1. This team goes where Ryan Conwell takes them
There’s an old adage that for a team to be successful, its leader has to be one of the best players. Over the course of this season, it has been apparent from game to game that senior Ryan Conwell has emerged as one of the team's main leaders, especially on the floor. The team’s leading scorer, Conwell, has been the team’s tone setter all season, pushing the offense and hitting major shots in key situations for the Cardinals. He finished tonight’s game with 24 points on 9 for 16 shooting (5 for 11 from 3-point land).
With Mikel Brown Jr. absent, Conwell has been asked to take on other roles not previously part of his job description, especially in ball handling. Conwell has been struggling with the additional expectations, as evidenced by his dip in production on offense during some of Louisville’s losses in conference play. However, this game may be a sign that he is now finding his groove in this new reality, another bright spot as the timeline for Mikel Brown Jr.'s injury remains in limbo. We will see if Conwell can continue to lead the charge night in and night out as Louisville powers through their conference slate.