The basketball Cards did what was expected in dispatching Hartford 104-69 in the University of Louisville’s season opener. Some impressions:

— Terrence Williams looks like Darrell Griffith-plus, with even more athleticism than we remembered. A reverse double-clutch dunk, 14 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. He will be legendary simply for his dunks but his other contributions are so much more valuable.

— Edgar Sosa will start again, and soon. For this team to come close to its potential, Edgar must realize his talents extend far beyond shooting; that’s when basketball will become fun again.

— Will need more than 16 minutes from Derrick Caracter as the schedule toughens. Still seems foul-prone. Officials expect him to foul, too, so they tend to anticipate.

— Can’t wait to see David Padgett against a good post man, brings out the best in him.

Still not quite into basketball, football grieving continues.

Louisville has never beaten South Florida in Tampa. There’s no logical reason to expect the outcome to be any different this time around. But fans can hope

— That Harry Douglas is able to be the Harry Douglas of old, at least one more time before he graduates.

— That U of L opens with a two back offense, with Brian Roche living up to the hype that accompanied his signing, creating holes as big as trucks for the running backs.

— That junior college transfer Woodny Turenne has finally adapted to major college football and picks off at least three interceptions.

— That George Stripling is not running up the middle on third downs; he’s more effective on screen passes.

— That neither Brock Bolen nor Anthony Allen pull disappearing acts.

— That a Rutgers win can cap a winning season.

Why is it that the worst possible news about Louisville football always seems to be relayed by Kentucky fans who don’t otherwise acknowledge the program’s existence?

Early this year, it was a brother-in-law shoving a sports section my way over eggs and bacon with the shocker about Bobby Petrino’s departure. A decade ago it was another Cat lover breaking the news that Howard Schnellenberger was off to Oklahoma. Yesterday, it was a recorded message from a UK grad about the demise of Peanut Whitehead’s football career.

What’s worse than getting the news from UK fans is the realization that this week’s events, including the suspension of Rod Council, have to be damningly disconcerting to the players. All season long, they’ve had fans berating their coach, their skills, and their desire to win, accompanied by an unprecedented rash of suspensions and injuries. Now Peanut is gone.

Peanut is just one player but he was a symbol of a the talent and potential that returned this year. His loss to the team and his personal loss of an entire football career are dreary confirmation that a black cloud has engulfed the U of L football program. Anyone expecting a late season turn around is likely to be disappointed.

Every so often, much too often, you hear the notion floated that the ratio of U of L fans to UK fanatics in the Louisville area is evenly divided, about 50-50 between the two schools.

Not so. Not even close, according to the results of a Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll released in February 2005. The poll should have settled the issue once and for all. But UK fans and some media types, who either don’t read the front page, don’t do any research at all, or count on the forgetfulness of the general public, persist in verbalizing untruths.

Predictably. That’s why this writer kept a copy of the results, to ensure that folks are aware of the facts. The poll indicated:

— Fans of U of L basketball outnumbered UK fans by 53.7% to 33.3% in the Louisville area.

— U of L football fans weighed in at 61.3%, as compared to 20.8% for UK pigskin followers.

The Courier-Journal poll did not take into consideration the bandwagon jump factor, which includes people whose loyalty often wavers, depending on well a team is faring during a particular season. They will jump from a losing team to a winning team in a heartbeat. But even with a plus or minus error factor of 5%, Louisville wins the local favorite debate hands down.

Keep this information handy. The issue will resurface.

Every so often, much too often, you hear the notion floated that the ratio of U of L fans to UK fanatics in the Louisville area is evenly divided, about 50-50 between the two schools.

Not so. Not even close, according to the results of a Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll released in February 2005. The poll should have settled the issue once and for all. But UK fans and some media types, who either don’t read the front page, don’t do any research at all, or count on the forgetfulness of the general public, persist in verbalizing untruths.

Predictably. That’s why this writer kept a copy of the results, to ensure that folks are aware of the facts. The poll indicated:

— Fans of U of L basketball outnumbered UK fans by 53.7% to 33.3% in the Louisville area.

— U of L football fans weighed in at 61.3%, as compared to 20.8% for UK pigskin followers.

The Courier-Journal poll did not take into consideration the bandwagon jump factor, which includes people whose loyalty often wavers, depending on well a team is faring during a particular season. They will jump from a losing team to a winning team in a heartbeat. But even with a plus or minus error factor of 5%, Louisville wins the local favorite debate hands down.

Keep this information handy. The issue will resurface.

On numerous occasions our lives have been enriched by young Patrick Henry Hughes, a talented musician born without sight and unable to extend his arms and legs. His performances with the U of L Marching Band, on the WHAS Crusade for Children, the ESPN feature; he never fails to inspire.

Equally impressive is dad Patrick John Hughes who assists his son in a wheelchair through band practices and performances. It’s great that the community can thank Patrick and family with the gift of a new handicapped-accessible home, thanks to ABC’s Extreme Makeover, Fifth Third Bank, Elite Homes and dozens of other local contributors and volunteers. Visit Patrick’s web site or e-mail him at p.hughes@insightbb.com. If you haven’t heard the Blood Kin group’s song about Patrick Henry, click here. Have a Kleenex handy.

Just when fans frantically hoped all the pieces just might come together this season comes the surprising announcement from Coach Steve Kragthorpe that Rod Council is on a one-game suspension for the South Florida game. The regrettable thing is that it seems to take a while for players to work their way out of the coach’s doghouse. If that’s true in this case, the season could be over for a key cornerback.

Rod Council has been one of the most consistently effective players on defense since game one this season. Never let it be said that Kragthorpe allows a player’s abilities affect his sense of the right thing to do when it comes to administering disciplinary action.

That’s a good thing. Right?

Congratulations to former U of L great Wiley Brown. He has secured the first of many wins as the new head coach of the Indiana University-Southeast basketball team. His Grenadiers defeated Purdue University-Northeast 75-74 on the road in their season opener.

Athletic Director Pat Mzorowski said IUS was very fortunate to secure Wiley’s services. “If I had a son playing college basketball, I would want him playing for a coach like Wiley Brown,” he said. “We believe he will be a great coach.”

Brown, a starter on U of L’s 1980 NCAA championship team, is the latest Pitino aide to become a head coach. Joining him as an assistant coach was former teammate Scooter McCray, another U of L favorite.

Just when fans frantically hoped all the pieces just might come together this season comes the surprising announcement from Coach Steve Kragthorpe that Rod Council is on a one-game suspension for the South Florida game. The regrettable thing is that it seems to take a while for players to work their way out of the coach’s doghouse. If that’s true in this case, the season could be over for a key cornerback.

Rod Council has been one of the most consistently effective players on defense since game one this season. Never let it be said that Kragthorpe allows a player’s abilities affect his sense of the right thing to do when it comes to administering disciplinary action.

That’s a good thing. Right?