Life is better when the Louisville Cardinals are playing high-quality basketball. The Louisville Cardinals ended their 10-day rest in strong fashion, as they went on the road and absolutely blew out the 12-1 California Golden Bears 90-70. The performance came without star point guard Mikel Brown Jr. on the floor, as he was sidelined once again with a lower back injury. However, Brown’s absence did not matter, as several Cardinals stepped up and led Louisville to victory in its first conference game.
This game is the start of a long journey to March, one that will define Louisville’s standing in college basketball come tournament time and give the committee the intel it needs to rate this Cardinals team properly. A strong showing on the road was a significant first step for Louisville, putting them in a perfect position for a high tournament seed. It also gave Louisville the confidence that it has the talent and depth to pull out wins when adversity comes its way.
Here are five exciting observations from Louisville’s blowout win against California.