The University of Louisville basketball team throws a defensive blanket over Ohio State, racing to a 17-point lead over Ohio State in the first half. The quiltwork unravels during the second, the defense tattered, torn and full of holes, but UofL emerges with a threadbare 64-55 victory.
Rick Pitino still figuring out this team, experimenting, putting the pieces together, his team passing an early test against a young Ohio State team that is going to really be good in March. Those pieces include some surprising results from the bench, which could be very beneficial to Louisville come tournament time.
No more wondering about who’s going to be taking those must-have shots.
Terry Rozier leaves the floor early in the second half, in obvious pain, holding his left hand, Trainer Fred Hina escorting him to the locker room. He returns minutes later, with two dislocated fingers taped together. Just two, not enough to affect his aim. He will actually finnd his shooting eye in the final four minutes, burying three jumpers. His last shot a three-pointer with 45 seconds remaining.
Wayne Blackshear, the other designated clutch shooter, will answer the call as well. Playing perhaps his best overall game since arriving at UofL, he will display the Blackshear everyone has been waiting for, the one he promised before the season was on the way.
For the game, Blackshear will lead all scorers with 22 points, incuding four of eight from the free throw line, while grabbing seven rebounds and making three steals. His two free throws with five seconds remaining to seal the victory.
The shocker of the night, a very pleasing one, as Pitino declared on the way to the locker room at the half, was the aggressiveness of Anas Mahmoud, the seven-foot freshman who would still be sitting on the bench had Onuaku Chinanu not gotten in foul trouble. Or if Matz Stockman, the other seven footer, had not strained his neck in practice.
Not that Mahmoud appears aggressive, cool under pressure, giving that extra effort Pitino had pleaded for but looking so calm and collected. He will grab seven rebounds, score seven points, block two shots and generally make a nuisance of himself on the defensive end. And, yes, he will be in the lane for about eight seconds on that three-second violation. Chalk him up as another steal for Pitino.
Montrezl Harrell receives so much attention and puts out so much effort that he’s a shadow of himself in the closing minutes. Four fouls don’t help much either. Before running out steam, he had scored 10 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and blocked two shots.
Nobody expected a blowout and a 17-point lead isn’t that great in the era of the three-point shot. The win was a good one, the first half and the closing minutes of the game building some expectations for the road ahead.