Monday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

Happy to be back from Florida after approximately 37 hours in the car, 95 hours of dealing with a screaming 1-year-old, a tornado warning, a monsoon, and maybe 30 minutes of quality weather/beach time. It was also nice of Louisville basketball to save some of its biggest roster moves of the offseason for the last four days. Love last second mini-vacations.

Let’s talk some news, and let’s talk some notes.

—The Louisville baseball team scored nine unanswered runs on Sunday to capture a series win over Florida State.

—Brian Geisinger of ACCSports.com is a big fan of Louisville adding Noah Locke.

—Louisville is No. 24 in Seth Davis’ way too early top 25 (Athletic link) for the 2021-22 men’s basketball season. It should be noted that the ranking came before the news of Noah Locke’s commitment, and it also makes the (foolish, I think) assumption that David Johnson will be returning.

24. Louisville

Key departures: Carlik Jones, 6-1 Sr.

Top returnees: Malik Williams, 6-11 Sr.; David Johnson, 6-5 Jr.; Jae’lyn Withers, 6-8 Soph.; Samuell Williamson, 6-7 Jr.

Incoming: Jarrod West, 5-11 Sr.; Matt Cross, 6-7 Soph.; Roosevelt Wheeler, 6-10 Fr.; Michael James, 6-6 Fr.; El Ellis, 6-3 Jr.

Williams lost almost all of last season to a foot injury, but if he’s healthy he’ll be one of the top big men in the ACC. Johnson, who is a candidate to test the NBA Draft waters, was terrific in the second half of the season, and Chris Mack just picked up a pair of quality transfers in West, a four-year starter at Marshall who averaged 12.5 points on 40.8 percent shooting from 3 last season, and Cross, who started nine games as a freshman at Miami and averaged 6.9 points. Jones will probably take a look at the NBA Draft, but he has not ruled out a return.

—The U of L spirit squads claimed two more national championships over the weekend. By my count, they now have somewhere between 16 and 17 billion.

—Today’s proof that we’re living in a simulation: Kevin James will play Saints coach Sean Payton in a movie that is absolutely real and absolutely happening.

—Congrats to the Sacred Heart girls basketball team on their latest state championship. The Valkyries took down Marshall County in a thriller on Saturday.

—Dana Evans season highlights:

—The Louisville baseball team is up to No. 2 in the latest Baseball America top 25 poll.

—The Cards are No. 7 in the D1Baseball poll.

—The NCAA recruiting dead period will now come to an end on June 1.

—Racing Louisville FC’s NWSL debut was a night to remember in the Derby City.

—Jeff Greer’s latest Floyd Street Tribune dives into the 2021-22 U of L men’s basketball schedule.

Most of the games planned for this past season were rescheduled for next season. The only 2020-21 nonconference game I’m not sure about in terms of rescheduling is Cincinnati.

I’d bet on games against two to-be-determined opponents scheduled on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15, or something close to that, then the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in late November or early December as usual. The Kentucky game will presumably be on CBS around Christmas.

Update: Navy is now apparently on the schedule — perhaps this is a replacement of the Cincinnati game?

First of all, holy crap, Gonzaga! That is a potential big-time game, though we don’t know how the matchups will break down. Even getting games against Oklahoma State and Providence would be solid, but obviously I won’t be alone in hoping to see Gonzaga-Louisville. That’d be only the second time the two teams met. The game at Kentucky and the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge will, as usual, be marquee events on Louisville’s schedule. If the Cincinnati game happens, that’s at least a name opponent, but I imagine the situation with John Brannen needs to play out before we know what happens there.

The season opener looks like it’ll be against Southern.

—The U of L men’s tennis team fell short at Georgia Tech over the weekend.

—The women’s team lost to Clemson.

—TuTu Atwell draft tape:

—Class of 2024 OG Jordan Seaton has received a Louisville offer.

—The latest NBA mock draft from Sports Illustrated has David Johnson going in the second round with the 46th overall pick.

—Kyle Boone of CBS does not have Johnson as a first rounder either.

—Rest in peace, X.

Will legit be emotional the first time I hear Ruff Ryders’ Anthem inside Cardinal Stadium this fall.

—Cardinal Authority breaks down the U of L women’s basketball roster heading into next season.

—The third-ranked Louisville field hockey team lost to No. 15 Duke in a shootout.

—Imagine swapping jerseys with the greatest of all-time after your very first professional match. Very cool moment for Louisville’s own Emina Ekic.

—Donovan Mitchell is averaging 40 ppg over Utah’s last three contests. Sources say that’s decent.

—U of L softball split a series with Georgia Tech over the weekend.

—The Tallahassee Democrat recaps the rubber match of an eventful weekend baseball series between Louisville and Florida State.

—A new Covid-19 vaccination site at Cardinal Stadium opens today.

—I love this so much.

You won’t be “one of us” for much longer, Hideki.

—Gators Wire reacts to the news of Noah Locke committing to Louisville.

—Louisville Report looks at where Dana Evans might go in the WNBA Draft.

—And finally, the first ever Louisville Taco Week is upon us.