Okay then, exhale, Cardinal fans.

And, remember, there are no Russian judges to placate. Style points do not matter.

Survive and advance.

This herky jerky edition of the Louisville Cards lives to play another day.

Okay, enough cliches.

* * * * *

This game was won, offense-wise, at the charity stripe.

The teams each hit 21 field goals. Davidson canned 4 from beyond the arc. But needed 19 attempts. 21%. Not good for the underdogs. The Cards only hit 20% themselves, 1/5.

Ah, but at the line, the Wildcats were only 16/26, (5/10 in the first half) well below their stalwart season average.

With 1:05 to play — and many free throws still to be attempted in a game that looked like it might not end until after the Masters — Louisville was up 10 at 65-55. At that juncture, the Cards had hit an incredible 17/19 FTs in the second half. They cooled off, hitting 4/8 the rest of the way, but kept Davidson measured for the W.

That’s a tourney tough statistic.

* * * * *

The Cards got really mature performances off the bench from two unexpected sources. Jared Swopshire had 5 rebounds, no turnovers and played hard D. Justice played like a champion — which he is — kept a steady hand on the tiller. And made a great drive to the hoop for a bucket at the end of the first half on the Edgar Sosa play.

Chane Behanan had a double double, 14/11, including 6 offensive boards.

Even though he fouled out, Peyton Siva had 17 points a 6 assists.

* * * * *

The game turned in the Cards’ favor for good at the end of the first half. Louisville scored the final 5 points, on a short Behanan jumper and Russ Smith’s trey — U of L’s only one of the tilt — after a great pass form Kuric on a breakout.

Siva stole the ball and tallied on the first possession of the second half for a 10 point Cardinal lead.

Davidson never got closer than 5 the rest of the way, and then it was at a point when the game was won.

* * * * *

It’s hard to criticize anything when you advance in the NCAA . . . buuuuuut . . . The Rick appeared to panic in the first half. Dieng committed his 2d personal with the tally, 8-6. Six minutes later, when Davidson was on a minor 12-8 run to go up 15-14, Pitino reinserted Dieng. A minute later he was back on the bench, having committed his third.

It caused the Cards to have to struggle more than they should have the rest of the way.

But, to toss out one more cliche before I finish here, all’s well that ends well.

The University of Louisville Cardinals have won a NCAA tournament game for the first time in three years..

It’s a good thing.

– Seedy K