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Louisville basketball’s top 5 March performances of the last decade

By Taron Long

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: Luke Hancock #11 (C) of the Louisville Cardinals is interviewed by CBS announcer Jim Nantz as he celebrates with teammates after they won 82-76 against the Michigan Wolverinesduring the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 08: Luke Hancock #11 (C) of the Louisville Cardinals is interviewed by CBS announcer Jim Nantz as he celebrates with teammates after they won 82-76 against the Michigan Wolverinesduring the 2013 NCAA Men's Final Four Championship at the Georgia Dome on April 8, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – MARCH 29: Wayne Blackshear #25 of the Louisville Cardinals looks on in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the East Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Carrier Dome on March 29, 2015 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – MARCH 29: Wayne Blackshear #25 of the Louisville Cardinals looks on in the second half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the East Regional Final of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Carrier Dome on March 29, 2015 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

March 29th, 2015: Wayne’s 28 points not enough against Michigan State in the Elite Eight

Chicago Native and McDonald’s All-American Wayne Blackshear gave Tom Izzo’s Spartans everything he had in the tank, bodily fluids and all, in an Elite Eight defeat where he put up 28 points and went 12/12 from the charity stripe. “Wayne was throwing up like no player I’ve ever seen,” Rick Pitino said, “He still came back and fought it pretty hard. Nose bleeds, throwing up. It’s a bitter, bitter pill to swallow because we all had some big dreams.”

Blackshear’s toughness in the agonizing loss symbolized the grit and tenacity that the 2014-15 squad played with, which was ultimately a Mangok Mathiang free throw away from the program’s 11th Final Four.

With just five seconds left in the East Regional Final, Mathiang missed the go-ahead free throw, and Louisville eventually ran out of gas and fell to the Spartans in overtime. In a career highlighted by high expectations and a lofty resume, Wayne’s final game was a reminder of how consistent and reliable he truly was, and embodied the toughness of Louisville basketball. (Blackshear’s put-back dunk against Kentucky in the 2012 Final Four still gives me goosebumps eight years later)

Jordan Nwora may have an argument, but in my opinion, no player to ever wear a Louisville uniform received more flak from the fanbase than Wayne Blackshear. I get that he was a McDonald’s All-American and a five-star recruit, but he had been battling shoulder issues and Anthony Davis comparisons since high school.

It seemed we, as a fanbase, always expected more from Wayne, but he played a key role on every team in his four years here. His resume includes 3 conference championships, 2 Final Fours, a National Title and nothing short of a Sweet 16 appearance every year. After the buzzer sounded on Wayne’s final game, I think Card Nation reflected on the young man’s career and really grew to appreciate what he did for our University and our basketball program.

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