Still another injury and the University of Louisville basketball team’s starting lineup included only a small portion of starters. The injuries just keep coming, but so do the wins. The Cardinals have won 12 of their last 13 games with an 88-78 win over Miami on Saturday.
Starting point guard Chuck Hepburn, arguably the best point guard in all of America, was on the bench. A genius with extreme basketball talent forced to watch from the bench in front of a crowd of 15,588 at the KFC Yum! Center. Home sweet home, the only place to be without this amazing senior transfer from Wisconsin. Day-to-day decisions for the foreseeable future, says Coach Pat Kelsey. A brilliant career on the line, no way to end it.
The next guys up were up for the occasion. Terrence Edwards, standing in at the point, and Reyne Smith, at the shooting guard. Edwards would hit 10 of 16 field goal attempts, including three of four 3-point attempts, to lead all scorers with 27 points. Smith, meanwhile, was seven of 19 field goal attempts, including six 3-pointers, and six of six from the free throw line for 26 points. Edwards would make 10 assists while Smith was credited with six.
“With Chucky (Hepburn) going down, obviously we were a little short-handed and then James (Scott) goes down four or five minutes into the game,” said Kelsey. “But the next-man-up mentality was on full display. Guys stepped up and raised the level of their games and made contributions in different areas that they don’t normally do. They guarded positions they don’t normally do. I am just proud of our team as I have been all year long. They were resilient, gritty, tough and found a way.”
Y’Vonne Hadley chipped in 12 points to go along with seven boards and two steals. Noah Waterman added eight points.
Louisville improves to 18-6 overall and 11-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while Miami falls to 5-18 overall and 1-11 in the ACC.
The bad news is that Louisville incurred still another injury when a Miami player landed on James Scott’s head, sending him to the hospital. He was operated on shortly after the game after losing two teeth after getting crushed on Denny Crum court.
