Hope it got your attention, and you now realize after almost two weeks away that I’m baaaaaaaaaaack. Open for business.

One more caveat. I’m not totally on my game yet. And, apparently, Golden State didn’t have quite enough last night in San Antonio. I figured it was quite a game — and confirmed it this morning when I watched the highlights — when I was trying to sleep and my friend David kept texting me.

Which texts I ignored. I had an early wake up call this Tuesday morning — it’s movie review day — and was trying to get to sleep. Actually I think he was showing off, proving he could stay up late. Truth, probably, is that he fell asleep at 7:30 or so and woke up in time to relish the second half of the Western Division semi-final.

Nor did I see the OT of my Red Wings comeback against the Mighty Ducks in Game #4 of that first round Stanley Cup series. Same reason applies.

Buuuuuuut, I did watch the Bulls gutty W in Miami. And the Wings 3d period anschluss in Hockeytown to send that game into extra innings.

So, here comes some of the usual pithy blather from a pundit still in spring training mode.

* * * * *

For me, there’s no sporting “event” quite as inconsequential as the NFL draft. It all seems yet another World Wide Leader made for TV, made for Mel Kiper commercial op.

So, I was kind of dumbfounded when, last night, my first, relaxing with sports on the telly in almost two weeks, I kept clicking back to the 30 on 30 flick about the “famous” NFL draft with Elway & Marino & Kelly, etc. The back room machinations caught my attention, and proved interesting. Way more so than hour after hour after hour of bombast from Chris Berman and the aforementioned draft guru, Kiper.

Then again, maybe I’m just so off my feed, so in need of a sports fix, that my sense of what’s interesting and what’s not has been skewed and is in need of alignment.

I might have mentioned in my last blog how much I love that comedian’s pre-draft day impersonation of Kiper on coffee. Dead on. Hilarious.

* * * * *

The other moment that struck me recently was Magic Johnson’s reaction to LeBron’s MVP award.

He didn’t talk about the quality of his balling. Or his place the pantheon of previous winners.

Magic talked about how few TV endorsements James has. How he deserves more.

Huh?

Guess James hasn’t quite figured out how to take his talents to Toyota.

Bottom line is “King” LeBron’s misguided TV announcement of his move to Miami is still haunting him. Because the guy is as amazing a physical baller as has ever been. He’s a good and generous teammate. He’s articulate. He isn’t spotted with his homies on South Beach at 4:30 in the morning. He’s a champion.

Q Score doesn’t easily forget.

* * * * *

 No Kirk Hinrich.

No Derrick Rose.

No Luol Deng, who it is said, had a spinal tap. (The mention of which allows me to play this video which has only the slightest connection to the subject matter of the previous sentence.)

No problem. Because the Bulls played like banshees and they did play well. Stealing, as we have come to say it, the first game of the Eastern semis in Miami in front of a stunned crowd, most wearing white because somebody told them to.

Joakim Noah is simply relentless. Nate Robinson had one of those games, you know the kind where a guy grabs the tilt by the short and curlies, makes it his, despite a  lip gash requiring ten halftime stitches. And Jimmy Butler . . . uh . . . Jimmy Who? Oh yeah, the 2d year kid out of Butler.

Was Miami “rusty?” Whatever that means? Maybe. I dunno. Who knows? What I do know is the Heat are down a game, making Game Deux a must win.

* * * * *

I’d love to break down San Antonio’s comeback from way down at home against Golden State.

But, I didn’t see it, and my sense of propriety disallows me from opinionating about something of which I haven’t any first hand knowledge.

* * * * *

I know you could care less about hockey. So I’ll refrain there also.

Other than to say the Red Wings attacked the whole 3d period — and I assume in the OT which I didn’t see. Detroit deserved the W, tying the series at 2-2.

* * * * *

Perfunctory Kentucky Derby mention.

Orb won.

Just as my cohort Bill Doolittle said he would. (It’s his second correct Derby prediction in a row.)

* * * * *

Did you think I’d get outtahere without mentioning that little Monday Night W by the Louisville Cardinals a month ago?

Silly you.

At one point last week when I was at the Lagniappe Stage in New Orleans at JazzFest, waiting for what proved to be a searing set by Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and Russell Batiste Jr., I was struck as if from nowhere with this thought: “My Louisville Cardinals won the national championship.”

A month after the fact, this one is still sinking in.

The first sports I watched upon my return to town from that 10 day holiday was . . . a replay of the hard fought semi-final W over feisty Wichita State. Twas a gutty victory.

The Cards were steely in their worst played game of the tourney. Luke Hancock’s three to put the Cards up 5 late was a stunner. No rebounding help. It’s the kind of shot that in the old days would have been extremely ill-advised. Frankly, it was ill advised against the Shockers.

But the Final Four MOP drained it, didn’t he?

Yes, he did.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/05/07/back-in-biz-sporting-scene-with-a-gangsta-lean/feed/ 2 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/17/last-look-back-i-really-mean-it-this-time-at-louisville-cardinals-ncaa-title/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/17/last-look-back-i-really-mean-it-this-time-at-louisville-cardinals-ncaa-title/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:07:34 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8488 Looking back at this team and this season, I’ve been struck with a belief that it really was a magical ride.

Then I’ll wonder, isn’t it like this with all champions? Especially in the amateur ranks?

Were there more stories here than usual, more heartbreak overcome, more obstacles hurdled, a more unusual and interesting gang than the usual title contingent?

It feels like it. Then again, I’ve lived and died with these guys, Several for a full matriculation, including Peyton Siva, who blossomed into the strongest team leader since Grif himself. A few more who have been here three years. And some sophs, a couple of whom figured when they enrolled they’d be one and done.

So, I ask — you and myself — was there more than baseline hoodoo voodoo with these champs? Was there mojo woikin’ OT?

Being a Cardinal Inveterate, I say “Hell yeah!”

There’s the Siva story. Of Samoan ancestry, a kid who at 13 turned his father’s life around. A baller, who had some segments of performance even late into this championship season that made one wonder if he’d learned anything at all since he sat on the bench behind Edgar Sosa as a freshman? But who, when it came time to win it or not, in the second half of the title game, took the game over, went carpe diem and squeezed the moment by the short and curlies and willed U of L to net cuttin’ time.

There’s Gorgui Dieng, from Senegal, who had to convince the NCAA he should be eligible, even though he speaks 5 languages. The afterthought of a recruit, solicited only afte Fab Melo jilted the Cards for Syracuse. The kid so naive he didn’t understand why Louisville didn’t play anymore his freshman season after an opening round loss in the tournament. But who led the Cards in assists in the title tilt.

There’s Chane Behanan, who started this season in the dog house, suspended, his lips zipped by his coach. A kid who appeared to give it his all only every once in awhile, whom many fans thought should have been benched in favor of Silent L. But who showed up on the last Monday of the season with the eye of the tiger, refusing to lose, outrebounding the entire Michigan team in the second half.

