After suffering a devastating blowout loss on the road against the Tennessee Volunteers, the Cardinals were back home before the holidays. Louisville took care of business against the visiting Montana Grizzlies, winning in blowout fashion 94-54 in a get-right game right before the Cardinals enter a 10-day playing hiatus. It was a much-needed game to work on persisting issues from the previous game and build confidence for those who had been struggling in recent contests.
With unfortunate injury news entering the game (which will be touched on later), coach Pat Kelsey was able to try out many different combinations and lineups than his typical rotations. Heavy minutes from the three shooting guards, Conwell, McKneely, and Wooley, were needed and helped provide stability amid backcourt absences. The front court also got in some solid work, with Aly Khalifa providing 16 strong minutes off the bench, showcasing his passing as he led the team with 6 assists. It was a positive day for the Cardinals squad as they can now take a step back, heal up, and prepare for the push to March.
Here are 5 observations from Louisville’s big win against Montana on Saturday.
5. The 10-day break comes at the perfect time for the Louisville PG’s
The pre-game injury report was no surprise to anyone, as it listed both Louisville's proper point guards as non-performers in the game against Montana. Kobe Rodgers sat out the game due to concussion protocol from the collision he experienced against Tennessee Tuesday night. Mikel Brown Jr. was out once again with a lingering lower back issue that kept him out of the Tennessee game as well. Luckily, these two were out for a game in which Louisville’s sheer talent dominated and secured the win easily.
Although the Cardinals scored at ease, putting up 94 points, the offense, especially in the first half, looked stagnant at times and could have used either Brown or Rodgers to get the offense going. Brown’s driving ability will also be key in this offensive system, as respect for that aspect of the game forces the defense to collapse and creates perimeter shooting opportunities for the Louisville sharpshooters. Getting these two back for conference play will be huge, which is why this 10-day break comes at the absolute best time for the Cardinals. Focus on getting these guys healthy for the conference season push.
4. Khani Rooths shows promise in extended minutes
Perhaps the position, and player, that received the most criticism from Louisville’s loss Tuesday night against Tennessee, Khani Rooths responded with 22 quality minutes off the bench for coach Pat Kelsey. It was not the best shooting day (3 for 9 from the field), but Rooths did finish with 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in his action today. Although it does not match Rooth's performances from the beginning of the season, it is a great improvement from what was seen on Tuesday and a sign that Rooth could step in and fill the needed strong “4” spot that many fans are looking for when playing tough, physical teams.
Rooths has to be the one to step up in key games such as the Tennessee game this past week. He is the only one on that roster who has the talent and ability to play tough while also scoring at will. Many Cards fans were hoping Rooths would take a massive step forward this season, as their preseason analysis of the team suggested. Now would be the perfect time for Rooths to realize his role on this team and take the necessary step forward into a role built to match his potential. His play could be the key to Louisville reaching its Final Four dreams.
3. Assist to Turnover ratio drastically improves
One of the significant signs of success and offensive efficiency for the Cardinals all season has been their favorable assist-to-turnover ratio. The Cardinals finished today with a firm 24 assists on 34 made baskets. Although the turnover totals were still pretty high (14 in total for this game), the overall ratio was much better than the 8 assists to 16 turnovers in the Tennessee game. Having an efficient offense with a total of assists shows that Louisville not only was able to run the offense at a high level, but they also found good shots and were able to make them at a high percentage.
Louisville’s success this season always seems to provide for a high number of assists. This high total today came even without their point guards in the rotation. Being able to find their shots in the offense is the ultimate, number 1, most basic necessity for Louisville to win game in and game out. It’s how Pat Kelsey built this roster and how he intends his offense to be played.
2. Isaac McKneely reminded us all of his number 1 strength
The sharpshooting skills of Isaac McKneely made a comeback today, a welcome and reassuring sight for many who may have started to worry about recent games. McKneely showed why Pat Kelsey brought him to Louisville to play in his offensive system. He shot 5 for seven from the field, including 4 for 6 from 3-point land, and finished with 16 points in his starting duties. Seeing the ball go in multiple times had to be a confidence builder for McKneely, who had not had a multi-3-point game since the Cards defeated the Indiana Hoosiers in Indianapolis.
Having McKneely harnessing his major strength to its fullest potential will most definitely be a key to Louisville’s success, not only in conference play, but as the Cards enter March as well. Pat Kelsey’s system cannot be successful without taking and making the 3-point shot. Cardinals fans have seen twice how difficult it is to win when shots don't fall, so far this season. McKneely’s role on this team is arguably one of the most important, as wins and losses can be directly tied to the 3-point shooting performance. Hopefully, this game was the confidence booster he needed to get back into a groove and be a positive force for the Cards moving forward.
1. Sanada Fru continues to show progress in his game
Sanada Fru may have one of the highest field goal percentages for any Cardinal who plays as many minutes and takes as many shots as he does. Fru put on an absolutely stellar performance in the post, finishing with 18 points with nine makes on 11 attempts, eight rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. He was easily the best and most versatile player for the Cards on this day, even with only 23 minutes of play. His elite shot-making ability now has him sitting at an impressive 78.2% field goal percentage.
Fru’s performance after a disappointing display by the backcourt against Tennessee was a welcome sight to many Cards fans, as he displayed the toughness and bully mentality in the post needed to compete with the more physical teams left on Louisville’s schedule. The positive about Fru as well is that it still seems that he is still showing signs of improvement. He is still bringing more out of his bag that makes the crowd raise their eyebrows. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that Fru may still not have reached his full potential yet, while still playing currently at such an elite level.