LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Montrezl Harrell was back to his old self, bellowing, bulldozing, and dragging defenders like carry-on luggage.
In the opening game of The Basketball Tournament’s Louisville Regional, Harrell wasn’t just The Ville’s leading scorer. He was the headliner, hype man, and heart rate monitor, thundering his way to 25 points and 12 rebounds in a 91-71 win over Boston vs. Cancer at Freedom Hall.
He also might’ve been the only player in the building with a plane to catch. After the game, The Ville coach Luke Hancock was asked if all his players would be available for Sunday’s game.
“I’ll be back,” Harrell piped in – knowing like everyone else that he has a Big3 game in Detroit at 3 p.m., after which he’ll catch a private jet back for The Ville’s 7 p.m. second-round game. “Brother, ask me. Don’t ask coach.”
Chris Jones pulls up from the logo before buying the game winner in the Elam ending of The Ville’s TBT opener against Boston vs. Cancer in Freedom Hall.
ERIC CRAWFORD
Because of course he will. Harrell played like a man on a mission: to prove his bounce is back, his edge is intact, and his allegiance to Louisville runs on jet fuel.
Last year, TBT was his first organized basketball since ACL and meniscus surgery. This year, he’s leaner, louder, and far more lethal. His third-quarter dunk came after a defender pressed out on him and he put the ball on the floor to thunder to the rim for a slam. Soon after, on the bench, he said loud enough for the current Cardinals in the first row of courtside seats to hear.
“Man, press me all the way out to half court? I saw that double-team coming a mile away.”
It was one of four dunks Harrell had on the day.
“He’s excited,” Hancock said. “That’s more than he’s had in all our practices.”
Said Harrell: “I told them, I don’t dunk in practice. I’m 31. I’ve got two kids. But when it’s game time? I’m up.”
He wasn’t alone. The Ville flashed chemistry far beyond its first game, blending veterans and newcomers into a fluid, energetic mix. Chris Jones, back at point guard like he never left, finished with 12 points and seven rebounds — and pulled up from the logo to drain the game-winner in the Elam ending.
David Johnson added 13 points and 7 rebounds. Chane Behanan provided muscle off the bench. And Jay Scrubb — making his long-awaited Louisville debut after opting for the NBA Draft instead of time with the Cardinals — delivered 12 points and one skywalking lob finish that brought Freedom Hall to a boil.
“It was everything,” Scrubb said of the opportunity to play back in front of a home crowd. “Just to put on that jersey, in front of my family — it meant a lot.”
David Johnson goes up for a first-half basket in The Ville’s 91-71 win over Boston vs. Cancer in their TBT opener in Freedom Hall.
ERIC CRAWFORD
The game turned on a 32-point third quarter for The Ville, which turned a nine-point halftime lead into a 20-point cushion. Hancock, the 2013 Final Four MOP turned head coach, liked what he saw — mostly.
“I’m not going to crush the TBT,” he said. “But we didn’t exactly get the soft draw. They had three ACC starters and a dude from Ole Miss. That was a good team. But we competed. And we played smart.”
Boston vs. Cancer shot just 29.7% from the field and got outrebounded 54-47. The Ville won points in the paint (30-10), second-chance points (24-14), and most every moment that required toughness or torque.
They’ll be back at it Sunday at 7 p.m. against either Sideline Cancer or the Madd Katts. Harrell will be there. Somehow. He made that clear.
“My commitment’s to this team,” he said. “Always has been.”
On Saturday, he was the storm and the spotlight — and The Ville moved to his rhythm.
NOTES: Hancock said Ray Spalding, who expected to play with the team, suffered a strained back in practice and won’t play in the tournament. … A number of current and former Cards showed up, including J’Vonne Hadley, Mikel Brown, Kasean Pryor, Khani Rooths, Sananda Fru, Vangelis Zougris, Kobe Rodgers, Cole Sherman, Spencer Legg, assistant coach Brian Kloman and perhaps others. Jordan Nwora, who just signed with a Serbian team this week, also was in attendance, as was Louisville football coach Jeff Brohm.
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