It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you all that everybody's least favorite fraudulent men's basketball program has finally gotten their first win of the season. If you're like me you wanted to see Louisville go the entire season without getting a win, and if you're like me you are also distraught by this news. When I looked at their schedule just a few days ago I concluded that they only had two more winnable games left this season, against Florida A&M and Lipscomb. It didn't even occur to me that they would be able to compete with a Western Kentucky team that has been pretty good this season. However, I was wrong, and Louisville was able to come away with a big double-digit win to end their historic losing streak.
I'm not here to talk a ton about the game itself, I only tuned in for the second half. To be fair I just assumed this game wasn't going to be competitive with Louisville on the losing end of that assumption. What I will say is that it took a real group effort for Louisville to get the win. Their best player, El Ellis, scored 30 points on the night. Four other Cardinals were in double-digit scoring as well, with every player in the rotation scoring at least once. They also virtually shut down all but two of the Western Kentucky players. This includes big man Jamarion Sharp, who finished the game with only six points and ten rebounds (and when I say "only" ten rebounds it's because he's 7'6") It took a virtually perfect game for the Cardinals to get this win, but after losing nine straight games to start the season it was probably bound to happen eventually.
I will say I am very disappointed that Louisville didn't just lose every game this season. I'm not only saying this because I despise Louisville basketball and everything they stand for. I'm saying it because it would honestly be kinda cool. Power conference teams like Louisville don't just have win-less seasons. It doesn't happen. To see a team like Louisville, who like it or not have a pretty good basketball program, be possibly the worst team in all of college basketball is dope. There was a real chance of this happening too. If they lost this game, and the two winnable games I mentioned earlier, I really don't see another game on their schedule that they could have won. Wishful thinking though, looks like it was never meant to be.
(Look how excited they were for just being tied at the first media timeout. They're so precious.)
Looking forward, this team is obviously still not going to do anything this season. You know you're bad when you get headlines for simply not losing. They have those two games that I believe they can win, but after that I expect them to lose out. This means that their only hope to make the tournament is to win the ACC tourney, which isn't going to happen. I just hope they don't fire Kenny Payne when this whole thing is over. I actually like Payne, and I don't think this is his fault at all. He walked into a team that isn't good enough to win basketball games, and I think he will turn it around in the next few years. With all of that said, Louisville is still going to suck badly for the time being, and if they beat any notable teams I will be sure to let you all know.