Well, that escalated quickly. Louisville basketball melts down at Florida State

After a promising start, Louisville basketball couldn’t withstand injuries and foul trouble against a championship-minded Florida State.

It’s never a good thing when you get a text when you’re in the Arby’s drive-thru that reads “Malik Williams is crying.” That text came tonight just a few minutes into Louisville basketball’s much-anticipated rematch with Florida State.

Keep in mind, I had just left the gym with plans to grab food and watch the game on delay and had no desire to know any type of spoilers, especially when it means finding out  “braided Leek” had ran off through the tunnel after rolling an ankle only to return to the bench in what looked like tears.

If there was ever a game that required Louisville to show up from the tip with elite level energy and focus on a game plan it was this one against no. 6 Florida State. Thanks to a Duke loss against North Carolina State last week, Louisville went into the game holding on to a first-place lead with the potential to put push it even further should they knock off the extremely hot Seminoles, a team who had won 17 of their last 20 games.

Before Williams was forced out to injury, it was evident that Louisville came to play. Too many times this season the Cards have started games slow, looking rather uninterested in playing the game on their schedule, but not this one.

The effort was incredible and something has to be praised after what the Cards went through just a few days ago losing back-to-back games against Georgia Tech and Clemson. Even without the clear leader of their team 106 in Malik Williams, Louisville played harder than they possibly have all season forcing 9 first-half turnovers and doing everything you’d expect from a team looking to win a championship.

The 50/50 balls and effort plays that went the other way far too many times were where Louisville shined and was a huge reason they pushed the lead to as many as 10 in the first half.

Ryan McMahon also helped with that, after being essentially unplayable against Florida State the last two seasons due to their length and athleticism and his, well… lack of length and athleticism. But tonight his shooting got Louisville going in the first half as he hit three in a row to go along with 11 points and seven rebounds.

Things got a lot tougher for Louisville in the second half as the Florida State team were all used to seeing finally showed up. Those effort plays that Louisville won in the first half wasn’t there as often (if ever) and the length of guys like Malik Osborne, Dominik Olejnicizk, Patrick Williams, and Raiquan Gray used their size to keep everything outside of the lane.

The once ten-point lead evaporated quickly as the Seminoles got it going finally offensively forcing the ball into the lane time and time again, more times than not leading to fouls and free throws while once again deploying a full-court press that stymied the Cards. Playing with your star center is difficult any time, but when playing a team known for their ability to play big and long it makes things even worse.

What I saw for the final 14 minutes or so of the second half is what my worst fears about this team have always looked like. The inability to get the (RIGHT) offense going, turnovers, fouls, a lack of effort on both ends, mistakes against a full-court press, the list goes on and on and it all of it happened in the midst of a 20-3 run that gave Florida State the win and left me questioning whether this team is a legit championship contender.

Say what you will, but when it comes down to crunch time Louisville’s lost. It’s that simple.

MVP: Florida State’s press

Louisville was horrible in the second half, like horrible. The press literally rook them out of everything they wanted to do.

Louisville scored 56 in the first 23 minutes. They finished with 67.

The Cardinals could barely inbound the ball towards the end of the game, and the Noles smelled blood in the water and just completely took over. They only surrendered 11 points in the final 17 minutes of the game.

Stat of the game: Louisville scored 56 in the first 23 minutes. They finished with 67.

How’s that for repeating? Louisville was not good in the second half. At all. They crumbled in the face of pressure (literally and there’s no way around it).

The stop coming to away games award: Bill Murray

Every time Bill Murray comes to a game that isn’t at the KFC Yum! Center, Louisville loses.

In the broadcast Jay Bilas told the story of Louisville’s assistant, Luke Murray, telling his father “the games on Tuesday but we lose to every game you come to.”

I love Bill Murray as much as everyone else but at what point do we figure out a way to keep from coming to games on the road?

Lol, just kidding. That’s almost as blasphemous as that little girl in Zombie Land not knowing who Bill Murray is.

Play of the game: Jordan Nwora officially retires.

The rules are the rules and when you get dunked on as hard as Jordan Nwora did in the second half, you have to take your ball and go home.

Florida State put the nail on the coffin against Louisville, and unfortunately, it was Nwora who felt the brunt impact directly.

Woof.

Drink of the game

Jacob: Fruit punch flavored pre-workout

I’d like to say I had a bourbon cocktail or a local craft beer, but since it’s Monday (and leg day) it was pre-workout that fueled the evening. I just recently started taking interest in weight lifting (and general exercise) and pre-workout has been crucial in getting my lazy self up. Also, with a 2-year old who loves to throw fits (terrible two’s are no joke) all the time, having some extra energy is never a bad thing.

Are you bored yet?

Presley: Bourbon. Neat.

When Stephen Enoch committed his second foul of the first half, the bar opened at my house.

It was only a matter of time until Florida State, who is the largest team in the country, feasted on Louisville’s small guards and Dwayne Sutton in the middle.

LVP: Everyone’s ankles

Tonight was not a great night for ankles.

Both Malik Williams and Florida State’s MJ Walker were forced into early exits due to unfortunate, freak injuries. For Louisville, Williams was lost early on in the game which led to Louisville using Sutton at the five spot, something they wouldn’t do against a team with multiple seven-footers.

Florida State lost Walker in a bit of a “freak” accident, as he collided with one of the officials who happened to be jogging at half-speed as Walker came up on the floor. Florida State didn’t miss much of abeat after Walker exited as likely 2020 NBA first-rounder Devin Vassell went off, only to return in and aide in FSU’s 20-3 run.

It just wasn’t in the Cards tonight, but give me a healthy Malik Williams on a neutral floor and I’m taking Louisville over FSU in the ACC conference tournament.

Overreaction of the night: Every Louisville fan

Let’s take a deep breath and put this into perspective.

Louisville came out executing extremely well. However, it throws a wrench in things when the two players that we highlighted as the most important on the floor for the Cards are effectively taken out of the game.

Steven Enoch: Serious foul trouble

Malik Williams: Went out 3 minutes in and never returned after an ankle injury

Aidan Igiehon: Out, shoulder injury

The Dwayne Sutton at center experiment was fun against Akron. However, against a team in which every player on the floor is taller than four of the guys you have on the floor, eventually size, talent and athleticism is going to take over.

If Williams is able to return this season (and it appears he will be able to), the Cards will be just fine.