They are who we thought they were.

Some would argue that Saturday’s 77-69 victory over UNLV was the Louisville basketball team’s first marquee win of the season, an argument that insults Butler the runner-up in last season’s NCAA championship final.

Make that two quality wins. Butler just didn’t know what it was up against in that first game, and has yet to recover.

The effort against a solid UNLV team proved there’s more than enough talent to go around, just a matter of getting the right combination on the floor. If one isn’t hitting, playing defense, or is cursed with slippery fingers, there’s someone waiting ready to prove himself worthy.

Now we know why Preston Knowles keeps taking those shots. After a reclusive first half, he reverted to his normal self in the second, taking the kind of shots to which fans are accustomed from him. The difference was that he was making them this day, six of nine attempts, all six of his free throw shots.

All of Knowles’ 20 points in the second half, the most since Kyle Kuric collected 22 in his legendery second half against Syracuse at Freedom Hall last season.

Speaking of Kyle Kuric, his five three-point goals were a new career high for him. Believe it or not, he had only four three-point baskets in that Syracuse game. Seemed like more because the Freedom Hall finale was so climactic.

Peyton Siva making seven assists but those five turnovers are a bit concerning. Unforced errors adding up for the first-year starter. His backup, Elisha Justice, played 13 minutes without a turnover, and has yet to commit more than one turnover in a game as a college player.

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By Steve Springer

Steve Springer is a lifelong University of Louisville fan and was Volvo's "Biggest Fan of the Big East" in 2011. He's a sportswriter for the Murray Ledger & Times, in addition to teaching physical education. He graduated from Eastern High School, earned a Master's degree from the University of Louisville and his BS degree at Murray State University. His Twitter handle is @racercard.

5 thoughts on “Louisville takes care of business in 77-69 win over UNLV”
  1. Here’s my outline for the season.
    Step one–beat up on pattycakes while your guys learn the system. Accomplished.
    Step two–beat a ranked team at home, preseason. Also Accomplished.
    Step three–begin reading your press clippings, quit listening to the coach, and fall flat on your face in a game you should win. Coming next.
    Step four–finally play solid, tough ball at home, but lose on the road, in the conference.
    Step five–beat a good conference opponent on the road.
    Lastly– see how deeply you can go in the tournaments before your glaring weaknesses are taken advantage of. Then go recruit some ones and twos that can put two good games together both offensively and defensively. But it’s going to be a fun year. Go Cards.

  2. In reality Siva had only three turnovers no matter what the official stats say.

    He threw a perfect pass to Buckles that would have hit him squarely in the chest had he not tripped and fallen while the ball was on the way.

    And he had the ball stolen while he was mugged, shot it was almost armed robbery, right in front of the official who was tripping over his seeing eye dog and missed it.

    No way either of those should count against him.

  3. Great win for the Cards!! Keep it going.

    Another good win for the Cards — Will Muschamp gets head coach job in Florida!! oh yeah….we’re staying Strong!

  4. I really enjoy the way this year’s Cardinal squad is playing team ball. It is going to be spectacular when all the guys are hitting on all cylinders at the same time.

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