Tuesday afternoon Cardinal news and notes

—Spread check (football): Louisville by 7.

—Louisville has won 11 consecutive home games. Kentucky has won four straight over the Cards. Something has to give on Saturday.

—The U of L men’s basketball team is returning from New York with a healthy dose of both optimism and frustration.

—Jeff Brohm is this week’s Bear Bryant Awards Fan Vote Favorite Coach of the Week.

—We work in facts only this week. FACTS. ONLY.

—Highlights from Sunday’s women’s basketball win over Bucknell are here.

—Louisville didn’t hold back in celebrating after its win over Miami on Saturday. C.L. Brown writes that locking up a trip to Charlotte in Jeff Brohm’s first season is an accomplishment worthy of such a celebration.

—This week in Cardinal athletics:

Wednesday, November 22

#4 Volleyball vs #9 Georgia Tech - 5 p.m. ET (L&N Federal Credit Union Arena)

Thursday, November 23

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 24

#19/15 Women’s Basketball vs Alabama (Betty Chancellor Classic) - 12 p.m. ET

Saturday, November 25

#9 Football vs Kentucky - 12 p.m. ET (L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium)
#19/15 Women’s Basketball vs Liberty (Betty Chancellor Classic) - 12 p.m. ET

Sunday, November 26

Men’s Basketball vs New Mexico State - 1 p.m. ET (KFC Yum! Center)
#19/15 Women’s Basketball vs Gonzaga (Betty Chancellor Classic) - 1:45 p.m. ET

—It took 36 games and a trip to New York, but Louisville has finally shown a sign of promise under Kenny Payne.

—Card March will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Spread the word.

—Vote for YaYa Diaby to be the NFL Rookie of the Week here.

—Jock was hardcore rivalrying before hardcore rivalrying was really a thing. RIP to a true Cardinal legend.

—After a gut-punch, five-set loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday, the Louisville volleyball team will enter the final week of the regular season at No. 7 in the AVCA top 25 poll.

—Jack Plummer was named of the eight Manning Stars of the Week, the organization announced on Monday.

—The Louisville men’s soccer team saw its season come to an end with a 1-0 loss at No. 5 West Virginia Sunday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

—Former Louisville QB Jordan Travis is officially done for the season at Florida State. Feel terrible for what is, by all accounts, a really good kid.

—Tate Rodemaker, who torched Louisville in a relief effort last season, will take over at quarterback for the Seminoles beginning this weekend against Florida.

—With Travis out, the spread for the ACC championship game has dropped from Florida State -9.5 to Florida State -6.5.

—Louisville DC Ron English is one of 15 semifinalists for the Broyles Award, which goes to the top assistant in college football. Former Cardinal QB Will Stein is another one of the semifinalists.

—It feels good to have no concern about whether or not this staff “gets it.”

—The 7th-ranked U of L volleyball team will wrap the regular season with a top 15 showdown against Georgia Tech. The Cards need a win and losses by both Florida State and Pitt to earn a share of the ACC championship.

—A loaded Maui Invitational highlights what should be a great college basketball Feast Week.

—Good read here from Matt Norlander on the mythology of Maui.

—State of the U recaps the loss to Louisville and it not thrilled.

Team Grades

Offense: B

There was a lot to like today! It wasn’t perfect, but TVD looked competent, Mark Fletcher was a monster, Restrepo was damn good, and the Canes put up points when they needed. Well...until the end of the game, that is.

Defense: D

I’m surprised and saddened by this performance. Missed tackles were back in spades. And, my GOD, when are we going to make an adjustment and cover a tight end?! And the defense had no disruption, no sacks and only 3 TFLs. There were times when they got off the field when they needed to, but when the game was in the balance, the defense had no answer for the Louisville offense.

Special Teams: B+

Great kicking by Borregales. Great punting by Joyce. Good returns. But the coverage unit had another struggle on a KR. Good not great.

Coaching: F

I’m sorry, but the timeout before the penultimate 4th down play was moronic. And the lack of adjustments to the things Louisville KEPT RUNNING by the defense was infuriating. And, I’m also just wondering where the offensive creativity had previously been?! I know, Tyler’s penchant for turnovers since September was a big factor in things, but damn, we didn’t even TRY some of the stuff we saw today before today. I just......we should be further along at this point of things than we should be.

—Mark Stoops “desperately” wants to keep the Governor’s Cup Trophy in Lexington.

—Cincinnati fans are hoping that Louisville’s great season mean better years for them under Scott Satterfield are coming.

—How selfish can one person be? A new low for Kenny Klein imo.

—Inside the Hall has five takeaways from Indiana’s win over Louisville.

—Jeff Brohm and Mark Stoops are cordial ... for now.

—This would have been tougher to take than 2016.

—Class of 2026 linebacker Izayia Williams has committed to Louisville.

—Predict ‘Em likes Louisville to cover the spread against Kentucky.

—Busting Brackets has some takeaways from the Empire Classic.

—These videos deliver every time.

—Despite remaining undefeated, the Louisville women’s basketball team dropped again in this week’s AP top 25 poll, falling from No. 19 to No. 20. If they beat Alabama and Ole Miss these next two weeks they may fall out of the poll entirely.

—The Louisville men’s and women’s swim and dive teams both finished third at the Ohio State Invitational over the weekend.

—Louisville-Miami was the fourth most-watched game of week 12.

—The ACC title game is officially set, and the league seems excited.

—Louisville-Miami was Bill Connelly’s third favorite game of the weekend.

—Don’t let anyone tell you to stop dreaming.

—Louisville Report looks at the best photos from Louisville’s two days in New York.

—Updated ESPN FPI projections for Louisville football are here.

—On3’s Adam Luckett gives an overview of this year’s Louisville football team heading into rivalry weekend.

—I welcome the hype video onslaught with open arms.

—If you have a set of ACC power rankings without Florida State and Louisville on top, I don’t trust you. Thankfully, Greenville Online gets the top two right.

—The CJ looks at some of the most memorable moments from past Governor’s Cup games.

—Those who stayed became champions.

—The Hoosier Network recaps IU’s win over Louisville.

—Here’s everything IU head coach Mike Woodson said after the game yesterday.

—Eric Crawford shares his thoughts on the loss.

—I love how tight the running back room is.

—It’s been 1,828 days since Louisville last beat Kentucky in football. It’s Jeff Brohm’s mission to stop the count.

—The Crunch Zone compares the stats between Louisville and Kentucky.

—I appreciate the video team giving us all our football fix this week.

—ACC hoops from yesterday:

No. 7 Tennessee 73, Syracuse 56 (Maui Invitational)
Wisconsin 65, No. 21 Virginia 41 (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
Florida State 83, UNLV 75 (Sunshine Slam)

—ACC hoopstoday:

Syracuse vs. No. 11 Gonzaga (Maui Ivitational)
Florida State vs. No. 18 Colorado (Sunshine Slam)
No. 9 Duke vs. La Salle (Blue Devil Challenge)

—The CJ has a look at the Kentucky high school football semifinals being played in Louisville on Friday.

—And finally, the Mike Rutherford Show will have normal 3-6 shows today, tomorrow and Friday to get you ready for the Governor’s Cup showdown this weekend. You can stream the show here or listen on 1450AM/96.1FM.