There’s Wayne Blackshear, the Golden Arches AA, who has never seemed to have gotten it together, especially on offense. The kid from the City of Broad Shoulders, whose shoulders may never have healed from injury. But who tallied 8 critical points in the championship game, grabbed perhaps the key rebound of the contest, and played defense until he couldn’t catch his breath. (Rick, have the kid checked for exercise induced asthma, please?)

There’s Russ Smith, who was hurt as a frosh, rarely played, almost transfered but stayed, and became the poster boy of this team. Feature in Sports Illustrated. Nickname of the season. Bill Clinton’s best buddy. Comfortable enough with is coach to give him devil’s horns on national TV. Absurd scoring average in the tournament. Too many important buckets during the season to list.

There’s Luke Hancock, the transfer from George Mason who, for half a season, had fans wondering what the fuss was about? The team captain before he played a minute, who kept getting beat on D, but who made up for it many times over with his important and stellar play down the stretch. The kid who sapped Michigan’s swagger, with a 14 point 1st half surge unlike any other in the history of the program.

There’s Kevin Ware, who only started to play after being suspended indefinitely at mid-season. Who became a key, nay essential cog in the team’s late success, then went down with an injury that became a national thing, and the rallying point for the title.

There’s Tim Henderson, a walk on, whose one shining career moment, came when it was needed the most, in the national semi-final when his team was down a dozen, so he drained two consecutive treys.

There’s late comer Silent L Montrezl Harrell, whose raw potential seemed awfully polished when he energized that monumental resurgence in the Big East tourney final, Louisville’s confidence-builder heading to the Dance.

There’s SVT, who The Rick finally realized could spell Gorgui without any loss of prowess on the court. The kid who wanted to stay on the team, but was told to leave, then to come back. Which he did.

There’s Mike Marra, who had a career ending injury, but whose brother is going to tattoo the coach to commemorate the title.

There’s the resurrection of Rick Pitino, now a Hall of Fame coach, the first coach to take two different schools to a title, a fellow whose team was jolted in the first round two years in a row, a man who just a couple of years ago was a national joke because of the Karen Sypher imbroglio.

This was a championship team, whose signature regular season game was a 5 OT meltdown in South Bend.

This was a championship team, which was challenged to win out after that Saturday Night massacre. And did, one game at a time, sixteen games in a row.

This was a championship team, which found itself down big to a Final Four school in the Big East Final, then ended up outscoring Syracuse by 30 in the second half. This was a championship that eviscerated Duke in the regional final, while suffering over the loss of Kevin Ware.

This was a championship team that overcame a 12 point deficit in the national semi-final. Then did it again on the last Monday of the season.

Heartache, heartbreak, adversity. These Cards suffered them all and prevailed.

Losses, doubts, flaws. These Cards experienced them all and prevailed.

It was a magic ride to the title. Was it the first? Of course not. But it’s the latest.

* * * * *

I watched the game again last night. (Third time. Once in real time. Twice in more relaxed replay.)

I was looking for two things. 1) Whether the referees affected the outcome of the game, 2) Which coach got the better of the other?

Louisville was whistled for 22 fouls, 7 more than Michigan. But that was really of no consequence. Michigan did get the short end of the stick on a couple of key plays. Trey Burke cleanly blocked Peyton Siva during crunch time, but was called for a foul. Gorgui Dieng was credited for a block, but actually goal tended. There were a couple of others. Both ways. But, truth be told, the Cards got the better end of the deal on the missed calls.

But, being as objective as I can be — difficult for sure — Louisville still made more plays when it mattered. The Cardinals kept the Wolverines measured when it was back and forth at crunch time, grabbing the lead and not relinquishing it.

Bottom line: U of L won the game. Michigan did not. The victory was earned and deserved.

As Greg, Kenny and Chuck indicated after the game, Pitino’s coaching was masterful. Beilein, nice guy he may be, was in over his head.

Two Pitino moves stick out for me.

After Luke Hancock hit two FTs and the first of those monumental treys in that 1:58 segment of the 1st half, he committed his 2d foul. Pitino left him in the game. LH proceeded to hit three more in a row from downtown.

In the second half, McGary scored an easy, relatively unguarded bucket. Pitino immediately called a timeout. Whatever he told his troops, this is the deal. McGary was no factor the rest of the game.

Meanwhile, Beilein became enamored with Spike Albrecht, who did little if anything the last 2/3s of the game, and let the national POY sit for most of a half. He also left McGary on the bench way too long when he was saddled with fouls.

And, at the end, when Michigan should have been fouling immediately to lengthen the game, Beilein’s instructions were to let too much time run off the clock.

* * * * *

The C-J’s Kyle Tucker posted a somewhat controversial blog, especially for Cardinal fans, in which he posited the query, how hard was U of L’s journey to the title?

 He used a reasonably simplistic formula, by adding the the total of seedings of foes beaten.

U of L’s “score” was 51, the largest — lower is better — since Vegas tallied 54 in ’90.

While this is certainly dialog-inducing, it is of little consequence, because, all together now: Rule #2. You only play who(m) you play.

It’s the nature of the tourney. Teams are going to be upset. Higher seeded teams are going to advance. Deservedly so. They survived and advanced. The Cards got a break in ’82. UAB upset UVa in the regional semis, giving Louisville an easier path to the Final Four.

It happens.

The lowest total a #1 seed that makes it to the title game can have is 32 (16+8+4+2+1+1).

The lowest total by any school since ’85 is 20 by #8 Villanova ((9+1+5+2+2+1). Of course, a #1 seed is always going to start out with at least 24 points (16+8).

Anyway, this argument is of little significance, except, of course to UK fans, who wish to denigrate the Cardinals’ accomplishment. The Cats total last year was 37.

Louisville beat the teams it faced. Six times in a row. That’s all you can ask.

– Seedy K

I’ve perused the box score.

I’m not sure I’ve got much more to offer viz a viz the game itself, beyond what I’ve already observed and what you’ve read in many different places.

But a couple of things.

Michigan hit 55% from the field in the 2d half (11/20). But was outscored by 7, because the Wolverines took 15 less shots than U of L, which made 16 FGs after the break. The Cards outrebounded Michigan 20-10 in the 2d. I remain astonished that Chane Behanan’s 11 were more than than the whole maize team.

Louisville won, despite forcing only 12 turnovers. The teams hit the same number of threes (8) and FTs (18).

U of L’s 9 steals obviously were a factor.

I thought playing Hancock and Blackshear at the same time was a key move on Pitino’s part. Russ Smith was obviously off. Tim Henderson, overmatched.

What Luke did is obvious. He was named Final Four MOP.

What Wayne did, less so. He was a monster on defense, one of the key components of the victory.

* * * * *

I’ve got a little colloquy going with a former boss of mine, who has resided in Ann Arbor for years and become a big Michigan fan. He’s an astute hoops observer.

