….would go a long way to make you forget about a need for fundamentals……Kuric looked like Bambi(I’ll never do that for two bucks again…..)in the head lights…Siva’s head need’s some out of ass time….and Preston is more hurt than anyone is letting on…..and I never thought I would type these words,wait till Swopshire gets healthy,no one else,this year,can play his position…..lots to like,not that much not to…….GO Cards…..GO Krogering!!!!!
PS…Carl Douglas was a Baaaad man….!!!
To me the most disappointing part of the game was Preston’s continuation of the “I never met a shot I didn’t like” mentality.
Check the stat sheet. He took the second most shots on the team while playing half the number of minutes of Buckles. Or look at it this way and see how many shots per minute he took compared to anyone who played 10 minutes or so.
His shot selection sucks more than a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Injuries aside that’s why he shot so poorly last year and will continue to do so again this year. His release is so quick (insert Pitino joke here) that he is off balance and not squared up most of the time. And he often shoots contested, even highly contested, shots.
He could be in the best physical shape of his life and wouldn’t shoot 40% floor, 30% three with the shots he is taking.