WBB falls to Michigan -- Sunday Cardinal Couple

 CARDS BOW OUT OF NCAA TOURNAMENT 71-52 TO MICHIGAN

Louisville basketball was a bit like the old adage for March, which is that they came in like a lion and left like a lamb. 

The Cards got off to a hot start against the Wolverines and led 13-4 after eight minutes played in the first quarter.  That lead was still viable after the first quarter at 15-9 and UofL was getting an All-American effort out of Elif Istanbulluoglu. The Cards were still controlling the action with 6:53 left in the first half at 25-14...and then the balloon burst. An 18-2 UofM run not only wiped out that double digit lead, but gave Michigan a 32-27 halftime lead. 

How would the Cards react to this Michigan run as the squads came out for the second half? Maybe with their worst half of the season....

UofL did keep it close for a good part of the third quarter but Michigan took off on another 18-2 run and the Cards were staring at a scoreboard that said 57-40 Michigan after three quarters.

 To put it simply, Louisville couldn't buy a basket. A 25-13 third quarter Michigan blitzkrieg had sent Louisville scratching their heads with 10 minutes to play. 

Louisville would get no closer than 16 the rest of the way. The lack of rebounding, the failure to successfully figure out the press...things that will get you a loss every time. 

And thus endeth a season that was very good, by most standards...but another Cardinals failure to reach a Great Eight.  

It's a group with promise, The sophomore class is only going to get better, if they stay together as a unit. As for now, they'll dream of what could have been and head back home.

CARDS WBB POSTGAME MICHIGAN

paulie