The Louisville Cardinals continued their hot streak Saturday afternoon as they traveled to the Lone Star state to take down the Baylor Bears 82-71. The opening was not a strong start for the Cardinals by any means, who were lucky to be tied with the Bears 34-34 at halftime after a late first-half surge prior to the midway intermission. A strong second-half showing and another elite-level performance from Mikel Brown Jr. put the Cardinals out in front for good as Louisville notched another power conference win.
Louisville did not disappoint after a high-flying (and scoring) performance against NC State on Monday that had all of the college basketball base talking. Mikel Brown Jr. has taken the massive step from good to elite in such a short timeframe. Pat Kelsey and Card Nation have to be excited with what they are seeing out of the freshman point guard and the team as a whole.
Here are 4 observations from Louisville’s major win against Baylor.
4. Defensive performance continues to show promise
Something that has been overshadowed in previous Louisville outings has been their consistent play on the defensive end. Today was no different, as the Cardinals held the Bears to just 37% from the field and a horrendous 9% from behind the arc. Added to that, the Cardinals dominated the defensive rebounding totals, finishing with 23 rebounds compared to Baylor’s 15. The only concerning statistic was the 15 offensive rebounds, which resulted from numerous distance misses by Baylor.
The defensive efficiency has been to a level where the Cardinals could be legitimate contenders in the NCAA tournament and a dangerous team no one wants on their side of the bracket. The bigs are playing better in the post, and the backcourt is locking down their opponents and causing turnovers at a high level (case in point, the 6 team steals, 5 of which came from Mikel Brown Jr.).
The old adage that defense wins championships is no fluke. The defense has to show up just as much as the offense will need to continue its hot run. If both are clicking at a high level as we enter March, watch out for what this Cardinals team can accomplish.
3. Offensive efficiency being shown at a high level
The offense struggled out of the gate, trailing for most of the first half and facing a double-digit deficit with 4 minutes remaining. The last segment of the first half and the first part of the second half were easily the key points that allowed Louisville to pull away. This showcased a fluent offensive attack, one that led Louisville to pull away and never give the lead back to the Bears.
Louisville shot an incredible 56% from the field (44% from 3-point land) and had a team total of 18 assists. Mikel Brown Jr. was able to drive to the basket at will, which led to his team-high 6 assists. Finding the open man and said open individual taking and making key shots are the most obvious keys to reaching success. This performance was just another testament to how this Louisville squad is understanding the offense and each other. Things are clicking at the right time for this high-powered offense.
2. J’Vonne leading by example through solid performance
Senior J’Vonne Hadley has always led by example with his play since he has been a Cardinal, showing that he can be one of the most consistent players for Pat Kelsey night in and night out. Every now and again, Hadley shows that he can take that consistency to a higher level. Hadley was the Robin to Mikel Brown Jr.’s Batman all night, posting 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. He also connected on both 3-point attempts during this performance.
Hadley has been solid in his last few outings, gaining momentum and confidence as Louisville plays its best basketball of the season. Hadley’s experience from last season will do nothing but help him, and this team maintains this level of play throughout February and into March. It’s always best when your leaders are the ones shining on the court as well. Hadley’s influence, as well as his key abilities on the court, will help guide Louisville into what is quickly becoming a hopeful March run.
1. Mikel Brown Jr. shows NC State performance was no fluke
It may not have been the 45-point masterclass performance that Mikel Brown Jr. posted Monday night against the NC State Wolfpack, but Cards fans are happy Brown showcased once again that he is the most talented player on the floor. His ability to take over games, especially on the offensive end, puts him far above any competition thrown his way when he is playing at his peak. In a game where the Cardinals got off to a slow start, Brown showed he can be the exact spark the Cardinals need in stalled offensive situations.
Brown finished the game with 29 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals, which also included an eye-opening 9 for 9 from the free throw line. This type of performance is just another resume builder for Brown towards his NBA dreams, but more importantly, it shows that he is locked in and can be a massive contributor and leader for this Louisville team as March approaches. With Brown playing at an incredibly elite level, Louisville's NCAA tournament ceiling continues to grow. March is shaping up to be an incredibly fun month for Cards fans.