Louisville 75, Creighton 89.

This is not the way a magical turnaround season for the Louisville Cardinals “should” have ended.

But it is how it did come to a close.

I am sad.

I am disappointed.

Every Cardinal fan is going to have their own take on what broke down for the Cards on Thursday afternoon. To be honest, I’m not sure I even wish to peek down that rabbit hole.

And, at some point or another, I might. Or maybe not. Probably not.

The year was simply too surprisingly joyous a reinstatement of Louisville Basketball to dwell on what may have just been inevitable, all things considered.

There is but a singular statistic that I am choosing to wrap my arms around this gray, too cold beginning-of-spring afternoon.

2,191.

Which is how many days it had before this March 20 that U of L fans could wake up knowing that the Cardinals would be competing that afternoon in the NCAA. That a Louisville squad, dancing shoes on, would take to the hardwood on the most fun weekend of the season.

That’s a long time.

That this quilted together, flawed but game, shorthanded Cardinal team achieved that today is a marvel that I hope Cardinal fans can embrace.

I certainly am.

* * * * *

Reyne Smith was on the floor in obvious pain, clutching his re-injured ankle with 11:27 left, U of L down down 13.

It was yet another injury moment in a season that saw an epidemic of them. Two portal players were out before practice even started. Two more significant spokes in the wheel broke early on, before the turn of the calendar. Three more of the surviving contributors missed significant minutes.

Yet somehow, some way, in what almost seems an illusion now, a reality from an alternative universe — string theory anyone? — Louisville lost but a lone game between December 14 and the end of the regular season.

Unfathomable frankly.

So, that’s where I am this moment less than an hour after the final buzzer.

Not disheartened. Encouraged.

Not distraught. Melancholic.

A win would have been so so nice.

But, hey, two steps back, 27 steps forward.

I would never have imagined.

— c d kaplan