Thursday evening Cardinal news and notes

—NET Rankings Update: No. 11 (down 1 spot).

—The fifth-ranked U of L women’s basketball team is back at home tonight against Virginia. Here’s a preview.

—Louisville jumps from No. 13 to No. 8 in Matt Norlander’s latest hoops power rankings for CBS.

—”Listless” was the word of the night on Wednesday.

Are the Cardinals just playing down to the level of competition? Or are opponents throwing some type of kryptonite at them?

I wondered aloud to Mack whether he’d noticed any similarities among the listless stretches across multiple games.

“Just your adjective. That’s it,” he said with a wry smile. “I don’t know if there’s a common denominator. You know, we’ve had different lineups. We’ve had different styles of play. We’ve had different times where the funk is to start the game or it’s to end the half, but in either case you’re right. It’s just — if I knew and could just wave a magic wand I’d do that. That’s why we’re going to continue to practice and we’re going to figure this thing out.

“Again, I’m never going to be apologetic after a win. We found a way to win and make the plays down the stretch, and we just have to figure out a way to get better. I mean, we’re not this juggernaut. Everybody’s trying to get there, but it’s not who we are.”

—Louisville baseball is No. 2 in the preseason coaches poll, trailing only reigning national champion Vanderbilt.

—It’s been two years since the tragic shooting at Marshall County High School. Cardinal fans should be thinking of Bailey Holt and her family today.

—Louisville has landed a commitment from a Juco All-American punter, which is no small thing with Mason King graduating out of the program.

—Louisville’s wins over Boston College and Wake Forest both crack Bill Connelly’s list of the 100 best games of the 2019 season.

—After saying JUST ONE DAY AGO that this exact thing would destroy college sports, the NCAA is now saying that it will allow elite Olympic athletes to receive compensation for training and travel expenses.

—My man, Pantelis.

(DePaul lost badly to Creighton)

—North Carolina fell in double overtime at Virginia Tech Wednesday night, marking the Tar Heels’ sixth consecutive ACC loss. That’s the longest such streak in program history. UNC currently sits alone in last place in the league standings.

—The U of L field hockey team’s spring schedule is available.

—Just a couple more examples of Lamar being the coolest.

—The full rosters for the 2020 boys McDonald’s All-American game are here.

—On the girls side, two Cardinal signees — Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Cochran — were named McDonald’s All-Americans.

—From the Rumble Seat shares its thoughts on Georgia Tech’s loss at Louisville Wednesday night.

—We know, Trez. Let everyone else know.

As of this writing, the Clippers are 30-13 and sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. Montrezl Harrell is averaging career highs in points (19.3), rebounds (7.1) and minutes (28.7) per game. He’s tied his career-high 34 points three times this season and has six double-doubles.

“I’m a dog, bro—no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Harrell says. “I don’t chill. I don’t do vacations and stuff like that. When the season is over, I go home and be with my kids and family for that first week and…I’m right back playing in the Pro-Ams and in the gym with my trainer.”

Harrell’s on-court play—the way he attacks the glass to corral rebounds for second-chance opportunities, facilitates to shooters on the perimeter when the defense helps in pick-and-roll situations, uses his motor to outwork opponents or shows his expanded offensive repertoire—has paid dividends across the L.

“He’s gotten better every year,” Williams says of Harrell. “I praise him for accepting the position that he’s in for the betterment of our basketball team as a whole.”

—Louisville’s Kylee Shook has been named to the 2020 Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year Midseason Team.

—Miami QB Jarren Williams, who set a school record for touchdown passes against Louisville this season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. This news comes just days after Houston QB D’Eriq King announced he was transferring to The U.

—Lamar shares a little insight into why he picked Louisville.

—Memphis State lost to Frank Haith and Tulsa by 40 (F-O-R-T-Y) last night. That’s the largest loss by a ranked team to an unranked team in 27 years.

—A handful of former U of L players are now vying for roster spots in the XFL.

—Louisville-Notre Dame is No. 3 on this list of the five best ACC non-conference games for the 2020 football season.

—Jameer Nelson has a kid old enough to be tearing it up for George Washington this season. He’s not the only former college/NBA star with a kid now putting up big numbers in college/high school. Read this list and then feel old as hell for the rest of the day.

—Close games are suddenly the norm for this Louisville basketball team.

—Louisville has offered Ohio wide receiver/safety Garner Wallace a scholarship.

—Madison Central’s Brandon Anderson has committed to play his college baseball at Louisville.

—After a wildly up and down couple of weeks, Clemson is gearing up for a major test in Louisville this weekend.

—U of L commit Bryce Hopkins is having a monster junior season for Chicago Fenwick.

—And finally, Louisville checks in at No. 7 in Sports Illustrated’s college hoops power rankings.