A magical summer for University of Louisville basketball fans following The Ville in the TBT tournament. Just what UofL fans needed, following two disastrous seasons under that rascal Kenny Payne.
The enthusiasm of the crowd, estimated at 4,200 on Wednesday, underscoring the depth of support that awaits Louisville under new Coach Pat Kelsey. After nearly a decade of bad news, the future is blinding for UofL basketball.
Give UofL and UK a couple of more days and Freedom Hall will not be able to contain the crowd.
Just one hour after The Ville had ripped Team DRC 83-68 comes the word that Louisville fans had already purchased more than 7,250 tickets for Monday’s showdown against La Familia, a team largely consisting of University of Kentucky alumni. Quickly upending the all-time attendance mark previously held by Wichita. Freedom Hall is going to be rocking again, echoes of Cardinal greatness reverberating across the region.
Russ Smith and David Johnson scored 15 points each to lead the way. Montrezl Harrell and Chris Jones added 11 points apiece as Louisville which shot 50% from beyond the arc. The Ville dominated Team DRC in the paint, 36-16. Amorie Archibald of the visitors ed all scorers with five 3-pointers and 19 points.
Monday’s game will be at 9 p.m. The winners of TBT’s quarterfinals games will advance to the semifinals at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in Philadelphia on Aug. 2. at 7 and 9 p.m. The championship will be played on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m.
A team of “memories,” a showcase of what was and what could have been. It certainly is a thrill to be yelling for The Ville on that venerable Freedom Hall court once again. Ithas been an extended, agonizing drought, since even before Mack, before Payne, before Covid. As always, Go Cards!