Team 106 is a true title contender
Perhaps the most significant takeaway of the night is that Louisville basketball is the real deal, and the Cardinals have as good of a chance as anyone to cut down the nets in April.
This was only one game, but the Cards’ victory, in a way, feels like the complete opposite of last year’s meltdown in the waning minutes against the Blue Devils.
Louisville got out to a great start fueled by outstanding defense, they never wavered when whistles didn’t go their way, or when plagued by foul trouble, or when Duke began to answer the bell, and then they sealed the deal as a team. The Cardinals brought the tenacity throughout. It was a complete team effort worthy of all of the hype and praise that is bound to follow.
Most importantly, this felt like a culmination of everything that the Cards had been working on. ESPN’s analyst so kindly pointed it out on Saturday on multiple occasions, but after Louisville’s collapse against Duke, the Cardinals were truly never the same team for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Since then, Louisville has lived by the mantra “finish.”
Though the Cardinals faltered early this season, they have hit their stride in conference play. Louisville got out to hot starts but stumbled midway through against Miami, Notre Dame, and Pittsburgh in their last three road games, but ultimately found a way to win.
A game prior at the Petersen Events Center, Louisville truly struggled throughout to string together multiple solid offensive possessions. Yet, somehow, someway, Louisville got it to overtime and used a 12-1 run to put away the Panthers on the road.
On Saturday, you knew Duke was going to find a way back into the game. On the ropes at home trying to avoid back-to-back losses, the Blue Devils landed some punches.
But, again, somehow, someway, Louisville landed the final blow.
The Cardinals are true championship contenders, and they are on the perfect trajectory to finish their season in Atlanta.