One of the most important wins in the Chris Mack era of Louisville basketball had a lot to offer. From high level of play to overcoming adversity on a multitude of occasions, the Cardinals proved that they deserved to come out with the victory.
Senior forward Malik Williams was injured in the game, but the hope is that it’s not a serious long-term issue with his foot once again. Louisville is certainly hoping they can keep their starting five together for just a little bit longer.
Several Cardinals were in foul trouble heading into overtime. Guard David Johnson fouled out in regulation and forward Jae’Lyn Withers was disqualified just a couple of minutes into the extra period.
It was a buzz-worthy night full of important storylines in such an important matchup.
Let’s talk three things we learned from the win over Duke
As we mentioned, the Cardinals had some foul trouble late in the game. Some questionable calls and an abundance of overall fouls on each side led to good players having to take a seat in the overtime period. With that, new stars arose.
Quinn Slazinski is all about team
Slazinski didn’t play a ton of minutes, but he was very important in overtime. He hit a big three in addition to a couple of free throws to help vault the team over the Blue Devils in the end.
Funny enough, Slazinski had some words of encouragement for Chris Mack before he stepped on the floor and came up huge.
Quinn Slazinski walked out on the court in OT and said, 'Coach, I got ya.' Mack said he didn't know what that meant - and then Slazinski hit that big 3.
— Shannon Russell (@slrussell) February 28, 2021
It might not seem like a lot. A 5-point outing for the sophomore Slazinski is a normal evening. He’s a full-time bench player now after he got a couple of opportunities to start in the middle of the season. As more players return to full health, Slazinski’s playing time minimizes.
For him to stay ready off the bench is admirable. He’s had a consistently great energy all season. Slazinski might not be Louisville’s best player, but he plays as hard as anyone on the team. His mentality is an awesome asset to have, and it payed off for him Saturday night.