The first time Louisville basketball beat a blue blood this season — Indiana was ranked 18th during the Cardinals’ 89-61 victory — there was still some doubt of whether or not it was an NCAA Tournament team. This time, there is not.
The Cards held off North Carolina, 83-70, at the KFC Yum! Center on New Year’s Day, the start of a crucial four-game stretch.
Carolina, Clemson and Pittsburgh represent U of L’s best chances to earn quality wins in the NET rankings, which the NCAA selection committee uses as a tool to size up teams.
The ACC doesn’t have very many of those opportunities this season, as currently only Duke (3), Pitt (10) and SMU (30) are ranked in the top 30; Clemson (36) and UNC (42) are among the top 50. U of L sat at 57 before its win over the Tar Heels.
Saturday’s game at Virginia is one the Cards can’t lose, but one that would do little for them if they win. The Cavaliers, guided by interim coach Ron Sanchez after Tony Bennett’s shocking retirement in October, are ranked 98th in the NET.
There will be other games, as infrequently as they are, to boost U of L’s resume. SMU has been a surprise addition to helping the ACC’s overall profile. Unless the Mustangs tank between now and the Cards’ trip to Dallas on Jan. 21, they will be in the top 75 and qualify as a Quad I game. But Clemson at home on Tuesday and a Jan. 11 trip to Pitt basically lays out U of L’s path to the Big Dance.
And if the Cards continue to play like they did on Wednesday, they’re going to be in a position to win each of those games.
Louisville didn’t buckle under game pressure when presented several chances to do so.
The dagger came when Reyne Smith drilled a 3-pointer, stretching a four-point lead to 76-69 with 2:12 left. If uplifted the crowd, which my have had its doubts about the Cards closing out the game for the win, while deflating the Tar Heels.
This column will be updated.
Reach sports columnist C.L. Brown at clbrown1@gannett.com, follow him on X at @CLBrownHoops and subscribe to his newsletter at profile.courier-journal.com/newsletters/cl-browns-latest to make sure you never miss one of his columns.
