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Tuesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Mark Cole is ready for the Bulldogs' arrival on Friday night.

By Mike Rutherford

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I_medium Spread check (Virginia): Louisville by 13.

I_medium If you haven't checked out the New York Times' longform piece on Lorenzo Mauldin, that's something you need to go ahead and do right now.

I_medium Louisville is a No. 6 seed in the Midwest squaring off against Rhode Island, according to the preseason field of 68 prediction from Sports Illustrated.

I_medium Eric Crawford has another lengthy piece on WDRB about Monday's developments, which he says were neither good for Powell nor U of L.

Is this a case like no other? In some ways, yes. The angle of prostitution changes it. And the locale — on campus. I can think of no other that was built primarily on the allegation of campus prostitution.

Whether that alleged action stands the legal tests it is about to be put to will be important in the resolution of all this. But even if most of what remains is strip-club type parties in the dorm, it's going to be a bitter truth for many associated with U of L to deal with.

This isn't the the first case to involve that allegation. In fact, it's not even the biggest. Miami booster Nevin Shapiro admitted to paying for numerous outings to strip clubs for Miami recruits and players over nine years, in addition to paying for prostitutes and hosting sex parties on his yacht — much of this with the knowledge of and on at least one occasion the participation of coaches (one of whom, incidentally, U of L subsequently hired and retained on its football staff). For all intents and purposes, those strip club visits were lumped into the same impermissible benefit category as trips to restaurants or bowling alleys. But there were extenuating circumstances at Miami.

The NCAA, as I wrote 10 days ago, doesn't need Katina Powell, or her book, to make its case. But now it may well have her, and whatever documentation she chooses to share, as well as a lengthy court record on which to draw its conclusions. What evidence she possesses — once considered off the table as her attorneys looked to shield her from prosecution — now may well be back onto the table if prosecution looks inevitable. If it's no more than what was in her book, she has a problem. But she and her publisher have always said there is more.

Frankly, I don't think what happened today necessarily bodes well for either Powell or U of L.

I've said more than once, regardless of where your allegiance stands in this, you have to be willing to go where the facts take you. And it looks increasingly like they're going to take everybody on quite a ride — and probably not the scenic route.

I_medium Louisville is not included at all in Jerry Palm's preseason Bracketology for CBS.

I_medium The U of L men's soccer team saw its 2015 season end in heartbreaking fashion over the weekend with a 2-1 overtime loss to top-ranked Wake Forest. Barring something unforeseen occurring, the Cards will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since Ken Lolla's debut season of 2005.

I_medium The host of predictions from Sports Illustrated's college hoops staff include nary a Louisville mention. There's still some good stuff there, though.

I_medium I still haven't gotten this full backstory from the Wake Forest game, but I enjoy the picture.

I_medium An attorney breaks down what yesterday's amended complaint news means over at The Crunch Zone.

I_medium Bellarmine acquitted itself well in an 11-point loss at Indiana on Monday.

I_medium De'Aaron Fox will announce his college decision on Thursday.

I_medium U of L swim and dive making a splash (I'm so sorry) out of the pool.

I_medium Vote for former Cardinal Nick DeLeon for MLS Goal of the Year.

I_medium The best mid-major game of the season's opening weekend? Iona/Valpo. Three days, y'all

I_medium Rush the Court looks to answer Louisville basketball's biggest question heading into the 2015-16 season.

I_medium Who knew Quentin Snider was the funniest guy on the team?

You've been nominated a few times by your teammates as the funniest guy on the team. I have to admit I'm surprised by that because you're so quiet.

Pretty much because I'm quiet. I do stuff that people don't know I can do, so they just think it's funny, I guess. I don't know. Yeah, I'm sneaky funny. That's what you could say.

I_medium Louisville is involved in one of the biggest storylines of the upcoming college hoops season, even if it wishes it wasn't.

I_medium Despite having three former Cardinals on his team, Rex Ryan fired back at the Jets' Calvin Pryor by taking a shot at Louisville on Tuesday.

I_medium Add Virginia to the list of recent teams who are heading into their game against Louisville believe that it's a "must win."

"Our mission is to win out, and we can't think too far ahead," fifth-year cornerback Tra Nicholson told reporters at the team's weekly new conference Monday morning. "We've got to take it one game at a time."

Last Saturday's 27-21 loss at Miami dropped the Wahoos to 3-6 on the season, and eliminated what little margin for error the Cavaliers had left in the season's final month. The team needs to win its final three games to reach bowl eligibility, starting with Saturday afternoon's road finale at Louisville.

"We're talking about a singular focus," UVA junior quarterback Matt Johns said Monday. "If you look too far ahead, you look at all three games as a package, that'll hurt you. You have to take it one game at a time. This is a playoff game."

"These guys want to win, obviously," said UVA coach Mike London. "And the next opportunity for a lot of these guys; a lot of these seniors, their last away game. The last of a lot of things. And so we need to play better here on the road to get that road win, and we need to stay together."

Including last Saturday, London's team has lost its last 14 games on the road, including an 0-4 record away from Scott Stadium this season. Saturday's six-point loss also marked the eighth time since the start of the 2014 season that the Wahoos have been beaten by eight points or less.

"We're close," senior wide receiver Canaan Severin pointed out on Monday. "Losing by seven to Pittsburgh, losing by six to Miami, losing by a touchdown to Notre Dame. Close. We flip those, we're 6-3. But we've just got to do everything a little better. We've just got to lock in and just do our job. We're right there."

"We kind of dig ourselves into holes sometimes, and it's kind of hard to get out of," said Nicholson. "We've definitely got to eliminate some of the explosives throughout the game on defense. We've got to gain more explosives on offense, and gain more explosives on special teams, so in the fourth quarter we can either be further ahead, or not be in a situation where it can be a 50/50 game."

I_medium Via ESPN's David Hale, Trevon Young's 8.5 sacks vs. Power 5 opponents this season is tied for the most by any player in the nation.

I_medium The 22nd-ranked Cardinal volleyball team improved to 13-1 in ACC play with a 25-21, 25-19, 25-19 sweep of Virginia Tech on Sunday. Erin Fairs had a match-high 13 kills, two aces and two blocks to lead U of L.

I_medium Tomorrow marks college basketball's early national signing day, and it would appear as though VJ King plans on making his commitment to Cardinal hoops official.

I_medium This might be the most insane trick play I've ever seen.

I_medium Louisville's Nov. 21 game against defending A-Sun champion North Florida has been set for a noon tip-off.

I_medium And finally, here's the show of support that Cardinal fans dedicated to Kyle Kuric last night.

As always, if I hear anything new about Kyle's status I will be sure to pass it along as soon as I can.

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