Seedy K’s GameCap: Bellarmine – Card Chronicle

So what can be learned about the Louisville Cardinals from this, an easy 100-68 win over perhaps the least good team of the Scotty Davenport regime at Bellarmine? Minus one of their best players.

U of L was also short-handed.

Before tip-off, it was announced that Koron Johnson would not play due to a shoulder injury. He, of course, Louisville’s PG#2. What role was played by Terrence Edwards Jr.

And that Kader Traore is going to be out for a while with a broken arm.

So it’s never good at any point, especially not three games into the season for an ever-growing contingent. Especially for a team that plays at a high tempo and needs lots of interchangeable parts to keep the spirit going.

Are there any other negatives before I move on to a series of encouraging developments?

Yes, giving up points in the paint. U of L’s D was actually pretty good after they tightened up for several minutes. But the Knights went through the back door – and, frankly, through the front door too – for too many easy points up close. Thirty. That needs to be cleaned up.

And there’s that break in the second half, when the Norris Placers ran off 11 straight.

* * * * *

My favorite observation.

Kasean Pryor ruled it. He did not force a dribble drive to the hoop in the first 26 minutes of play. Unlike before Tuesday night, the ball didn’t stop in his hands. He even passed up an open trey for a Khani Rooth deuce.

KP hit her first two bombs, both inside the offense, to tie the score at 7 and push the Cardinals ahead for good at 10-7.

He was also 9/10 at the line. Many of them too late, as the provocateur actually provoked a knight into banishment.

Louisville was a steady 18/24 (75%) at the charity stripe.

Louisville’s inside pass didn’t always work — and will be harder to pull off given the rise in competition just over the horizon — but it was nice to see. Driving and washing dishes. Including a clever Reyne Smith bounce pass close to James Scott for a slap. This after a Chucky Hepburn interior shilling to Scott for a dunk.

My favorite J’Vonne Hadley moment of the contest was during a Bellarmine breakout. JH followed the play but rushed to catch up and eventually drew a charge in the paint on the fastbreak.

With his increased ball-handling role, Edwards had more opportunities to dribble to the post. Which is his habit. A few but not many moves were forced. But the kid is talented and is still adapting to the step up in level.

That learning curve still relevant, he led the Cardinals with 26 on 10/14, 4/7, 2/2 shooting. Plus four rebounds and three assists.

Hepburn was more confident from a scoring point of view. More importantly, his team leads are five assists and 4 steals.

* * * * *

Not a whole lot else.

U of L remains a work in progress.

They were expected to have their way with Bellarmine.

And did.

— cd chaplain