Louisville basketball is just one day away from learning its path to the Final Four. Card fans have been desperate for an NCAA Tournament run since 2017, when Louisville won a March Madness game, and since 2013, when the Cards went to the Final Four.
Pat Kelsey makes one thing clear about Louisville basketball ahead of March Madness
It is no secret that this season hasn’t gone as many fans or experts predicted. Louisville had not just Final Four dreams entering the season, but realistic NCAA Title dreams. Now, with Selection Sunday just one day away, J’Vonne Hadley didn’t sugarcoat one thing that Louisville has to clearly improve on ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
“Things we've got to work on, obviously, those long runs that we let linger sometimes, those 10-0 runs," Hadley stated on Thursday. “Those are good for us, but bad to go against. So, obviously, trying to take those away down the stretch.”
J’Vonne Hadley points to one issue Louisville must fix before March Madness
The Cardinals have struggled in games against good teams with these runs, especially in the second half. In Louisville’s latest loss to Miami, the Cardinals allowed Miami to get out to a 12-3 run to open the second half, and the Cards' halftime lead quickly vanished, and they were all of a sudden down eight just over two minutes into the half.
Before the ACC Tournament loss, Louisville gave up a 13-4 run to Clemson, putting the Tigers up 15 in the second half, and a 17-2 run against North Carolina, putting the Tar Heels up 16 in the second half. And then, against Tennessee, Louisville was given up a 14-4 run in the first half and a 13-4 run in the second half, putting the Cardinals down 21.
The Cardinals have had some struggles in the second half as they also were outscored 46-26 by Duke in the first matchup and lost by 11 after they were up by nine heading into halftime. And in the second game, Duke outscored Louisville 45-24 in the second half and lost by 31.
In the Big Dance, if Louisville wants to go on any run, they are going to face these good teams most likely in the Round of 32 or in the Sweet Sixteen, and if they want to win, they have to avoid these second-half runs or falling behind by so much.
Louisville will learn its path to the Final Four tomorrow evening on CBS at 6 p.m. local time.
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