May be a while before University of Louisville basketball plays another Kentucky team so lacking in talent as was so evident on Saturday. But that’s irrelevant because UofL never posed a serious threat to the Wildcats.
Choose a reason — lack of focus, no consistency, little confidence, an absence of leadership, no visible will to win — any of these qualities were in evidence in a 71-58 loss to Kentucky. No perceived benefit either from the boisterous UofL diehards in the crowd of 20,882 at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday.
A UofL team able to connect on only five of 20 three-point field goal attempts. Not much better on close-up attempts, unable to finish, blowing uncontested shots at times. Seemingly content to just hang around, spotting UK 10-point-plus leads, lacking the ability to hit two or three shots in a row.
Credit Coach Chris Mack for keeping his team as close as it was, avoiding a second straight blowout to Kentucky. The offensive schemes were good, the 1-3-1 zone offense could have been effective. But not without booster shots of mental toughness and consistent focus.
If there was a bright spot, it was the play of Christen Cunningham, who almost singlehandedly kept UofL within striking distance in the first half. The 6-foot-2 graduate transfer from Samford University had three of Louisville’s five 3-point shots and a team-leading 20 points.
Jordan Nwora, the team’s leading scorer, accumulated 17 points but teammates Dwayne Sutton and Darius Perry managed only seven points between them. Sutton never took a shot during the first 20 minutes. Ryan McMahon couldn’t possibly get open, winding with two free throws.
Not a blowout at least, but not all that encouraging. Not with UofL hosting Miami next Sunday in the first game of a grueling ACC schedule.
An early wakeup call, a reminder for Louisville fans to keep expectations in check for the rest of the season. Chris Mack’s work has only just begun.
Slideshow courtesy of Cindy Rice Shelton.
Mostly disappointed in the effort, just didn’t seem as good as it has most of the year. Then I go back and remember that this is a patchwork team and that, there is probably only one player on the Louisville team, that could even think of having a chance of playing on the opposite team. So, even if this is not one of the better blue teams we have played, they were still talented enough to beat us. I believe Coach Mack will get us back to a real rivalry, once he gets his players in the program. I also have to go back and remember, what my expectations where at the start of the year. We have probably over achieved up to this point and bring my expectations back to a more realistic level. We have the right staff, and I think we are back on a upper trajectory. We are going to have some ups and down while we climb the ladder again. Still love my Cards. Go Cards.