The Louisville Cardinals are in the midst of a disappointing two-game losing streak, following losses to North Carolina and Clemson. The games were both close losses, but missed opportunities nonetheless for the Cardinals to bolster their NCAA tournament resume. The games featured the Cardinals' lackluster offense, a trend seen this season when Louisville finds itself against talented teams.
One of the major issues that Louisville basketball fans have become increasingly frustrated with is the offensive philosophy and game plan. Louisville built this roster to be a talented, consistent 3-point-shooting team, and they have been for the vast majority of their wins this season. However, when things just are not clicking from behind the arc, the Cardinals have been found to struggle mightily on the offensive end. These stalls have raised the question of whether changes to the in-game experience are needed when these struggles persist.
Pat Kelsey needs to adapt when the offensive philosophy is not working
The strategy to this point in the season has been pretty evident from the games Louisville has played: drive to the basket and hope for layups or kick out and shoot the 3-point shot. There appears to be no room for anything in between, and well-coached teams are picking up on this. North Carolina and Clemson are the latest teams to make their defensive game plan two things when guarding the Cards: protect the rim and defend the perimeter.
Frustrating ends to offensive possessions have included blocks or altered shots at the rim by Louisville’s opponents, or contested 3-point shots as time elapses on the shot clock. These have been frustrating endings to offensive possessions that have left Cards fans in a simple state of asking “why”.
Might there be an opportunity to adjust and take what the defense gives on a possession-by-possession basis? It may not be the most efficient shot, but if a short mid-range jumper is available, should that be looked for as well as layups or outside shots? Obviously, the current strategy does Louisville well, as they are one of the top-scoring teams in the ACC. However, when these offensive times get tough, the ability to adapt in-game separates the good teams from the championship contenders.
If Louisville wants to make a run in the ACC Tournament to try to earn a higher seed, it will most likely have to play Virginia in the quarterfinals and Miami, North Carolina, or Clemson in the semifinals. The Cards are 0-8 in Quad 1A games right now, and if they continue to struggle to make in-game adjustments, Louisville will have a hard time returning to the ACC Tournament championship game.
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