It was a Dickensian nightmare. The best of times. The worst of times. A Tale of Two Halves. So, the answer to the question I’ve been asked over and over again for the last several weeks is . . . . . . “No it is apparent we are not ready to beat Duke.” * […]
It was a Dickensian nightmare.
The best of times. The worst of times.
A Tale of Two Halves.
So, the answer to the question I’ve been asked over and over again for the last several weeks is . . .
. . . “No it is apparent we are not ready to beat Duke.”
* * * * *
There was a play that underscored why long after Duke had taken over the game with a 9 zip run for a 56-53 lead.
Down 7 with hope fading, U of L put on a dang nice full court press. But Duke — better, quicker and truly astute — made a couple of passes and the truly gifted rookie Cameron Boozer laid in a bunny for a 75-66 advantage.
Jon Scheyer — a worthy and wise successor to the GOAT — made some learned adjustments at the half. Louisville was unable to do anything they’d gotten away with in the 1st.
The outcome — 84-73 — was inevitable and inexorable. Yes, redundant, but used for emphasis.
After draining 10 of 21 triples in the opening stanza, the Cards were 2/17 in the 2d. Most of which after halftime were launched by guys that aren’t U of L’s long range marksmen.
Credit the Blue Devil D.
Khani Rooths was +13 in the opening twenty in nine minutes of action, and put the clamps on the victors’ ace better than any other Cardinal. Then only played three minutes after the break.
I’ve got no explanation for that curiosity.
Though more PT for him would not have changed the outcome.
U of L never trailed in the 1st, led for 19:02.
Three early turnovers and some missed shots after intermission took the wind out of U of L’s sails. And energy out of the building.
* * * * *
When Aly Khalifa banked in an early trey for a 12-9 advantage, it seemed an omen.
When he swished three more before the break, more so.
But no, Duke wasn’t going to let that happen again. Except for that meaningless triple at the end.
Among the other savvy changes after the break, Scheyer, realizing his PG could have his way off the bounce, let Caleb Foster loose. He was 7/8 in the second, all at the rim.
Yes, I’m talking way more about the Cardinals’ foe than usual. Duke is just better.
But, let me be clear. U of L didn’t play a really bad game. They were much more competitive than against Tennessee and Arkansas. They were simply thwarted, just not good enough.
* * * * *
Of course, the FT disparity was a big difference.
D: 19/28. L: 9/12.
But Louisville was whistled for only three more fouls than the Blue Devils.
Yes, there were some questionable — arguably bad — calls. One on Rooths under the hoop in the first was egregious. Cameron Boozer scooted ten feet across the hardwood in the 2d, ball in hand, and no whistle for traveling.
Even though it was statistically the difference in the game, it wasn’t why U of L lost.
Or, so I’d offer.
It wasn’t fun to watch it play out.
Not easy to write about.
So it goes.
— c d kaplan
Category: General Sports
