LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — You won’t see more contrasting styles of play than the University of Louisville basketball team in Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

After defeating an Indiana team that allowed it to do pretty much whatever it wanted in the first game, Louisville faced a hard-nosed West Virginia team that controlled the tempo and dictated the game with physical defense and limited possession .

It didn’t matter. Louisville adapted, played the Mountaineers’ game and beat them 79-70 in overtime in the Grand Ballroom of Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Senior Chucky Hepburn was the difference. I was never asked to carry much of the scoring load at Wisconsin, but who knew he had that in him. Hepburn controlled the game after halftime. Whether it was driving the lane, finding teammates, getting to the free throw line or making big offensive plays, he was the barometer for a Cardinals team that is quickly heating up.

Louisville advances to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game with the victory. It has already penetrated the national college basketball consciousness. As did Hepburn, who finished his career with 32 points.

“I was in the backseat for a long time,” Hepburn told ESPN after the game. “It’s time to show the world who Chucky Hepburn is. I think I’m one of the best point guards in the country.”

He won’t get into much of a fight after Wednesday.

With 31.8 seconds left, Hepburn stepped to the free throw line and made one of two shots to tie the game at 62-62. West Virginia held the final shot but was unable to get a shot off as the shot clock expired with 1.8 seconds left.

In overtime, Louisville’s strength and experience came into play.

Louisville showed again that it not only lost to Tennessee, but also learned from Tennessee. The Cardinals have now surpassed the win total from their previous coach’s first season. And Kelsey shows that his insane attention to detail that builds culture can actually lead to victories over top teams.

In addition to Hepburn, Louisville got 13 points and eight rebounds from Kasean Pryor and 10 points and seven rebounds from Terrence Edwards Jr.

Reyne Smith continued to be a three-point threat, making four of 10 and finishing the game with 15 points.

Louisville improves to 5-1 this season and will face Oklahoma in the championship game on Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.

Louisville basketball coverage:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.