The second stanza of Louisville’s 84-70 opening night win over Chattanooga saved a lot of Cardinal fans a lot of moolah.
For the time being anyway.
The Cardinals opened efficiently and shooting sharply.
They scored on 10 of their first 11 possessions.
After but 10:28 of play, U of L was up 23 at 37-14.
I trust there were Cardinal fans checking on reservations in Detroit for the first weekend in April, seeing if there were visiting hours at Motown Studios between the national semis and the title tilt.
Then Louisville surrendered eight in a row.
While disturbingly foul prone Flory Bidunga committed his 2d infraction.
Louisville had drained 15 of their 22 FG attempts, were 5/10 from long range.
Having led by as many as 25, U of L was still up 56-35 at intermission, hitting 57% from the field, 8/19 triples.
They had 7 steals.
They had crafted the most beauteous Cardinal fastbreak in years. A Jackson Shelstad > Adrian Wooley > Karter Knox masterclass.
Despite two men on injured reserve, Pat Kelsey had used 13 different lineups.
Louisville was efficient on offense, and more effective on D than in a long while.
It was exhilerating.
* * * * *
Then the reality that this was the first game of a long campaign appeared.
After the break, the Cardinals netted but 29% of their attempts.
Including a bracing 1/16 on threeballs.
They made only half their FTs in the 2d, 9/18, finishing the tilt at 57% (15/26).
Not good. Not good at all.
U of L led by 24 with 9:02 to play.
Were outscored by 10 the rest of the way.
Missed their last six FG attempts, 9 of the last 11, didn’t score a FG the final 4:13.
* * * * *
All of which statistical recapping leads this observer to opine that the 2d half was more important than the 1st.
A beginning like the Cards had is unsustainable.
Lovely to look at, delightful to see, but a rarity.
It did hint at the legitimate upside of this squad, a beacon of what is possible.
The second half revealed many of the areas needing work and improvement.
* * * * *
All in all, it was an informational way to open the campaign.
Five Cardinals were in double figures.
Four Cardinals had at least three assists.
Louisville only committed ten turnovers, albeit against a zone defense.
The Mocs garnered more 2d chance points, more bench points and more assists than U of L.
1-0.
— c d kaplan
