clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Friday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Don't let anyone tell you summer isn't the right time for Cardinal head gear.

By Mike Rutherford

I_medium CBS says Montrezl Harrell going to the Rockets in the second round is one of the five biggest steals of the draft.

ROCKETS: A year ago, at this time, Montrezl Harrell projected as a future lottery pick. And a day ago, at this time, almost everybody had him going in the top 25 of this draft. So, if you're the Rockets, you have to feel great about the athletic forward (with a 7-foot-3 wingspan) falling to you at 32. I can't imagine either Houston or Harrell believed they would partner before they actually partnered; again, he wasn't supposed to be available. But it should make for a nice partnership. And Harrell could find himself coming off the bench next season for a team competing for the Western Conference title.

I_medium Offensive line inexperience continues to be an issue for not just Louisville, but the entire ACC.

I_medium I will never, ever get tired of seeing CCBMs on roller coasters.

I_medium Some Boston Celtics fans didn't know who Terry Rozier was when he was picked last night .... which says more about them than Terry.

It's basketball. It's a game. Some people are really good at it. Terry Rozier is one of those people.

I_medium This dog knows who Terry Rozier is.

I_medium William Gay continues to be a fantastic advocate in the fight against domestic violence.

I_medium Pat Forde tears into John Calipari and Kentucky.

What the media guide didn't tell us was that the goal wasn't some silly national title. It wasn't a 40-0 season and a spot in college basketball history. It wasn't hanging the school's ninth championship banner from the rafters of Rupp Arena.

No, the goal was Thursday night. NBA draft night.

We know this because Kentucky coach John Calipari said so last month. Cal told a group he spoke to in Rupp: "Last year we started the season with a goal. You may think it was to win a national title or win all the games, [but] it was to get eight players drafted."

ESPN's Heather Cox called him on that in the green room on Thursday night, mentioning that Calipari has said the NBA draft is "more important" than winning a national title.

Cal's response (one of his five appearances on camera on the night): "I never said that."

Well, not in those exact words. But if there is a difference between what Cox said and what Cal said last month, it's a microscopic one.

So it must have been an immense relief to Kentucky fans to learn that winning the national title was not the goal, since that didn't work out. Now that they know the draft is the goal - watching four Wildcats go in the first 13 picks, and a record-tying six overall - they can properly rejoice.

Mission accomplished! (Well, minus an injury to Alex Poythress that kept him from going pro, plus the NBA's snub of Aaron Harrison.)

I didn't check the police scanner, but I have to believe there was joyful civil disobedience in the streets of Lexington, Ky., right? Couches on fire? Moderate vandalism?

The celebration may rage for days. Certainly, the fans who camp out for days to get into Big Blue Madness in October are not out there dreaming of a Monday night in April. They're dreaming of a Thursday night in June, when the next raft of Wildcats shows up gripping and grinning with Adam Silver.

BBN has responded quietly and respectfully.

I_medium Keion Wakefield could be the latest Male High football star to take his game to U of L.

I_medium Louisville likes sports, exhibit 800,091:

Exhibit 800,090, for those interested, was the Louisville Slugger Museum.

I_medium Brilliant.

I_medium Going to have to go ahead and strongly disagree with Chad Ford here.

I_medium Saturday Blitz previews the 2015 Louisville football team and predicts the same regular season record that Cardinal fans saw a year ago.

Prediction

Playing in a tough conference and division, and still having questions at the crucial position of quarterback don't bode well for Louisville this season. They'll be tested right out of the gate, opening the season against the Auburn Tigers, who are one of the favorites in the SEC West.

The early part of Louisville's schedule is much more difficult than the last half, with Auburn, Clemson, and Florida State (in Tallahassee) all coming up by mid-October. If the Cardinals can get through the first half of the season with only one or two losses, they'll still have a shot at an ACC Championship game appearance. Three losses would be almost impossible to overcome.

The defense may have to carry this team again, and those three big early games all feature very potent offenses. With so many young players and unknowns on offense, the Cardinals may have a difficult job winning any shootouts.The early part of Louisville's schedule is much more difficult than the last half, with Auburn, Clemson, and Florida State (in Tallahassee) all coming up by mid-October. If the Cardinals can get through the first half of the season with only one or two losses, they'll still have a shot at an ACC Championship game appearance. Three losses would be almost impossible to overcome.

Prediction is a 9-3 regular season for the Cardinals, with losses against Auburn, Clemson and rival Kentucky to close out the season. Big upset for the season will be a win at Florida State.

I_medium Terry Rozier might have been a surprise pick last night, but he's a great fit with the Celtics.

I_medium The latest endzone to endzone features Terrel Buckley.

I_medium The folks over at the Dream Shake (Houston Rockets) seem pretty happy to have landed Trez.

I_medium U of L pitchers Lincoln Henzman and Cade McClure are already making headlines in their summer league.

I_medium Boss.

I_medium D'Angelo Russell became the fourth native of Louisville to be selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft, but the first of those players to not play his college ball for the Cardinals.

I_medium And finally, John is on vacation, but Ramsey & Rutherford will roll on today from 3-6 with me solo in studio. Things are about to get weird. Listen or die.

More From Card Chronicle