Seedy KWed, January 14, 2026 at 2:54 AM UTC·3 min readListening to her say it over and over again through the decades was fingernails across a blackboard. A car with a bad differential.
It drove me crazy, her got to phrase, an admonition really, an astute but bracing bit of advice to accept life’s exigencies.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“It is what it is.”
In the years that I’ve come to accept the wisdom of the perception, it still is hard to accept the reality of certain situations.
Like at times like this for Louisville Cardinals.
Mama said there’d be days like this, mama said, mama said.
Louisville 70 , Virginia 79.
Here’s the reality, Cardinal fans.
Without Mikel Brown, U of L will be nip and tuck to make the NCAA tournament. They are 3-4 since he went down.
It is what it is.
Louisville’s modus operandi was to have a world class PG run the show.
Without him, the Cardinals are Fred without Ginger.
Tuesday night, the U of L was also without Khani Rooths because of the flu.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt was a perfect storm.
For tall, shot blocking, three point making, offensive rebounding UVa.
* * * * *
After missing its first two shots, the victorious visitors went 3, 2, 3, 3, 3 on their next five trips.
Zero 14 is some pretty mucky quicksand to climb out of.
Louisville never did.
Which became a fair accompli early on, when the Cavaliers missed thirteen shots in a row, but U of L couldn’t pull closer than 6.
U of L, ever dogged if decimated, pulled within 5 at intermission. Fell behind by as many as 15 in the 2d, and came as close as 4.
The Cardinals never stopped coming. Virginia never stopped answering.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementA Ryan Conwell triple made it 64-71. A Cardinals stop, but Conwell had a layup blocked, leading to a Wahoo 3.
U of L missed a couple of treys after winning the out of bounds challenge at 1:16.
Then failed to net three or four more until the buzzer.
* * * * *
For the night, U of L outscored UVa by five after falling behind 14.
They just didn’t have enough shovels, enough dirt and enough manpower to fill that deep early hole.
I loved Louisville’s fight. As much as I rue how this campaign is likely to play out.
Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be.
* * * * *
Isaac McKneely had his best game as a Cardinal.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRyan Conwell was a trooper after sitting out a tilt with a bum knee.
J’Vonne Hadley was all that and a bag of chips in a soldiering second half.
Hell, every Cardinal on the court busted his hump. Out-dueled taller Virginia in the paint, 26-12. Only committed 8 turnovers.
Just couldn’t overcome that flat start against a well coached, higher ranked foe.
I am disappointed. Of course.
But, all things considered, not sure if it’s fair to ask for anything more than the team gave.
There are going to be more nights like this ahead.
As Ms. Aretha says,
Got to call this song exactly exactly what it is/ What it is What it is What it is
–c d kaplan
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