One wonders where the offense is going to come from with the University of Louisville making it back to Madison Square Garden for a showdown with a good three-point shooting Indiana basketball team.

Rick Pitino’s teams have always defied being stereotyped, especially this one which had been shooting inconsistently, much less hitting three’s. They would put that behind them, putting an impressive offensive show,  with a convincing 94-74 pounding of the Hoosiers.

Montrezl Harrell will be there, of course, the dunking machine wanting the ball, knowing where to be, where to go, putting on a show. Six or seven colossal basket stuffers, blowing past the previous all-time record of 162 held by Pervis Ellison.

Harrell taking advantage of his size, aggressiveness and will to win, posing an impossible-to-ignore distraction for the IU defenders, giving his teammates room to maneuver, down the lane, outside the arc, in and around the big guys around the basket.

Terry Rozier and Chris Jones, appreciating the spotlight at The Garden, knowing they are on a big stage, taking full advantage of every opportunity, creating additional options for themselves, wanting to leave a lasting impression.

Rozier would rack up 26 points to lead all scorers, making good on eight of 17 attempts, including five three-pointers. Smith would accumulate 24, also hitting eight of 17 shots, including two three-pointers. And let the record shot that between them, they would make good on 11 of 16 free throw attempts.

Wayne Blackshear would connect on only one three-point shot out of nine tries, but he would wind up with 11 points. His biggest contribution may have been those five assists, at least three of them to Harrell for those backboard-swaying dunks. That’s a skill he needs to keep cultivating.

Then there was Mangok Mathiang, playing with that high ankle sprain, playing with that friendly attitude of his, coming up four blocks, three rebounds, and six points. Playing hurt but developing, getting better.

Anas Mahmoud, looking like he grew up playing basketball, the seven-footer throwing up those arms, creating barriers, disrupting shooters, finding his teammates. Two points, four rebounds, an assist, and steadily gaining confidence of his coach and teammates.

Found their shooting game in New York. Bring it home to Louisville.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

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