Louisville basketball: Three things we still love about 2020 Cards

The meaning of Team 106

Regardless of the outcomes the rest of the way, Louisville fans should be smitten with the way this Cardinals squad has come together.

Bear in mind that Louisville basketball has no business being one of the top five teams in the country given the very recent history of the program.

People were critical of Chris Mack accepting the job offer at Louisville given the scandals and controversy surrounding the team when he took over in 2018.

No one expected Louisville to return to prominence, let alone national title contention, in less than two years.

Louisville’s roster is full of players who were not recruited by Mack, don’t bring the typical skillsets that he typically wants in his system to the table, and came from all over the country to play in a system and coach that is no longer associated with the university.

The fact that Mack not only sold and employed his style and brand of basketball to the current roster, has gotten them to gel, and now leads the conference with most of those same players is nearly miraculous.

We so soon forget what these players and this team have been through. How tough leaving home as a kid and being thrust into national controversy must be, and how well these kids have not only handled the challenge but rose to the occasion.

Regardless of wins and losses and controversial opinions of keyboard warriors, this 106th edition of Louisville basketball is so much fun and an unexpected blessing to our community.