The give and take has reminded me yet again, that no matter how objective we might attempt to be, when we’re considering our favorite team’s performances, we view them through school colored lenses.

Bergie, and some of his Wolverine buddies who have joined the fray, feel that Michigan was jobbed on a number of official calls. Which errors by the zebras, they say, greatly affected the game in the Cards’s favor. I said I thought the calls evened out.

Their response to that was: That’s what winners say to justify their W. To which I said, well, blaming the officials for an L smacks of sour grapes.

Etc, etc. Which I pass along just to confirm yet again that winners and losers most always have a different perspective of the action, and how it affected the outcome.

I did agree it made no sense, and was truly surprising, when three zebras who call a lot of Big East games were assigned the title tilt. They made some bad calls. Seems an epidemic these days. More may have helped U of L than Michigan. I still think the best and most stalwart team won. And that none of the calls affected the outcome of the game.

* * * * *

It took an email from a reader to remind me I’d picked the Cardinals to win the national championship in LEO’s preseason basketball issue in early November.

“Just some wishful thinking on my part, ” I replied.

Actually, the paper also ran pieces, in which Bill Doolittle, inveterate Hoosier, picked IU to prevail. And Evan Hilbert projected UK to repeat. (He in now, as I understand it, in the federal witness protection program. His new name is not, I’m also advised, Robert Morris.)

Anyhow, if you’re interested in reading my “prediction,” here’s the link.

* * * * *

I started to put Tuesday morning’s C-J in the recycle bin. Then I realized I wanted to save the sports section to put with my collection of writing about ’80 and ’86 titles.

Unlike those pre-internet, pre-blogosphere, pre-dot com era Ws, there’s a lot more content and perspective this time around. I’ve also saved hard copies of some of my favorite stories from those forums also.

So I’ll have the reminders to refresh my memory when the details have been forgotten in the distant future. Like, you know, in three months or so.

* * * * *

My favorite homage to U of L’s third national title — so far — is the red Louisville hoodie now adorning the statue of General Keepright a/k/a General Castleman at the corner of Cherokee Road and Cherokee Parkway.

* * * * *

Another long time reader wrote and offered that his new second favorite school is The U. As in Miami (Fla.)

“And I decided my new #2 school is the U.  They fire Shannon and we get Teddy.  They hire Larranaga and we get Luke.  Wonder who they are going to give us next?”

* * * * *

The final AP men’s basketball poll was released.

Guess who is #1?

And #2?

And the schools in the 3 and 4 slot?

If all those bracketological predictions lose their half life at 7:00 pm on Selection Sunday, so too does the AP (and any other) Poll when the NCAA tournament tips off.

Margin of victory. Style points. Strength of schedule. Computer algorithms. Idiotic “experts.” Nothing matters after the tourney starts except score more points than the other team on the court. One team wins six. That school is the champion.

To have a poll after the tournament has been played, and the champion crowned, is, well, stupid.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/10/final-thoughts-probably-mostly-peripheral-re-u-of-l-cardinals-w-over-michigan/feed/ 6 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/09/cardinals-championship-considerations-part-ii/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/09/cardinals-championship-considerations-part-ii/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 22:43:13 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8476 I guess I didn’t know the whole story of how MOP Luke Hancock landed at U of L, though I allude to it in my championship story which comes out tomorrow in print and online.

Apparently, when Jim Larranaga left George Mason, Luke wanted to follow him to Miami. GM wouldn’t allow a release to that school. So, looking around for a place to land, he came down to two schools, which he presented to Larranaga for an opinion.

“Louisville or Michigan?”

Thank you Jim. Thank you Luke.

* * * * *

The general consensus among those far more objective than myself is that last night’s title tilt was among the very best ever contested, perhaps the best.

“Stupendous.” “A++” “Highest quality.’

Who am I to disagree?

Watched it again today at noon with a pal. We realized we weren’t comfortable about the outcome until less than a minute was left to play.

* * * * *

The general consensus among those far more objective than myself is that Jim Beilein was seriously outcoached last night, especially at crunch time. With fouls to give, he allowed his team to let way too much clock time to dwindle down before finally fouling.

I’d also say he failed to make any significant tweaks during the game.

Listening to his pre-game and halftime speeches to his team — at least the parts that were televised — he seemed overwhelmed and underprepared for prime time on the last Monday of the year.

* * * * *

I have to admit I’m somewhat surprised by the tweet from Russ Smith’s dad that #2 is definitely gone next season. He’ll certainly land somewhere, though it’s far from a certainty, to say the least, that it will be the NBA.

That said, if he wants to go, he leaves with my blessings and well wishes. Despite an off night last night, U of L never would have gotten to the title game without his stupendous play during the season and the games leading up to Championship Monday.

* * * * *

After watching the replay, I’m more convinced than before of the unsung effort and performance of Wayne Blackshear.

Again, he scored the Cards’ first five of the game. And opened the 2d half with a trey.

The box score shows him with only one rebound, but it was a biggie down that glorious stretch at the turn for home when the teams were trading hoops. He mixed it up the whole second half, playing himself to exhaustion at one point, to where he looked like a punch drunk fighter coming down on D to check Trey Burke.

* * * * *

Shout outs are in order for at least two assistants.

Ralph Willard, who was responsible for Russ Smith and Tim Henderson.

Kevin Keatts, without whose presence, we wouldn’t have Luke Hancock or Montrezl Harrell.

* * * * *

I love that the Wolverines tallied the last two points of the first half. (Though I’m even more glad the margin was only one.)

For some reason that is totally inexplicable, I’ve always liked being down a digit at halftime better than being up a point.

Go figure.

That said, there is no way to discount the importance of that 14-1 run before the break. From 12 up to one down, Michigan was shell shocked when they headed to the locker room for Beilein’s less than inspiring chalk talk.

* * * * *

U of L overcame a 12 point deficit last night, just like it did against Wichita State in the semis.

* * * * *

Trey Burke is the deal. Despite his fouls, did the deal.

24 points on 7/11 shooting, 3/5 from downtown. 7/9 at the line.

Worthy POY recipient. And national runner up.

* * * * *

Not many schools have had a Hall of Fame national championship coach directly succeed a national championship Hall of Fame coach.

U of L got Crum. U of L got Pitino.

– Seedy K

I was not out among the tear gassed and paint balled celebrants last night, though, on the way home from the HummelDome where I watched the game, I did dodge more than a few somewhat out of control vehicles, whose drivers, obviously under the influence were talking and texting and making left turns simultaneously.

I was up until 1:30, watching recaps and generally decompressing before I could sleep.

I was up at 5:00 am to pen a championship story which will appear online and in the print edition of LEO tomorrow (Wednesday). There will be links. Stay tuned.

I have not had a chance yet to watch the game again.

Thus, these are a few scattered thoughts with more to come.

* * * * *

During Spike Albrecht’s breakout in the first half, I jotted this note: Pittsnogle.

