LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- You won't see more contrasting styles of play than the University of Louisville basketball team saw Wednesday and Thursday this week in the Battle 4 Atlantis.
After blowing out an Indiana team that allowed it to do pretty much anything it wanted to do in the first game, Louisville faced a hard-nosed West Virginia outfit that controlled the pace, dictated the game with physical defense and limited possessions.
Didn't matter. Louisville adapted, played the Mountaineers' game and, in overtime, beat them at it, 79-70 in the Grand Ballroom of Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Senior Chucky Hepburn was the difference. Never asked to shoulder much of the scoring load at Wisconsin, who knew he had this in him. Hepburn controlled the game after halftime. Whether it was driving in 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 heating up rapidly.
Louisville advances to the championship game of the Battle 4 Atlantis with the win. It has already advanced into the national college basketball consciousness. As has Hepburn, who finished with a career-high 32 points.
"I've kind of been laying 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 feel I'm one of the best point guards in the country."
He won't get much argument after Wednesday.
Hepburn stepped to the free-throw line with 31.8 seconds left and made one of two to tie the game at 62-62. West Virginia held for the last shot but did not get a shot off because the shot clock expired with 1.8 seconds left.
In overtime, Louisville's depth and experience kicked into gear.
Louisville showed again that it didn't just lose to Tennessee, it learned from Tennessee. The Cardinals have now eclipsed the win total from their preceding coach's first season. And Kelsey is showing that his culture-building maniac attention to detail can in fact translate into wins over top-level 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.
As well, Reyne Smith continued to be a three-point threat, making four of 10 and finishing with 15 points.
Louisville improves to 5-1 on the season and will face Oklahoma in Friday's tournament championship game. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Louisville Basketball Coverage:
- BOZICH | Louisville burns through Indiana for easy 89-61 win in Bahamas
- CRAWFORD | After 2 long years, Louisville delivers its fans a cathartic blowout of Indiana
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