It was a shot that will be embedded in the memories of University of Louisville basketball fans for years, a shot earning Mangok Mathiang a special place in their hearts, a shot giving UofL a double bye in the ACC Tournament, a shot providing new hope, a boost of much-needed optimism going into the post season.
Mangok Mathiang, who was 1 of 16 from the field in the last nine games, the most unpredictable big man in the UofL roster, the least likely to get the ball, and the last player any fan wants taking the last shot.
Standing there all alone at the free throw line, Terry Rozier not thinking, lobbing the ball to Mathiang. Rick Pitino, his mouth wide open, panic on his face, the clock ticking down, no second chances, this is it.
Mathiang, no time to think. Up he goes, the basketball sailing in a perfect arc toward the basket and through the net. Louisville on top 58-57, 2.8 seconds to go. Mathiang has come through when least expected, carved out a place for himself in UofL basketball history. Terry Rozier will add a free throw for the final margin, 59-57.
Montrezl Harrell, the one playing through the pain, desperately wanting this game, would be the first player to reach Mangok, wrapping him up in a grizzly embrace, that omnipresent mouth piece dangling from his teeth.
Harrell, struggling to get up and down the court at the end, with still another spectacular performance in his final home game. Taking it upon himself, entering that possessed state, to do everything he can to get this win. Twenty points, 12 rebounds, three assists and raising his all-time career dunking total to 207 in another memorable performance.
At one point, Harrell flat on his back, struggling to even get back to the bench, trainer Fred Hina working his magic. Harrell looking years older as he makes his way to the scorer’s table, walking gingerly as goes back into the game. He would be healthy enough during the final six minutes to make a couple of free throws, a steal and a rebound. But he was felling no pain at all after the Mangok milestone.
Pitino saying after the game Mangok had been practicing that shot over and over and over again the past three weeks. And he will probably encouraged to keep shooting it from that spot all next week, all summer and into the fall, the slow but inevitable development of a zonebuster extraordinaire.
— Quentin Snider, who will be in the gym with him but working on his 3-point shot, was finding the range early against one of the nation’s top defenses, hitting three out of four 3-point attempts, setting a positive tone for the game, winding up with 11 points.
— Terry Rozier, playing under control in what was probably his last game at the KFC Yum! Center, content to share the ball, confining himself mostly to high percentage shots, grabbing seven rebounds and four assists, happy with 11 points.
— Wayne Blackshear, consistent on defense, working hard for shots on offense, completing his last home game with nine points and two assists.
Another one of those unbelievable wins, reaffirming UofL’s rightful place among college basketball’s best and the aura of the coaching phenomenon that is Rick Pitino. A pretty powerful combination, just the kind of win the Cardinals badly needed going into March Madness, starting next Thursday for UofL in Greensboro.