Kevin Pittsnogle, I’m sure you recall, was Jim Beilein’s three baller at West Virginia. He went off against Louisville in the first half of the regional final in ’05. The Cards overcame a serious deficit to win that game. Pittsnogle cooled considerably when it mattered.

Albrecht was en fuego last night. His team had a 12 point lead, generated after the sub who came in for Trey Burke, who had committed two fouls. Spike hit about 29 threes.

Actually he had 17 at the break for the final media timeout of the opening half. Pittsnogle.

He didn’t score another point. Pittsnoglish.

* * * * *

Before the game I had a bit of give and take with an old boss of mine, Bergie, who has resided in Ann Arbor for decades.

Bergie’s an astute observer of the hoops scene. In Louisville several months back, he correctly projected a Louisville vs. Michigan title game. So, yesterday, I gave him his props in a group email to him and a bunch of the old gang.

His response: “I think Michigan wins thanks to superior coaching, even though U of L appears to be more talented.”

When I pointed out how Beilein had been seriously bested on the bench during that Pittsnogle game, Bergie opined, “That was 8 years ago.He has matured & learned in the intervening years. I was scared of the VCU havoc defense, 40 min.of all out full court pressure, & Mich. had no probs w/it. I think Pitino uses the same sort of defense & the game may be decided on the basis of how Beilein deals w/it.”

So, Bergie, how’d that coaching matchup work for your Wolverines?

Two things: 1) I know VCU’s defense. And it is no Louisville defense. 2) Beilein did not deal with it very well at all. His more talented team was outplayed.

And he was outcoached.

* * * * *

It is often said, usually of warring factions with high emotional hatred, that one side or the other — depending on the talker’s prejudice — rarely misses a chance to do the wrong thing.

That can be said, yet again for about the gazillionth time, of the NCAA.

U of L’s players hoped to fly to New Orleans to root on the women, who play UConn tonight for the women’s crown.

But noooooooooooooooooo, nixed Mark Emmert. Impermissible benefit, or something like that.

What a crock of shit. What a missed opportunity for some really neat pub for the rising women’s game.

* * * * *

I’m still too sleep deprived to fully analyze the stats from last night’s game. Not that they mean a damn thing, frankly.

But here’s the first one that jumps off the page.

Second half rebounding totals. Chane Behanan, 11. Michigan, 10.

I remember it happening only once before. When Wes Unseld, saddled with three fouls at the half, outrebounded the entire Jim Ard/ Rick Roberson Cincy Bearcats after the break.

As Doug Gottleib so eloquently put it, “U of L beasted Michigan.” And Chane was the baddest beast on the backboard.

* * * * *

Before the game I became worried for the first time when Digger picked the Cards to win.

But felt better when I saw the officiating crew, all of whom had called Big East games.

* * * * *

I’m just not sure I understand the enmity today against Charles Barkley? Or the rest of his gang? Hey, they tell it the way they see it. Not everybody is as enamored with U of L as most who read this blog.

* * * * *

After reading a column on this morning’s Ann Arbor sports page, which called the Cardinals more talented, but Michigan the better story, I felt compelled to write the fellow.

Without being dismissive, I know his pain all too well, I did correct him. This guy’s opinion: The Wolverines are more talented. The Cards, the better team. And the Cards, the far better story.

That Fab Five bunk is nothing compared to the tales of Peyton’s youth, Luke’s present and the whole Ware thing.

Mo’ later.

By the by, if you find any typos, misspellings or errors above, feel free to write me with corrections. Like I said, I need some sleep.

– Seedy K

Of course, Rule #2 still matters, but, since there is not conjecture at this juncture about an opponent in the next round, it is moot. The who(m) Louisville plays is Michigan.

Rule #3: Close the deal.

On Monday, the decision is rendered. There shall be no tomorrow.

Actually, it’s whether there will be a tomorrow after tomorrow after tomorrow of celebrating Title #3? Or a coulda woulda shoulda Tuesday of sorrow?

* * * * *

So, you might ask why am I thinking at this moment of Wesley Snipes, who coincidentally was released just yesterday, after three years in the hoosegow up the river for tax evasion?

Legit query.

Here’s why.

In a 1992 b-ball flick, his character, Sidney Deane, uttered a truism to Woody Harrelson’s Billy Hoyle. It remains mostly un-uttered in public for reasons of political correctness. (If you’re not ready for the upcoming impertinence, move on to the next paragraph.)

“Billy, listen to me. White men can’t jump.”

Well, Sid, maybe so, but sometime they give you just what you need.

Like Tim Henderson did. Walk on Tim Henderson, walk on Tim Henderson who balled in high school for Christian Academy of Louisville, that Tim Henderson. He drained two treys that were the catalyst of the Cards comeback last night in the Georgia Dome.

He subbed into the game with 13:15 to play, when the Cardinals were down (and seemingly out), by a dozen. Fifteen seconds later, he drained a three from the corner on an assist by Luke Hancock. (Which was an exact replay of his exclamation point threeball against Duke last Sunday, also on an assist by Luke.)

Forty two seconds later, he went instant replay. Thus the Shockers lead was cut in half, 47-41.

Then it was the Luke Hancock Show. Yes, I’ll fall into the trap and say it. The Cool Hand Luke Hancock Show. Luke Hancock, the Luke Hancock about whom Cardinal fans were saying earlier this season: “He’s a nice mid major player, but that’s it.” Or, “He should have stayed at George Mason.” Or, “I know Pitino loves him, but I don’t get it.”

Of course, The Rick was right. His teammates who wanted him as captain were right.

Last night, all he did was become the first sub in 38 years to tally 20 in a Final Four game.

At 41 Cardinals, 49 Shockers, playing the point, he drove for a deuce. 43-49.

So nice, he did it twice. 45-49.

Then, some back and forth, during which the underdog Shockers appeared as if they weren’t going to wilt. This is when Chane Behanan was HUGE with four straight FTs and sweet short jumper, and Peyton Siva scored his only deuce of the game. Marshall’s marauders still led by two.

But Luke Hancock was ICE.

Peyton Siva stole the ball, got it ahead to Hancock, who was open behind the arc.

Nobody to rebound. No problem.

Threeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Luke. 56-55, Cardinals.

He made another daring layup for a 67-62 advantage at 1:16. Later he gave the Cards a three point lead with seconds to play.

Then made the heady play of the game, tying up Ron Baker who grabbed Hancock’s errant 2d FT attempt. Louisville had the arrow, because of the double foul called at 3:50 on SVT and Baker. (Interesting, several pundits of the national media jumped on the jumpball call, as being wrong and ill-advised. So too the TV guys. The scribes from Wichita were far less incensed.)

Which is to say, Henderson and Hancock were the difference last night.

* * * * *

Russ Smith was 5/12 at the FT line. He missed his first four, which was a sure sign the Cardinals had come out tight. I mean, really, they fell behind 0-8.

Despite his 5 turnovers and 6/17 shooting, he drained 4 monster treys, leading the Cardinals with 21 points.

