Random Thoughts The Morning After

Perspective #1:

It was universally believed when Rick Pitino was named as Denny Crum’s successor, he would win another national title for U of L.

He’d already won one. Been to the Final Four more than once. Coached two different NBA teams. Was generally regarded as one of the best in the biz.

Pitino’s first squad was thrashed in their second tilt at Oregon. 63-90. Season ended with an L at home to Temple in the NIT.

The following campaign, his bolstered Cardinals were crushed at Cincy 80-101. The season ended with a 2d round L to Butler, who beat the Cards running the same high pick and roll every trip down the court.

In his third campaign, one that ended with a first round defeat to Xavier, the Cardinals were manhandled at TCU, 46-71.

The Cardinals forged their way to the Final Four the next year, but still had a seventeen point defeat at home to Memphis State, 68-85.

Capeche?

It was a dozen years until the third.

Pat Kelsey is still a neophyte mentor at this level. As perceptive and energetic and innovative as he is, he is still a work in progress. There are lapses in the learning curve.

His first two rosters have been guard/ outside, bereft inside oriented.

I personally don’t know if this was by design, or whether the Cards simply struck out in the recruiting/ portal wars???

I have full faith that Kelsey will rise to the occasion. Roster building. Game planning.

I also am sure it will take time and patience.

On his part.

And that of the fan base, many of whom are ready to register dismay and disgust at the first missed triple.

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Perspective #2:

Because I have access to post personal takes and game stories etc, when out and about I’m asked my opinion about the Cardinals.

As if I’m an expert.

If only.

I’m a fan first. With lots of experience watching lots of hoops for a lifetime. 

A savant I am not.

This year, when asked about the Cardinals, I have the same answer. They are a good team, not a great team.

Because of the lack of inside bulk and presence, the ceiling it seems is Second Weekend. Not Final Four. 

Despite two depressing losses, Louisville remains a Top 15-20 squad both in the computer and human polls. 

As I wrote after falling to Kansas in that exhi, the sky is not falling.

As Lenny Bruce said, “What ought to be is a lie.”

What is, is. 

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Perspective #3:

How any fan reacts to the fortunes of their beloved team is a personal choice.

My reactions are colored by my station in life.

Such becomes more acute when the years pile up.

There was a time when a Louisville loss would plummet me into a depression until a scoreboard displayed 00:00 and the Cardinals with more points than the foe. 

Now, I hearken back to the vow I made on the morning of April 9, 2013.

“Once upon a time the joke was my gravestone would read ‘He Only Wanted One’. I’ve got three. From here on, everything is gravy.”

I still get too nervous. 

I notice the phone is silent after such as last night’s loss.

But at some point I realize at the bottom of the bowl of the sundae of my Cardinal adoration, there is still whipped cream and nuts and residue of cooling fudge.

If underneath that, there’s another cherry, be still my beating heart.

— c d kaplan