BACON'S BITS: MITCHELL AND ONUAKU LEAD CARDS TO WIN OVER WAKE FOREST

By Mark Bacon

Freshman Donovan Mitchell, in his first college start, and Louisville's Atlantic Coast Conference opener, proved he is ready for the bright lights. Credit Onuaku for very significant contributions, too.

• Mitchell led the Cardinals with 18 points and had 8 rebounds. Chinanu Onuaku added 12 points and 15 rebounds in a 65-57 win over Wake Forest before an enthusiastic Yum! Center crowd. 

• My friend Aaron and I debated who was MVP, but I’m going to give the edge to Mitchell, while acknowledging Onuaku’s massive contributions. If Chinanu can consistently remain on the court, sans foul trouble, U of L has a very potent inside weapon.

• Was it was the best win of the season for Louisville? Perhaps. It was important that the Cards got another tough test, and pass. And they did. Against a Demon Deacons squad that already defeated Indiana, UCLA and LSU, the Cardinals established an early 9-point lead and never trailed, though Wake Forest came to within one point, late in the game.

• In the closing 5 minutes or so, Louisville bothered Wake defensively with tough half court man-to-man defense. The Demon Deacons made only one of their final nine shots, missing their last six. They also went 3-for-12 from the free-throw line.

• Onuaku has been winning Pitino’s MVP award regularly — metrics that reward hustle, rebounding and defense. And Nanu has done so despite early foul trouble from offensive fouls called on his proclivity to set moving screens. His movement impedes the offensive players’ progress, and that is a point-of-emphasis to officials in the NCAA this season.

• He avoided that Sunday night, playing a foul-free first half; he finished with four fouls, so additional work is needed. Chinanu played a team-high and season-high 37 minutes.

• Wake Forest burned Louisville on fast breaks; Coach Pitino had them scoring on 12 fast-break possessions.

• Louisville’s key traditional sources of offense — points off turnovers and second-chance points — were denied by Wake Coach Danny Manning’s strategy. They had only four points off turnovers in the game and 14 second-chance points. In the second stanza, the Cardinals had zero points off turnovers and two second-chance points.

• Kudos to Wake head coach Danny Manning. The Demon Deacons, once a reclamation project at the bottom of the ACC, has arrived. Cards Nation should be relieved we don’t face them again this season, until possibly the ACC Tournament. But a tough week with two road games — at NC State and Clemson — lie ahead.

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