And, despite his woes at the charity stripe, if you were like me, you loooooooved that Wichita State fouled him twice at the end, instead of, well, any other Cardinal. He was 3/4 in the last :30, including the clincher at :05.

* * * * *

Chane Behanan had the eye of the tiger in the 2d half, scoring all 10 of his points, and snaring 6 of his 9 caroms.

Silent L had the eye of the tiger in the 1st half, with 6 points and 3 boards.

* * * * *

It was just one of those nights for Peyton Siva. And for Gorgui Dieng. And for Wayne Blackshear.

That Louisville prevailed without anything approaching normal output from those starters is why, one guy’s opinion, it was Louisville’s most meaningful W of the tournament. Prevailing over a really good team — which, make no mistake, Wichita State is — when playing a mediocre game at best, is the stuff from which championships are constructed.

Here’s what U of L got from its bench (SVT, Silent L, Luke & Tim): 34 points. 13 rebounds. 3 assists. 3 steals. A block.

And . . . only . . . one . . . wafer thin turnover.

* * * * *

I will admit I did not have a good feeling about the game all day yesterday. (Or, until the Cardinals went up 5 with 2:06 to play, which, given my dizziness (or is that ditziness?), I didn’t realize until the subsequent timeout, when I said, “Oh, there’s only 1:58 to play.”)

There wasn’t a doubt in my mind at that point that this gutty U of L team wouldn’t breach Rule #8 and relinquish the lead.

My queasy pre-game stomach wasn’t helped a bit when a friend advised that Karl Hess would be calling the game. The guy is a loose cannon. He’s the one who tossed former star Chris Corchiani out of the building during a game at NC State. He’s the guy who teed up Pitino for no reason last season.

He’s also the guy, thank you very much, who called that pivotal jumpball with :05 to play.

* * * * *

Next up, the last game of the season.

Louisville Cardinals vs. Michigan Wolverines.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/07/louisville-card-file-wichita-state/feed/ 0 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/05/louisville-cardinals-four-questions-bonus-with-video/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/05/louisville-cardinals-four-questions-bonus-with-video/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:01:36 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8460 People of the Jewish persuasion have recently completed their annual solemn celebration of Passover. This is the holiday that contemplates the exodus under the leadership of Moses from Egypt.

The plagues. Parting of the red sea. Forty years in the desert. Unleavened bread — matzoh — because they were in such a hurry to leave, there was no time for the bread to rise.  That stuff.

The first two nights of Passover are set aside for sacred dinners, known as Sedars, where the story is repeated so as not to be forgotten. Part of the liturgy that precedes the meal are Four Questions, asked of the elders, the answers to which explain the importance of this remembrance.

Since basketball is religion in these parts. And the Final Four the holiest of holy destinations, I thought I’d present the Four Questions, which must be answered if the Louisville Cardinals are to succeed.

(Which is not to mention, I needed a hook to reel you in, given how much you’ve already read and reread about the upcoming weekend in Atlanta.)

1. Will U of L misunderestimate Wichita State?

Admit it, until last weekend, when Wichita State upset Ohio State — I have purposely avoided use of the word “shocked,” since it is now cliche — you really hadn’t considered the MoValley school much. Maybe you saw them go down to Creighton during Arch Madness. Maybe you discovered Cleanthony Early, when fashioning an All-Name team. But other that that, the team hardly registered on the radar, right?

The numbers prove my point. Less than 1/4 of 1% in the ESPN Bracket Pool have the Shockers in the Final Four. Only 3.3% had them penciled into the Round of 16.

But LaSalle, Pitt, Gonzaga and Ohio State know. They’re sitting at home watching their conqueror compete in the Big Room during the sport’s final weekend.

A worry I’ve heard far too often this week from Cardinal fans: “I sure don’t want to face Syracuse again.”

To which I respond — all together now — You only play who(m) you play. More specifically, “The Cards don’t play Syracuse — or Michigan — they play Wichita State.”

A 10 1/2 point favorite the Cardinals might be, they’d best not look past Saturday night’s foe.

Just as the Cardinals have some great back stories, experiences that have forged the team into a legit title contender, so too does Wichita State.

Oregon transfer PG Malcolm Armstead had to pay his own way for his sit out season in Wichita. He worked for a car dealership to make ends meet.

Carl Hall has a heart condition, which was/remains life threatening.

Besides the coolest name still playing, Cleanthony Early rebounds like he wants to be Kim Jong-un’s best pal, Dennis Rodman. That Tekele “100%” Cotton kid, who plays the #2 guard, also hits the boards like he’s watched a lot of Kenneth Fareid videos.

Gregg Marshall is generally recognized by every scribe who has dealt with him as being a one of the real putzes in the business. He’s also recognized as being one of the best young coaches around.

Plus that Tim Tebow guy gave them a pep talk on the team bus. So they’ve got that going for them.

Saturday night is far from a lock for U of L. Of course, on paper, it looks like an easier road to Monday night than the Orange and Wolverines face. It’s reminiscent of the ’86 Final Four, when the Cards drew LSU on the semi undercard, while Duke and Kansas battled in the heavyweight nightcap.

You still gotta score more points Saturday to survive and advance to Monday.

One can only hope, like Oregon did in Indy, getting off to a woeful start, that Wichita State looks around the Georgia Dome Saturday night, and says to itself, “Oh my, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

2. How big is the loss of Kevin Ware?

First off, let me say that I remain way stunned at how Ware’s injury, horrific as it was, and his courageous reaction to this teammates in the aftermath, have become such a national, well, “thing.”

The First Lady. Oprah. Discussion on NPR’s “State of the Nation.” Letterman’s Top Ten.

Wasn’t it just a month ago that Cardinal fans hoped the still underachieving third guard could come in the game to relieve Siva or Smith and not hurt the cause too much? Yes, it was.

Ware’s blossoming — along with that of Silent L — are two of the reasons Louisville has been so formidable as of late. I watched the tape of the Oregon game last night. Without Ware, the Cardinals might not be in Atlanta today. Peyton Siva did one of his stupid foul things, and had to sit for 15:33 of the first half. Ware came in and was the deal.

He made several baskets which sucked the heart out of mini Duck runs. He stole the energy of possible Quack comebacks.

So, the query is: Will the Win-It-For-#5 energy be enough to overcome the loss of his presence on the hardwood?

Hopefully, the men will take a cue from Jeff Walz’s seriously feisty women’s team, which is similarly perched in the Final Four. The distaff Cards have overcome the loss of Shawnta’ Dyer (MCL and ACL tears), Tia Gibbs (hip) and Asia Taylor (hip). Plus Monique Reid is playing on one wheel. Which injury did not prevent her from going end to end and making the winning play against Britney Griner, the best baller in the women’s game.

Can the men get enough from Tim Henderson to at least partially fill the big hole in the Cardinal game plan? Can they otherwise fill the hole present due to Ware’s absence?

