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Monday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Collin Embry wanted to make sure the world was aware how many home runs Brendan McKay hit on Sunday.

By Mike Rutherford

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I_medium After having to come from behind to pick up a 5-4 win Friday night, the Louisville baseball team rolled over Toledo on Saturday and Sunday as Brendan McKay and Drew Ellis continued to be destroyers of worlds.

Is this good?

The Cards host Miami of Ohio Tuesday night at 6.

I_medium Louisville stays at No. 2 in the latest top 25 from D1Baseball.com.

I_medium Happy birthday, Louisville, and happy first day of Derby Week.

*Belts out "Still the One"*

*Gets escorted off internet premises*

I_medium You might notice that SBNation.com looks much different today. Here's Elena Bergeron on the refresh.

I_medium The latest SB Nation mock draft has Donovan Mitchell going to the Bucks at pick 17.

17. Milwaukee Bucks — Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville

If the Bucks are committed to Giannis at point guard, they need someone who can defend lead guards at the other end. Mitchell can do that. He's a ball of energy and athleticism who could be a combine All-Star. Louisville fans are praying he goes back for his junior year.

I_medium Highlights from Brendan McKay's 12 strikeout performance Friday night are here.

I_medium Is there a longterm future for the sport of football as it currently exists? Spencer Hall takes a lengthy look.

I_medium Patch fever is spreading.

I_medium Remember when Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey were ripped for skipping their bowl games and Dalvin Cook was praised for showing out in his? Well Fournette and McCaffrey were both drafted in the top 10 and Cook slipped to the draft's second day. That's a little bit troubling for the future of college football.

Fournette and McCaffrey went early in the first round, anyway. And that could have a far-ranging set of consequences that go beyond a few players. It's a reality some coaches across the country confronted Friday as they weighed the potential fallout.

"The reality is that the NFL doesn't care," one Power 5 college assistant coach said. "At the end of the day, it's about taking the best player, and they don't see that as a big negative the way a college coach sees it."

Another Power 5 head coach summed it up this way: "For players who are going in the first round? This is just a start."

Indeed, it does not seem advisable for most draft-eligible players to skip bowl games. In fact, bowl games might mean more for those players who have third- or fourth-round grades -- another high-profile game on tape to prove how valuable they could be to a team.

But for players who are near certainties to go in the first round, there is a real understanding this could start becoming commonplace. How did we get to this point, where college coaches are now preparing for more players to follow a similar path? The dynamics of the game have changed so dramatically over the last decade, leaving clear warning signs along the way.

I_medium Spectrum Sports has a nice look at Zeke Pike's long road from promising athlete to addict to motivational speaker.

I_medium The ACC Digital Network has Louisville at No. 3 in its post-spring top five for the conference. Florida State is No. 1.

I_medium The U of L softball team ended its 2017 home slate with a 7-3 loss to Virginia. The Cards still won the series, two games to one.

I_medium Andrea Adelson talks about Lamar Jackson's spring evolvement in this ESPN.com clip.

I_medium ESPN's post-spring college football top 25 has Louisville at No. 17.

17. Louisville

2016 record: 9-4, 7-1 ACC
Last Way-Too-Early ranking: 18
Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense, 2 special teams

Key losses: WR Jamari Staples, WR James Quick, TE Cole Hikutini, RB Brandon Radcliff, NT DeAngelo Brown, LB Keith Kelsey, LB Devonte Fields, S Josh Harvey-Clemons

Outlook: After the Cardinals dropped their last three games in 2016, they tried to regain momentum by shoring up their offensive line and simplifying their defense during spring practice. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson was sacked 46 times last season, and former Florida assistant Mike Summers is back to help better protect him. Former tackles Lukayus McNeil and Kenny Thomas were working at guard, and juco transfer Toriano Roundtree was working at tackle. Jackson also spent the spring working under center more, and coach Bobby Petrino wants him to spend more time reading through his progressions and throwing down the field more. Cornerback Shaq Wiggins transferred to Tennessee, and backup quarterback Kyle Bolin left for Rutgers.

Ohio State is No. 1.

I_medium The U of L track and field team won 12 Events at the Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational on Saturday.

I_medium It was officially the warmest April ever in the city of Louisville.

I_medium As one who is not particularly fond of the Sawkks, I hope this prediction is incorrect.

I_medium Brotha to Brotha looks at Malik Williams' latest highlight tape.

I_medium The C-J's Sadiqa Reynolds says Louisville should rename its airport in order to honor Muhammad Ali.

I_medium Anfernee Simons is having a monster spring.

I_medium Terry Rozier rebounded like a big man in Boston's Game 1 win over Washington in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

I_medium And finally, here's U of L's write-up on Colin Holba and Josh Harvey-Clemons being taken on the final day of the NFL Draft.

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