It was a back-and-forth battle this afternoon as the Cardinals held on to beat the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 88 - 80. Although Louisville basketball led most of the game, the Demon Deacons made life difficult for the Cardinals in the second half, refusing to go away quietly. This game should be used as a reminder that these games are 40 minutes for a reason, and that the same level of intensity is needed throughout the whole game.
It was a true team effort for the Cardinals, with 6 players scoring double digits en route to the victory. The Cardinals will look to build on the positives from this game as they prepare for their next ACC test in North Carolina St. Monday night. In the meantime, let’s dive further into some takeaways from Louisville's big ACC win.
Here are 5 observations from Louisville’s big win against Wake Forest.
5. J’Vonne Hadley shows back won’t slow him down
After exiting the game early Wednesday night against Notre Dame, there was much concern for J’Vonne Hadley’s health prior to this game. Hadley quickly quieted the concerns, scoring the first 5 points and finishing with a total of 15 points in the game. Hadley is a consistent key piece to the puzzle for Louisville, a piece that the Cardinals cannot afford to lose as the season enters its final leg.
Hadley is the leader of this team and one of Pat Kelsey's most consistent production providers. Having him on the floor, especially on the defensive end, is a must for the Cardinals as they continue to navigate through their ACC schedule. A strong showing today should provide comfort to Cards fans about Hadley’s status moving forward.
4. McKneely’s shooting strong from both inside and outside the arc
Isaac McKneely had the Cardinals off to a strong start with his hot shooting start, both from inside and outside the arc. McKneely had 2 massive 3-point makes in the early minutes of the first half to set the tone for how the game was going to go. He added a driving floater that showcased his ability to finish inside the arc as well, a shot selection rarely seen with the likes of McKneely.
With Ryan Conwell currently experiencing a slump from long distance, the need for McKneely will need to continue to provide the spark with his outside shooting. He will need to work harder to find his shots within the offense, especially when opposing defenses lock onto him to disrupt and limit his attempts. McKneely struggles at times on defense, so his shooting ability is key to providing production for this team.
3. Mikel Brown Jr. getting comfortable within the offense
The points stat line may not show an improvement, but if you look simply at how Mikel Brown Jr. is interacting and flowing within the offense, things are starting to click. Brown could be seen making better decisions, not just with his passing but with his shot selection as well. On multiple occasions, Brown elected to pass up a contested 3-point shot in favor of driving to the basket and finding better shots for the Cardinals.
It’s a step in the right direction and a strong sign that Brown will be a major key to any postseason success for Louisville. He seems to be gaining confidence and a comfort level within the offense that has not fully been seen to this point in the season. With Brown’s game fitting well into the offense flow, this team could see quite the surge to end the season and be a strong competitor as March draws closer.
2. Sanada Fru gaining confidence back in his game
It was a refreshing sight to see Sananda Fru back in the fold with a solid performance on both ends of the floor. Fru finished the day with 17 points and 6 rebounds, providing major production in the frontcourt that was much needed in this game. Fru had been a bit inconsistent for the Cardinals, with some bright spots to go along with other games with little production.
Fru appeared to be in command of his positioning and movement, especially on the offensive end. Adding this to his improved ability to handle the ball (showcased with an impressive euro-step and finger roll in this game) will do nothing but add another element for the Cardinals that opposing teams have to respect. The duo of Fru and Rooths in the frontcourt could be a deadly weapon and a strong ingredient for Pat Kelsey in finding the best end oend-of-gamef game lineup.
1 Khani Rooths continues to be one of the best Cardinals on the court
Khani Rooths spent 18 minutes out on the floor for the Cardinals in this game, and it still is not enough. Since coming back from injury/illness, Rooths has been incredibly impressive. He has been the spark for Louisville on the defensive end and in the rebounding department, and has found opportunities on the offensive end to ignite the Cards with highlight dunks.
The Cardinals are the best version of themselves with Rooths in the lineup. He brings athleticism, intensity, and needed size/length to the Cardinal frontcourt that few others on the team can fully provide. The bottom line is, Rooths deserves and needs more minutes, especially when Louisville runs into top-tier, talented teams, if the Cardinals want to have a long, memorable March run.