Louisville basketball was able to pull off a 74-64 victory last night over its old rival, the Cincinnati Bearcats. It took 40 minutes of basketball for the Cardinals to secure this victory, as Louisville had to play some physical basketball and overcome Cincinnati's lethal defense.
The Cardinals improved to 5-0 and were once again led by their elite backcourt. Ryan Conwell led all scorers with 25 points, and Mikel Brown Jr. was right behind him with 22 of his own. Defensively, the Cards really showed their potential in the second half and locked the Bearcats down. Former Louisville target Baba Miller led Cincinnati with 14.4 points per game, but the Cards' defense limited him to just nine points in 25 minutes.
Let's take a look at the most glaring observations from Louisville's fifth victory of the season.
3. Sananda Fru continues to get more comfortable
Sananda Fru finished the game yesterday with 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. The 6-foot-11 forward continues to get more and more comfortable with the Cardinals and Kelsey's system. Moving forward, Fru and his ability to dominate the glass offensively and protect the rim defensively will be crucial for this Cardinals squad. He continues to prove he can be that elite dunker for Louisville and be that dominant presence offensively in the paint, and yesterday, Louisville fans saw just how crucial he can be defensively while playing physical basketball.
2. Mikel Brown Jr. is clutch
Mikel Brown Jr. continues to prove he can make big-time plays in big-time moments. Louisville fans have seen him make buzzer beaters from halfcourt, and clutch layups to ice the game against Kentucky, and now they say he goes on his own 5-0 run to put Louisville up 11 with four minutes remaining in the game. The 5-star freshman struggled from the field last night, but he showed he was unfazed by his dagger 3-pointer from beyond 25 feet. He continues to amaze fans, and finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. The 5-star phenom plays this game beyond his years, and last night, his ability to seal the win in a physical rivalry showdown proved that.
1. Ryan Conwell continues to make a case for Player of the Year
Ryan Conwell continues to make a strong case for National Player of the Year. The Xavier transfer is leading Louisville with 20.4 points per game, and last night he led all scorers with 25 points while shooting 5-for-10 from beyond the arc and 8-for-15 from the field. Last night, he and Fru were able to play a two-man game, and fans saw Conwell hit step-backs, deep 3's off the pass, or attack the defense and make tough jump shots off the dribble. Conwell continues to be the guy Louisville can rely on if they are in desperate need of a bucket. Conwell is ranked in a few experts' top 10 for Player of the Year through the first three weeks of the season, and last night in the Cards' gritty win, he made a strong case to jump up in the rankings.