3. Besides Louisville’s Big Three, which of The Others is going to come up big?

Wichita State is known for hitting the boards.

Will Silent L come up with an effort like his second half against Syracuse in the Big East final? It would be a good thing.

Will it be Chane Behanan, who has somewhat underachieved this post season, compared with his performances during last year’s run. He has played with passion and intensity the last couple of games. Will it result in an even larger presence Saturday night?

Will his Dunk of the Year Award spur him on? Will he give a Golden Arches All-American performance?

Or will the Cards get that from Wayne Blackshear, who has been stalwart on D, but mysteriously ineffective on offense? We know he’s got the best grades of any competitor in the Final Four. Yesterday he was honored with the Elite 89 Award, which goes to the student-athlete in the Final Four with the highest grade point average..

He’s due a breakout performance. Saturday night would be a great time for it.

How about Luke Hancock?

His old mentor at George Mason, national Coach of the Year Jim Larranaga — the anti-Gregg Marshall, a guy generally recognized as one of the truly great fellows in the biz — says of the transfer: “Players like Luke are more valuable than they get credit for. They’re not your leading scorer, not your leading rebounder and they don’t get national attention, but you can’t win without them.”

Perhaps SVT? It could be the moment when steady and stalwart as he goes Van Treese shows the Shockers how Hoosiers learned to play ball from an early age. Fundamentally sound. With passion.

4. Will Richard Pitino again be a factor?

I’ve been worried all season that Rick Pitino didn’t have an assistant with the acumen to observe a necessary change in the Cardinal way of handling things, and the gumption to present it to The Rick.

Then, during the regional, we learned that Richard Pitino, suggested the ball screen, pick & roll tweak that vanquished the Dukies.

I love the story, just as I hated when we learned in ’09 that former Tom Izzo assistant Tom Crean made suggestions that aided Sparty’s upset of the Cards.

I was hoping that Pitino the Younger would be around all week, We know he has his dad’s ear. And we now recognize his coaching talent. Instead he’s up in Minneapolis, being introduced as the new guy in charge of the Golden Gophers.

After all the years, I’ve given him shit, referred to him as Little Ricky, I now really hope he makes it back to Atlanta, just to be there as whisper counsel to his father.

Bonus: Will the Cardinals be Hot in ‘Lanta?

– Seedy K

One of whom made an absurd suggestion, only partially in jest. It was Mike, the fellow I mentioned the other day, the one who acutely observed that Kevin Ware’s injury might have been inadvertently caused by the leaping super sub’s subconscious attempt not to fall off the edge of the raised hardwood in the Dome.

When he went wackamundo at lunch today, I said something like, you won’t be reading that in my blog.

At which point, Don, the third of our lunch bunch, dared me to pass the suggestion on to the cybergalaxy.

Given that I haven’t weighed in for, oh, 48 hours — an eternity in the digital universe — on the magical Cardinal hoops success, I figured what the hell?

Here it comes. We were contemplating what changes Rick Pitino might fashion in the absence of Kevin Ware?

More Tim Henderson? Forty minutes each for Smith and Siva? Hancock or Blackshear to SG? A combination of the above?

At which point, Mike said The Rick should get Shoni Schimmel to take Ware’s place. “Women can play on the men’s team, right?”

Don and I humored him. Uh, well, maybe, but, uh, Mike she’s got a game to play on Sunday night in New Orleans?

“Hey, Jurich and Ramsey are going to be flying from Atlanta to New Orleans, and hopefully back. Surely by private jet. She can fly with them.”

Let’s hope my lunch mate was kidding. It’s hard to tell. He knows and I know and Don knows and you know it’s not gonna happen. But, in a year when March Madness is painted in red & black, when Ware’s injury has captured the attention of the nation all the way to the White House, when the women’s stunning upsets of Baylor and Tennessee have dazzled the hoops world, a Schimmel sighting on the court in Hot “lanta against Wichita State would be A Shocker for the Ages.

* * * * *

Before I read that Richard Pitino was negotiating to move from tropical Florida to ever wintry Minnesoooooooota to helm the Golden Gophers, I intended to write about him viz a viz another matter.

I have consciously referred to Pitino the Younger in this space as Little Ricky. Part of it was meant to be cute. Part of it was to adopt a dismissive tone about what I now know to be my misconceptions of his coaching acumen.

So, this morning, I vowed I would publicly recant my Little Ricky shtick, make a commitment to refer to the upcoming talent in more respectful tones in the future, because . . .

. . . well, because, 1) he proved this year at Florida International that he’s likely to be a future star on the coaching scene, and 2) the subtle but brilliant tweaks he suggested to dad about how U of L should run its pick & roll O against the Blue Devils. (Last time such a thing happened in a NC2A regional in Indy, it was Tom Crean as whisper counsel to his former boss Tom Izzo, to help Sparty smack the Cards for a trip to the FF.)

I’m not sure how Richard Pitino is going to do with the climate change — find some fleece, dude — but he should be fine along the raised sideline at Williams Arena.

* * * * *

The other day, in advance of the Duke game, I admonished it was time for talismans.

Given the Cards 22 point W over the B Devils, and the stunners fashioned by Jeff Walz’s distaff charges, I have to believe members of the Red & Black Nation chose the correct incense to burn.

The omens were certainly portent in my life.

The day before the Duke game I bought a new pair of jogging shoes at Ken Combs Running Store. When my man Chris — a big Cardinal fan — opened the box of the new pair of Brooks Beasts, those bad boys were black with red trim. Sweet.

Wearing them for the first time during my trundle down Frankfort Ave on the morning of the regional final, I jogged by a fellow, who shouted out, “Go Cards.” Running with my head down, as is my wont, and without my glasses, I didn’t recognize him.

Later, when he emailed me, I realized it was long time fan, Charlie Gabriel, who is more famously known to Cardinal fans as the Unknown Musician. He ruled the Freedom Hall hardwood during play stoppage in the halcyon years of the 80s.

The karma this post season is positive.

Looking for it to remain in place for another long weekend.

* * * * *

Of all the words I’ve read about both teams that are Final Four bound, all the interview clips, etc, my favorite is Shoni Schimmel’s quote after Baylor star Britney Griner had been rendered inconsequential and the defending champs and #1 rated Bears were sent packing.

“She may be Britney Griner, but, hey, I’m Shoni Schimmel.”

Indeed. My hat is doffed to her. She’s lost probably 20 pounds during the season, and has become the maturing force all expected her to be. She plays without fear, and with her inner Pistol Pete Maravich on full display.

Sister Jude is the steadying force for the Cardinals. As Bill Raftery might say, Jude showed some “eggs” when firing and draining that threeball with 2:06 to play for a nine point Cardinal lead. Ballgame!

– Seedy K

The injury is gruesome. My friend Mike, a former Waggener High School and Yale baller, made an interesting observation. “I think Kevin altered his landing mid air because of the raised floor and fear of falling off. Usually they collide with the press corps and scatter laptops.” Which is a legit theory, don’t you think?

