The Cards didn’t always command the flow of the game, but Captain Quentin Snider and the boys came away with victory in the marquee game of the Gotham Classic in New York. The first neutral site game of the season featured the Men in Red taking on former multi-conference rival Memphis at Madison Square Garden, where Louisville has now won ten in a row dating back to the 2012 Big East Tournament. Snider led the Cards in scoring with three other players contributing double-digit points.

Some quick takeaways:

  • Five guys combined for 14 3-pointers with Adel (5), King (2), Snider (3), Sutton (2), and McMahon (2) all finding the bucket from behind the arc.
  • UofL didn’t shoot a free throw in the first half.
  • The Cards started the second half on a 10-2 run after being tied at the break.
  • We seem to have issues playing with and holding a lead, and that continued today with Memphis pulling as close as within four.
  • Several players showed flashes of greatness today with aggression and confidence leading to big plays – namely Snider, King, and Spalding
  • Shoutout to Ryan McMahon who hasn’t missed a beat recovering from his rib injury. He looks as good as ever on offense and defense, and being close enough to see his eyes while he’s running the point, I have to say, his focus is very Lamar Jackson-esque.
  • Ball movement and patience were keys to victory, as one might expect.
  • This is a good shooting team, guys. Just don’t Tweet about it and jinx the whole thing.
  • Turnovers remain a problem, even if you give the guys the benefit of the doubt when the whistle doesn’t go Louisville’s way. Not sure how to clean things up.
  • This was a very physical game, and I think our guys got roughed up a bit without getting much help from the refs. Anas Mahmoud, in particular, took a inadvertent shot to the head. After being checked out by trainer Fred Hina, Anas returned to the came and seemed fine. Coach Padgett shrugged it off in the post-game presser, as well.
  • The crowd at Madison Square Garden was small but enthusiastic, and hopefully this game, in addition to the road trip to Purdue, will be good training for stops in Lexington and ACC arenas in the coming weeks.
  • Three freshmen saw minutes in the World’s Most Famous Arena as did our tough transfer.
  • And finally, I don’t know about the fans watching back home, but this certainly felt like a rivalry game in Madison Square Garden. Memphis played them tough, and the fans were very involved in both the game and yelling at each other. Good times, indeed!

See you guys back home for Albany! I’m going to go check out Rockefeller Center!

Go Cards!

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Colby Helton

Colby Helton is a Louisville native who pronounces it "Louie-ville." He has lived in Chicago, Germany, China, and San Diego, but people don't watch college basketball in those places, so he moved home. He did his undergraduate studies at Northwestern University and has a Master's of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Colby is also co-owner of AcuBalance Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine in Middletown. He is passionate about UofL basketball, bourbon, and enjoying the two together.

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