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Louisville basketball’s top 10 plays of 2019-20

By Presley Meyer

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 18: Teammates Lamarr Kimble #0 and Samuell Williamson #10 of the Louisville Cardinals react after a play against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 18, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 18: Teammates Lamarr Kimble #0 and Samuell Williamson #10 of the Louisville Cardinals react after a play against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 18, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 11: Malik Williams #5 of the Louisville Cardinals grabs a rebound in the first half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on January 11, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. Louisville defeated Notre Dame 67-64. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – JANUARY 11: Malik Williams #5 of the Louisville Cardinals grabs a rebound in the first half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on January 11, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. Louisville defeated Notre Dame 67-64. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

10. Excellent teamwork leads to the Nwora And-1

We saw Louisville regress in certain areas, but one improvement that didn’t get enough attention was excellent ball movement. There were some teams where the Cardinals felt comfortable with their offensive gameplan, and against Syracuse was clearly one of those occasions.

On this play in particularly, David Johnson makes a hell of a hustle play to get around the opponent for an offensive rebound. Three good passes lead to a Jordan Nwora open look. Instead of taking the shot, Nwora puts the ball on the floor, gets his body into the defender, maintains control switching hands and makes the lay-in through contact.

This play won’t be ingrained in your memory forever, but its this sort of ball movement, excellent passing, and selfless decision-making that had us high on this team in the first place.

9. David Johnson says hello to the world against Duke

The game we all saw coming at some point- but certainly not on the road in primetime against No. 3 Duke.

David Johnson was a man from start to finish against the Blue Devils, and he capped an unbelievable performance with this drive and finish.

This may not be his best play of the season or even this game, but the impact it had on this game and Mack’s confidence in him going forward is too big not to make the list.

Louisville was in dire need of a bucket to answer a three on this possession, and Johnson took it upon himself to go 70 feet with Trey Jones riding his hip as he took it into the lane and finished with two hands.

You’ll continue to see teams give up these sort of buckets to Johnson because of his ability to pass the ball. In this instance, if Vernon Carey comes to help, Malik Williams has a wide open jam himself. Stop the ball, get crammed on. Let him drive, get crammed on. That’s why Johnson is so lethal, and why he will be an excellent pro.

8. Keith Oddo gives us all the feels

The meaning of this moment for Keith Oddo will give you goose bumps. The walk-on fifth-year senior transferred from Richmond, where he rarely played, to get a chance to be a part of this Louisville team.

On a senior night full of emotions, Oddo was inserted into the game after sitting for nearly two hours and did not miss the chance to bury the three.

All the credit in the world goes to David Johnson having the presence of mind to grab a rebound on a broken play and zip it over to Oddo for the triple.

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