The injury is debilitating, but not fatal. Hopefully, the physical loss will be more than offset by the courage Ware displayed while laying with a bone sticking out of his skin on the raised platform of hardwood at Lucas Oil.

“Just win the game,” he implored.

The Cardinals responded, pushing back the tears, reached deep inside for more heart, and did just that.

Won the game.

With extreme prejudice.

* * * * *

Injuries have played a role in both of the Cardinals’ national titles.

Three games into the ’80 championship season, linchpin Scooter McCray suffered an injury which kept him out for the rest of the campaign. U of L was not to be deterred. His then roly poly freshman brother Rodney took his place. And became the linchpin of Louisville’s first championship squad.

Early in the campaign that preceded Louisville’s second title in ’86, Milt Wagner broke his foot. He was out for the rest of that season, which ended with two losses in New York in the NIT’s last weekend, and 18 total.

It proved to be the proverbial blessing in disguise. Milt returned the following year, instead of having finished his eligibility. I needn’t remind Cardinal fans of those two radar FTs that sealed the deal against Duke in Dallas.

Note: I just corrected the first sentence of this section. I had typed the word “previous” before “national titles.”

Which syntax presupposed another crown this season. That, obviously, would have been premature.

But, as I hear my mother saying right now, “from your fingers to God’s ear.”

Ware’s injury certainly increases the uncertainty of U of L’s task. But it remains eminently doable.

* * * * *

I often mention my friend and fellow Cardinal acolyte David in these blogs. We’ve been watching games together since high school.

He’s a bright fellow, Professor Emeritus at the law school. Despite that intelligence, he often makes the most laughably absurd observations about hoops. Which makes him great literary fodder. Every writer deserves such a foil to play off of.

So I often give him shit in this space. But must now give him credit because it’s due.

During a Louisville timeout with 16:16 to play, Duke had knotted the score at 42. Seth Curry was off the schneid. Wayne Blackshear committed his second then third fouls in a matter of seconds. Peyton Siva committed his third, a classic stupid Siva reach in.

At the 15:50 media timeout, the score was the same 42-42.

David: “If Louisville wins, we’ll remember the next two minutes of the game.”

Like the Cards, David was on his game.

Luke Hancock blocked a shot. Chane Behanan grabbed the rebound. Russ Smith tallied a layup +1. Peyton Siva hit a jumper. Chane Behanan stole the ball from Ryan Kelly, then grabbed an offensive board, which resulted in a Siva layup.

Timeout Duke at 13:32. After a 7-0 Louisville run. 49-42.

Don Pardo, tell David what he wins for correctly predicting, “What is the turning point of the game?”

“Sure enough, Seedy, David wins the 12th edition of Take Home Jeopardy game. And, as a bonus, special mention in your blog tomorrow about the game.”

At the 8:49 mark, Luke Hancock drilled a three, completing the 20-4 run. Louisville 62, Duke 46.

Is there anything more fun than watching the Dookies dismantled in the NC2A?

No, there isn’t. Especially when it’s your team swinging the sledgehammer.

* * * * *

I love hearing Greg, Kenny and Charles break it down. (Ernie out to be there as ringmaster.)

Greg Anthony is normally pretty astute. At halftime, when Louisville had fought through tears and team turmoil for surprising 35-32 lead, the former UNLV star said, “If I was Duke, I’d be feeling pretty good right now. Only down three . . . “

And, I’m thinking just the opposite. Just a few moments ago, three Cardinals were sitting or prostrate on the floor in shock while their teammate was being tended to by EMS. Players and coaches were openly crying over the fate of their teammate.

Yet they’d maintained their considerable poise for 6:33 of clock time, to increase their advantage by a deuce.

I’m thinking that it might have been as gutty a segment of basketball ever played by a U of L team. I’m thinking the Cards are in as great a shape as they could have possibly hoped for.

* * * * *

Here’s one thing we always suspected, but now know for sure.

Gorgui Dieng’s absence in Atlantis was the difference in the earlier U of L/ Duke encounter. 14 points on 6/8 shooting and 11 rebounds. Ho hum. When Plumlee didn’t come out to check Gorgui, the Cardinal kept dropping in that sweet jumper of his.

His disappointing 2/8 FT shooting is excused. For this, the last time.

Despite his stupid fouls and his sometime overdribbling, Peyton Siva remains the centerpiece of this team. He had 16 points, 4 assists and no turnovers.

Louisville, as a team, had 10 steals, 9 blocks, and, against one of the nation’s most fundamentally sound defenses, only 8 turnovers.

Chane Behanan went for 8 and 8, and played STRONG. Far and away his best game in awhile.

Wayne Blackshear’s offense remains a mystery in its absence. But he played a mighty game on defense. He, along with Luke Hancock, checked Curry right out of the game.

Silent L, SVT, they all came up huge on the big stage.

Oh yes, that Smith kid, the region’s MOP. 23 points. 2 steals. Only 1 turnover.

* * * * *

Since the game was played on Easter, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Christian Academy grad Tim Henderson, who. all of a sudden, becomes an integral part of the Cards’ rotation.

He played 7 steady minutes.

He dotted the exclamation point three with :17 on the clock, to push the final victory margin to — oh, this is so sweet to type — 22 points.

Which contribution on Easter by a CAL grad wasn’t the biggest of the day by a Cardinal.

(Is that a clever transition to talk about the women’s stupendous upset or what?)

CAL grad Antonita Slaughter was 7/9 from beyond the arc in U of L’s upset of #1 Baylor.

Okay, I’m going to say, and I pray it doesn’t offend. Thank you, Jesus.

* * * * *

I must admit there is something vexing about the W by Jeff Walz’s steely squad. And it goes back to my friend David.

One thing he says to the point where we want to stuff a bar of soap in his mouth is this: You look good when you make shots.

So, David, enjoy this day, you’re two for two.

Slaughter wasn’t the only radar-eyed Cardinal sniper from downtown. Louisville was 16/25 from beyond the arc.

Yet, yet, yet, as champs do, and as we knew they would, the Bears came back. But the distaff Cardinals showed as much mettle as their male counterparts.

How great that, when the lead had totally dissipated with seconds to go, hobbled Monique Reid just went down court and won it, besting the best player in the game.

* * * * *

A couple of comments about the losing coaches, then I’m outta here.

Baylor coach Kim Mulkey displayed as little grace in defeat as I can recall. After avoiding a technical for behavior that would have been embarrassing to a Little League father, she had the audacity to blame the loss on the officials.

Tsk, tsk. Mulkey’s post game demeanor was the paradigm of sore loser, totally devoid of class.

The flip side, I must admit, was the post game reaction of Mike Krzyzewski.

We love to hate him, don’t we? His looks. The way he works the refs. Most of all, his considerable, long term, ongoing success at a tony private school.

