Seedy K’s GameCap: Indiana – Card Chronicle

Obviously, there have been improbable results for Louisville Basketball over the years.

Either by the final result, or the manner of victory (or defeat) or the margin of said score at 00:00.

But for the life of me, I simply cannot at this point, about half an hour after the buzzer, recall anything as beautifully astonishing and improbable as what happened on this day before Thanksgiving 2024.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61.

Another look at the official box to make sure it’s not a typo that I’m remembering correctly.

And one more repetition. . .

. . . because my fingers are so happy to type it out.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61.

And the absolute truth, to use a well-worn cliché that is absolutely apropos, The Game Was Not Nearly That Close.

With 5:45 left, Kasean Pryor stole the ball, streaked down for a fast break slam, making it 82-45.

+37.

* * * * *

Game ball to Pat Kelsey.

This man totally outclassed his colleague on the other bench, it was laughable. (At least after the fact, I was still nervous at 74-40 at the 7:58 stoppage and not laughing at anything.)

The Cardinals’ defensive effort was intense, focused, well-planned, well-executed.

The Hoosiers committed 23 turnovers.

Some were unforced.

Most were not.

U of L had the Hoosiers discombobulated from the opening tip.

Chucky Hepburn stole the rock on IU’s opening possession. And scored. His first of 7 steals. His first runner-up on 16 points. To go with 10 assists.

Plus essentially controlling the pace of the whole affair.

Okay, where was I?

Coach Kelsey, that’s it.

What struck me was how ready the Cardinals were. Their game was measured from the start. They ran their O, but at a moderate pace, to determine what would work and what wouldn’t.

D was down almost flawlessly.

Everything worked.

U of L was up 8 at the half.

So how did PK’s composite squad fare after the break?

Gave up a deuce. So . . .

. . . J’Vonne Hadley second. Stop. J’Vonne Hadley second. Stop. Kasean Pryor second. Stop. Noah Waterman tripled. Stop. Pryor again on a dime from Chucky.

Time-out by a beleaguered and confused Mike Woodson.

The 11 zips pushed the Cardinals’ margin to 48-31.

U of L never wavered.

So I try to give props to Pat Kelsey, but I keep going on the urge.

Honestly, I’m still confused too, but in the opposite way by Woodson’s manner.

This was a master class in planning and then execution.

Maturity.

* * * * *

As the professor always says: You look good when you make your shots.

U of L was 37/65. That is 57%.

27/10 from the foot of the resort’s waterslide. 37%

5/7 at the line. 71%.

In a game as rough* as the 90’s NBA, the Cardinals didn’t shoot a FT until 7:08 left in the tilt.

* The tournament’s sponsor is Bad Boy Mowers. Should be the Bad Boy Pistons of Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Isiah Thomas.

* * * * *

As of this posting, Louisville’s Turkey foe has yet to be determined.

If West Virginia draws a Cardinals, it could be the Mountaineers.

Doubt it.

More than likely powerful Gonzaga. Which could very well give Louisville a boost.

The. Will. Not. Sage.

This victory was a consequence.

Louisville basketball needed something like this.

Louisville basketball got this.

* * * * *

Two games in the U of L/IU series have always been my favorites.

The one who started the 84-85 campaign in the House of Assembly. An IU alum with good seats who couldn’t go gave me his tickets. During the game, every time Milt Wagner touched the ball, a guy behind me yelled, “Put some mustard on that hot dog.”

After the Cards won 75-64, I turned and wordlessly handed the guy a packet of mustard from the concession area.

My other favorite was a win over Bobby Knight’s team at Freedom Hall around Christmas time.

I now have a clear and undisputed favorite U of L/IU game.

27 November 2024.

Louisville 89, #14 Indiana 61, in a blowout not nearly as close.

— cd chaplain