#11 LOUISVILLE 58 #7 CINCINNATI 57..."RUSS-Diculous" as the "Battle of the AAC" goes to the U of L CARDINALS as they beat CINCY near the Ohio...CAMPUS HARDWOOD in Queen City OHIO at 5/3 Bank Arena #UofLCARDS #CINCYCats

Senior Russ Smith dba "RUSS-diculous" of the defending National Champion Louisville Cardinals lives for moments like this and he will go down as one of the best U of L Players of All-Time and yes the Bluedude went there. With the likes of "Dr. Dunkenstein" Darrell Griffith, "Never Nervous" Pervis Ellison, Milt Wagner, Wes Unseld, Billy Thompson, Lancaster Gordon, Jeff Hall, and the McCray Brothers (Rodney and Scooter) to name a few.

The Cards get a game-winning "J" from Smith with three seconds remaining and the 'Cats had to know he was the man to get the Orange and make a play or the Shot or both. The Win keeps the Cards at the top with the 'Cats of Cincy in the New AAC and if Cincy would have won they were up two game sin Conference Play...a huge loss for the Bearcats.

Smith only had 10 points but that last bucket was worth a 30-piece. Cards PF Montrezl Harrell led Louisville with 21 points as he grabbed ten Oranges. Terry Rozier added 10 points and grabbed five boards, and dished out six assists as he kept things in order for the U of L Back Court. The 'Ville almost lost the game at the Free Throw Line shooting 11 of 22 and that in March Madness will get you an exit sooner rather than later.

The 'Cats get a game-high 28 points from AAC P.O.Y. Fav Sean Kilpatrick but he only shot 9 of 26 including 3 of 14 from the Arc. He was the only player in double figures for Cincy and limited ball movement and execution letting Kilpatrick will spell gloom and doom moving forward. They must incorporate his Scoring within the Offense and it has to be a give and take through Kilpatrick and his Teammates. Shooting 20 of 25 from the Stripe almost put them in the Winner's Circle as they shot a horrid 16 of 56 from the Field and and 5 for 20 from the Arc after hitting your own Training Table for Pre-Game Meal is not getting it done.

Louisville is quietly at 23-4 and 12-2 in the AAC and a 1/2 game back of Cincy who falls to 13-2 in the AAC and 24-4 overall. The way these two play "D" in the Half Court and in Transition and how they are coached expect them into the Sweet 16...March Madness Heads.