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Louisville basketball: What we learned about Cards in loss to Kentucky

By Tristan Beckmann

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 28: Chris Mack the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on December 28, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - DECEMBER 28: Chris Mack the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals gives instructions to his team against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena on December 28, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 20: Lamar Kimble #0 of the Louisville Cardinals dribbles the ball during the game against the USC Upstate Spartans at KFC YUM! Center on November 20, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – NOVEMBER 20: Lamar Kimble #0 of the Louisville Cardinals dribbles the ball during the game against the USC Upstate Spartans at KFC YUM! Center on November 20, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Fresh Kimble can be the answer at point guard

Heading into the Battle of the Bluegrass, Lamarr “Fresh” Kimble was scoring 4.3 points per game in an average of about 18.5 minutes. He hadn’t been producing at the level that he was expected to when he joined the team in the early stages of the offseason. He was becoming known as a relative non-factor on the offensive end but a force to be reckoned with as a defensive guard. His efforts on that end have been appreciated thus far this season but every fan was holding out hope that he could become a productive offensive player.

Against Kentucky, Kimble delivered one of the best performances out of all Louisville players. He played 29 minutes off the bench and was a useful defender as usual. Fresh had by far his best game of the season. He shot five of nine from the field and knocked down two of his three, three-point attempts. Fresh had only hit three, three-pointers all season prior to the game. He scored a total of 12 points, which was one shy of his season-high. Kimble did miss two crucial free-throw attempts down the stretch, but he played well against a tough Kentucky backcourt.

His performance certainly earned him some more trust from the coaching staff as we fully enter ACC play. Louisville is searching for that true leading point guard and I think that Fresh Kimble can become that guy as we enter the new year. He was initially tabbed to be that guy when he committed to Louisville, but it hadn’t worked out that way throughout the season. This might be a turning point for him, and it’s a performance that surely helped boost his confidence in his offensive game. I’m not going to be one to overreact to one game, but he can be the answer at point guard if he continues turning in some performances like these.

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