Tuesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

—Spread check: Stanford by 10.5.

—Here’s the U of L preview of tonight’s Elite Eight matchup.

—The fifth-ranked Louisville baseball team is back in action Tuesday night against Cincinnati. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

—Eric Crawford writes about Jeff Walz’s Cards returning to the role of heavy underdog tonight. It’s one that has worked out well for them before.

—Hoops Insight takes a closer look at a few of the potential transfer options for Chris Mack.

Jarrod West: West played point guard for Marshall, and is a senior with 1 year of eligiblity next season. He started all but 2 games in his Marshall career, so he’s got plenty of experience in a large role. Per BartTorvik.com, West is a decent finisher at the rim (54%) but very good from midrange (46%) and three (41%). Only 57% of his threes were assisted, so he can create his own shots from deep and make them. West assisted on 29% of his teammates baskets last season, which would have been the highest on UofL last season. He’s definitely a dynamic playmaker and shooter, which UofL could use.

West also has performed against high level teams. Per KenPom, West has hit 48% of his twos and 37% of his threes in 32 career games against top 100 teams. He also put up 46 assists and 21 turnovers in 8 games against top 100 foes this season. Despite standing only 5’11”, West also brings defensive ability. Per Synergy, West graded out in the 87th percentile as a defender this season. He also recorded a steal on 4% of his possessions, which KenPom ranked 33rd in the entire country. West can bring playmaking, shooting, and pressure defense to the Cards.

—Trinity’s Daylen Lile, a Louisville signee and one of the top high school baseball players in the country, began his senior season on Monday.

—Marshall transfer Jarrod West will reportedly announce his new college choice on Wednesday. Louisville, Pitt and Ohio State are his finalists.

—Congrats to Terry Rozier on being named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week.

—Louisville hopes tonight’s game goes an awful lot like the 2018 tournament game against Stanford.

—Kentucky has added one of the top available transfers in America in Kellan Grady from Davidson.

—Michigan State point guard Rocket Watts put his name in the transfer portal on Monday. Louisville and Florida State were immediately mentioned as two potential landing spots for Watts.

1. Transferring is the best move for Watts and probably helps MSU

Rocket Watts’ departure from Michigan State felt inevitable in recent days. The addition of point guard Tyson Walker, a transfer from Northeastern, gave the Spartans another lead guard and on-ball defender. Add Walker to incoming freshmen Max Christie, Jaden Akins and Pierre Brooks II, and you have some seriously intriguing backcourt talent infiltrating MSU’s roster next season.

Watts’ development was no longer necessary. His place in the rotation next year and in the coming years was no longer as clear. This past year was the year MSU needed him. This was supposed to be the year he starred for the Spartans and then took a look at the NBA, or returned as an established frontman. He was no longer the headliner he was once projected to be. So Watts on Monday made the move I would have if I were in his shoes — he opted for a fresh start, entering the transfer portal.

I think this makes sense for both him and for MSU’s program. Watts, a big-time talent whose game is lost somewhere in his head, will get a chance to find a home where his gifts are needed. A place like Louisville, perhaps, playing for a coach he considered out of high school, in a system in which he might fit. Watts needs an offseason in the worst way. He needs to play in an offense that isn’t seeking the next Cassius Winston. Somewhere he isn’t looking over his shoulder. He needs to be a downhill combo guard with a green light to shoot when he sees an opening. None of that was going to happen for him at MSU.

—Dana Evans is a finalist for several national player of the year awards. Should she win one, the 5’6 guard would become one of the shortest to ever do so.

—This 60 Minutes feature on legendary sportswriter Dave Kindred — who once wrote words for the Courier Journal — was really terrific.

—NC State sharpshooter Braxton Beverly is headed to Eastern Kentucky to wrap up his college career.

—Despite the lack of blue-bloods, this year’s Sweet 16 was the most-watched since 1993.

The NCAA would be wise to make the Saturday-Tuesday (with standalone Sweet 16 games) setup for the second weekend a permanent thing.

—Ratings for this year’s women’s tournament have also been through the roof.

—Syracuse freshman Kadary Richmond, widely believed to be the most naturally talented player on last year’s team, has entered the transfer portal.

—Houston is the first team in men’s NCAA tournament history to reach the Final Four by beating four double-digit seeds.

—Not bad, Bears.

Team of destiny?

—The official New York Jets website serves up five things to know about Sheldon Rankins.

—Louisville will have to play its best game of the year in order to topple top-seeded Stanford and move on to the Final Four.

—SLC Dunk says Donovan Mitchell belongs in the MVP discussion.

—Fast dudes.

—Louisville baseball’s Alex Binelas has picked up a national Player of the Week award.

—UConn slipped by Baylor last night thanks in large part to an absolutely horrendous no-call in the game’s final seconds. I will cry no tears for Kim Mulkey.

—And finally, beat Stanford.