But the guy is always as gracious in defeat as he is in victory.

“We want to congratulate Louisville on winning this regional championship. They played a great game. They played so hard. We tried to match them, and we couldn’t match them. And they wear you down.

“Their two guards just set an amazing pace, Siva. I don’t know if he – didn’t look like he was even sweating today. He just was so smooth. And then Smith is terrific.

“We feel so bad about youngster Ware. I don’t know the extent of his injury, but Godspeed to him. I hope he’s going to be okay. But congratulations to them.”

“I don’t watch all of college basketball, but it’s the best team we’ve played. And they’re obviously better than we played in the Bahamas.

“What they do, and Rick’s done an amazing job with them, because they have depth and they keep coming at you, but they make you have multiple decision-makers. You have to have more than one guy making a decision out on the court.

“And in switching their defenses and their quickness and their athleticism, you have to – it’s tough to run plays. You have to make plays against them. And we were doing that when we didn’t turn the ball over in the first half.

“The thing with Seth, which we tried to change and did at the start of the second half, he was bringing the ball up too much. We needed he and Mason to be finishers for us, and that’s how we started the second half. We got that.

“And then they played well, and then we missed some shots, and then they just spurted. And then the game changed. I thought we had a chance there, and then boom. And that’s what they do to teams. They can boom you. They – whatever. My vocabulary isn’t very good, but you I hope you understand what I mean. It’s a positive thing for them. Not for us. And Rick’s done a masterful job with this team. He’s as good as they get, and this team’s as good as we’ve seen.”

Next: Wichita State.

– Seedy K

]]> http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/04/01/louisvile-card-file-duke-bye-bye-baylor-bonus-coverage/feed/ 9 http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/03/31/zeus-vs-thor-louisville-battles-duke-for-the-regional-crown/ http://score.leoweekly.com/2013/03/31/zeus-vs-thor-louisville-battles-duke-for-the-regional-crown/#comments Sun, 31 Mar 2013 14:07:24 +0000 c d kaplan http://score.leoweekly.com/?p=8439 Now is the time for your talisman.

You got a lucky shirt? Wear it.

The ballcap you were wearing the night the Cardinals spanked Syracuse in the Garden? Don it.

When the Cards bested Oregon, was your clicker pointed toward Atlanta? (33.7489° N, 84.3881° W)? Make sure your directions are correctly calibrated by 5:05.

After I write this, I’m going for a jog. When I reached into the drawer for a pair of socks, some adorned with Cardinals were at the top of the stack. I can’t remember the last time I wore these, they only come out for special, necessary moments.

A sign? Is my mojo woikin’? I hope so.

* * * * *

I was blessed with the opportunity to sit 10 feet behind the Duke bench the other night when they beat Michigan State. A clear view.

(An aside. It was WDRB’s seat at press row, which wasn’t going to be used, because Eric Crawford and Tom Lane would be doing TV reports. They gave me permission to use the seat and we cleared it with the security guy. When I went to the seat, sitting there was some egregiously clean cut guy in a suit. I indicated to him he had my seat. He was apoplectic. “Louisville Observer, what’s that? This isn’t your seat.” I advised him to move along. The usher nodded the kid away. At which time, fuming, he returned to his real seat, in the front row of the Blue Devil section, with a bunch of fellows who looked and dressed the same. Observing them during the game, I realized he was one of the Stepford Dukies.)

Anyway, my point is that I got to observe the Duke bench up close and personal during a game.

It was both illuminating and fascinating.

You know those shots they show on TV during games of Coach K and his assistants? And how Chris Collins will be totally focused and teeth clenching Steve Wojciehowski will look so fired up he’s about to explode?

That shot doesn’t come close to catching the intensity.

I thought Wojo would unravel before my eyes. Every missed back screen, lost rebound and errant shot had him screaming, punching the raised hardwood. His motor was revved beyond red line.

At one point, Collins actually turned to him and said “You need to calm down.”

Collins vehemence was more measured. He also was totally simpatico with Coach K, who was actually on a stool up on the court, while the assistants (all wearing identical black suits, black socks and black shoes) were down behind him with the team. Without looking at each other, Krzyzewski and Collins would in unison call out the same play or defensive set. They were of like mind.

Coach K rarely made the substitutions. To be honest, I never figured out how it worked. Either Collins or Jeff Capel was the maestro of that — and I just didn’t see it — or there was a set pattern whereby the players themselves knew when to put themselves in and out?

Krzyzewski never shouted instructions to the players during action, but to indicate a play call. Unlike Collins and especially Wojo, who make Rick Pitino’s constant chatter seem tame and calming.

At one point, early in the second half, about the time the usually moderated Krzyzewski screamed at his charges during an entire timeout, the coach turned to the ever sedate Duke section and flapping his arms up and down, yelled, “Come on Duke fans, let’s go!”

Actually the Stepford Dukies, including the one who tried to steal my press row seat, never stopped chattering during the game. As if each was fully in touch with his inner Wojo.

* * * * *

Duke’s bench is, to say the least, fully engaged during the action.

The most fascinating character — the one I think can be broken — is Quin Cook.

I noticed Cook’s obvious ongoing petulance during Thursday’s shootaround. Always mad at himself. Always glowering, berating himself for a missed shot. A classic hothead, he.

It was worse during the game. And he didn’t have a good one.

At one point, Coach K did pull him from the action and sat him for a good while. As Cook was coming off the court, I thought I heard K yell at him, “It’s one and done.” Though it might have something else entirely.

He may be exploitable today. He has a very short fuse.

* * * * *

The other noticeable characteristic of Duke taken from that microscopic examination:

The Blue Devils play full bore . . . every . . . single . . . second . . . of . . . the . . . game.

* * * * *

I have no intention of breaking this tilt down in advance of tip. Too much analysis is useless.

So too, looking for some historical perspective. Both teams have won national titles in Indy. (Though the site of U of L’s magic moment in ’80 is RIP. Market Square Arena, also the venue of Elvis’ last concert, has long been demolished.)

Both teams are really good. Each have strengths and weaknesses.

Whichever one is the most ready, which gets the breaks, which has the luck, which makes the crunch time plays, which hits its key treys and FTs, which plays with the eye of the tiger for the full 40 (or more, if necessary), which is right with the God of its understanding . . . that’s the team which will head to Atlanta next Saturday.

Period.

This is Sparta vs. Troy. (Okay, not really, Michigan State lost. But, work with me here.)

This is Christians vs. the Infidels. (Okay, not really, it’s Easter, take the Christians and give the points.)

This is Goliath vs. Goliath.

This is Good vs. Evil.

* * * * *

Now is the time for your talisman.

Which puts me in a bind. I wore an as yet unwashed t-shirt during U of L’s run in the Big East tourney and the opening games of the NCAA. It’s a funky shirt that honors my years of youth playing ball at the JCC.

Problem is . . . it’s blue.

To wear, or not to wear, that is the question?

– Seedy K

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