Once upon a time a team with Marshall’s talent would have given the University of Louisville basketball team all it could handle, especially with Montrezl Harrell and Wayne Blackshear sidelined for long stretches because of fouls.
Chris Jones and Terry Rozier are in command this night, and they’re not going to tolerate any comebacks, keeping constant pressure on the Marshall guards while steadily attacking the basket. Jones and Rozier would playing 37 and 36 minutes, respectively, while scoring 18 and 17 points to lead all scorers in UofL’s 85-67 win. Take breathers apparently not their thing.
Giving it everything they have, stalking their prey, speeding them up, forcing them into turnovers and punishng them on the offensive end. Relentless in every phase of the game, Jones at one point hitting the floor beneath the basket, bouncing back up, stealing the ball, laying it in the basket within a three-second span. Rozier finding the shooters or, if not available, finding the space for himself.
— Blackshear leaving his mark in the first half, one of his best 20 minutes, with an array of stats that include 12 of his 16 total points, six rebounds, four steals and two blocks as UofL is outscoring Marshall 11-0 over two minutes and 34 seconds. He will collect that dreaded fourth foul at the 15:23 mark of the second half and sit for the next eight minutes.
— Freshman Chinanu Onuaku earning his second straight double-double, scoring 10 points while pulling in 11 rebounds. In his last two games, Onuaku is 10-for-10 from the field with 21 rebounds in 40 minutes of action.
— Mangok Mathiang just keeps looking more comfortable and becoming more assertive, with 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. If he ever gets the hang of the concept of shooting, Mathiang is going to be a consistent threat. He brings energy and good vibes, enjoys playing the game.
— David Levitch is seeing action because he’s know what Rick Pitino wants. A coach’s son with long arms, he makes a pesk of himself on defense, getting in the way, deflecting passes, being where no one expects him to be. Good for a three point every now and then, but deadly on the free throw line.
— Harrell collecting that fourth foul on an optical illusion, but his fourth nevertheless, ushed to the sideline at the 17:34 mark of the second half. Standing tall, refusing to sit on the sideline, ever the captain, continuing to communicate with his teammates. No dunks this game, even with Pitino allowing him to go to the basket with nine seconds and a commanding lead on the clock.
Jones and Rozier setting the tone, establishing a team identity, character and all that, refusing to wilt. That’s what they expect of themselves and they are not disappointed.