The Louisville basketball team had one arm tied behind its back from the start of the opening tip. News of Ryan Conwell’s “out” status for today’s game had many worried about whether Louisville could withstand the loss of its leading scorer. The Louisville Cardinals beat the Boston College Eagles 75-62 in a game that showed just how special Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. are to this team. Although the first half was a major cause for concern, the second half made up for it as the Cardinals overcame their early woes and pulled away.
The win ends the Cardinals' 2-game losing streak and hopefully starts a new winning streak that can propel Louisville back to the front of the ACC race. The Cardinals have all the makings of being the team most expect them to be at season’s end. Once the injuries and the lineup configurations are fully worked through, the Cardinals can finally reach their full potential. It will be up to Pat Kelsey and the coaching staff to ensure all players are moving in the same direction towards their postseason goals. This win was definitely a step in the right direction.
Here are five takeaways from Louisville’s come-from-behind win against the Boston College Eagles.
5. CW curse rears its ugly head once again
There is an audible shudder heard across Card Nation whenever the Cardinals are playing on the CW Network. Although the curse does not always work against the Cardinals (see Jeff Brohm & Co.’s win in the football season against the Virginia Tech Hokies), time and time again, the Cardinals tend to struggle and underperform when they have to be shown on a non-ESPN platform.
The best example on the basketball end was just last season, as a streaking Cardinals squad hit a brick wall when they played against a struggling Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket team. This ended up being 1 of only 2 conference game losses (the other coming from Duke) for the Cardinals all season.
The curse started even before the game with the news that Ryan Conwell would not be suiting up for the Cardinals in today’s game. Throw in the incredibly lackluster play that the Cardinals displayed, especially in the first half, and this game had the makings of an excruciating watch for many Cardinals fans. Luckily this miserable experience is an outlier to most of the remainder of Louisville’s schedule, but fans always have to hold their breath with the Cardinals finding themselves playing on the CW. Thankfully, Louisville was able to overcome the curse today and come away with a win with a strong second-half showing.
4. Khani Rooths needs more minutes
It may not show up in the points column night to night, but Khani Rooths is playing some of his best basketball, especially on the defensive end, for the Louisville Cardinals currently. Rooths is playing with passion, intensity, and focus, something that has not quite been there for him at times this season. He is showing confidence, aggressiveness, and willingness to be a defensive force for the Cardinals. This is a welcoming sign for all of Card Nation as the ACC conference grind continues.
Rooths finished today with 10 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Add in that his scoring should continue to improve as the season progresses, and he will be an absolute weapon for the Cardinals in the final stretch of the season. He simply needs more minutes on the floor, and especially more than J’Vonne Hadley and Kasean Pryor. If Louisville wants to be a force once all of the stars are back healthy, Rooths has to be the standout “4” that Pat Kelsey has been looking for all season. There are sparks there, just need to fan the flames.
3. We might have to have a serious conversation about Kobe Rodgers
Senior Kobe Rodgers sustained a major injury last season, leaving him sidelined and requiring extensive rehab. He has been a great story as he made his way back onto the Louisville roster and has played major minutes off the bench this season. As Mikel Brown Jr.'s injury continues to loom over Card Nation, Rodgers has been forced into more minutes, with very little production in return.
Brown has now been out for 5 games, with Rodgers assisting in the void of minutes left behind by Brown. In those 5 games, Rodgers has posted a high of 5 points, with 2 of the games ending in 0 points. These matchups have also seen Rodgers play anywhere from 10 minutes to more consistently 20+ minutes for Pat Kelsey. It is a tough situation for Louisville to be in, especially trying to find production from any person willing to provide in Brown’s absence. However, one thing continues to become abundantly clear, Rodgers simply can’t give you a piece of that production against tough, higher level opponents.
2. Sananda Fru continues to be the consistent producer Louisville desperately needs
When Sananda Fru stays out of foul trouble, he is a special player for the Louisville Cardinals. Sure, he won’t have too many flashy plays, but he comes into each game, does exactly what he needs to do to help battle in the front court, and leaves with usually double-digit points, high rebound totals, and an off-the-charts efficient shooting percentage. Today was no exception as Fru logged yet another double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Fru has stepped into the position that Hadley held with last year’s team. No matter who the star of the game is for that particular day, Fru will, behind the scenes, get his points and be a force on the boards. His consistency will be key for the Cardinals down the stretch, a reminder that when things are not clicking as efficiently as they should be, he will be there to get you a bucket down low. His performance today, especially in the second half, helped the Cardinals to the big come-from-behind win.
1. Louisville is a completely different team without their 2 stars
Card Nation learned a lesson with today’s game. This team begins and ends with its two stars in Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. The Louisville Cardinals, who took the court today, were a completely different team from the Cards fans have seen for the rest of the season. The second half showed a major improvement, but the absence of Conwell and Brown was still visibly felt.
One of the major perceived strengths of this team all season has been its depth of playable performers. In what some baseball fans might call a “bullpen game” today, the Cardinals struggled to put together consistent offense, which led to errant shots and turnovers that hampered Louisville’s scoring.
This game was a concerning sign and a growing trend, as the absence of Mikel Brown Jr., in particular, continues. Even more so than with Brown, Cards fans saw firsthand just how valuable Ryan Conwell is to this team. He is the one spark that makes this engine run time and time again. Let’s hope the knee injury isn't serious and that he returns to the lineup soon.