I walk 47 miles of barbed wire/ I use a cobra-snake for a necktie/ I got a brand new house on the roadside/ Made from rattlesnake hide/ I got a brand new chimney made on top/ Made out of a human skull/ Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene/ And tell me, who do you love?

Why on earth, one might legitimately inquire, am I quoting the opening lyrics to Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?”

Because I am as addled with rock & roll as I am with the Louisville Cardinals, and I’ve always considered these to be the nastiest lyrics in rock.

And when it mattered most in order to eek out as dumbfounding a Cardinal victory as I can recall in the ACC tourney opener, it was thanks to the fella whom Coach Pat Kelsey called upon several games back, for come the “nasty.”

Call it the Greek Tweak.

Vangelis Zougris.

Yo, Zoug, some gal named Arlene’s on the line, wants to take a walk.

 * * * * *

Louisville 62, Southern Methodist 58.

I’m still scratching my head.

 * * * * *

At 15:18 of the 2d, PK was forced to call a timeout.

The Mustangs had drained consecutive threes for 41-35 advantage, and there was nothing about Louisville’s performance to that point that indicated it was surmountable.

An inattentive passer, Ryan Conwell had tossed it away already three times since the break, giving him five unforced giveaways for the tilt.

SMU’s margin fluxed between three and five points for the next two segments.

At the 7:51 stoppage, Cardinals, having missed 8 of their last ten shots, were still trailing 43-48.

The sum total of production from the 5 spot — Zoug, ineffectual Sananda Fru, and the Pyramid — was 4 points, 3 rebounds.

Then came the breakout segment from Zougris which turned the Mediterranean tide. So to speak, as it were.

VZ driving layup. 48-50.

Mustang turnover.

Zoug for the jump hook. 50-50.

Stop.

Zougris on a second chance tally from the paint. 52-48.

One minute and fourteen seconds of Grecian majesty.

But the game was not won . . . yet.

It took a VZ FT, and five point Conwell spurt. Aided by an offensive board by You Know Whom leading to a second chance threeball, and a manly man defensive rebound by That Guy to seal the W.

 * * * * *

Louisville was the more mature team down the stretch.

The Cardinals held SMU scoreless for the final 2:43.

While the Cards scoreboarded 6 to sneak out of the gym with the W.

 * * * * *

A testament to U of L’s D is this number. The Mustangs only took three FTs the whole game, made one. No attempts after intermission.

Cards were 14/20.

+13.

 * * * * *

If not the out of the blue catalyst to victory, Louisville’s Player of the Game was Isaac McKneely.

Only 10 points. 2/9 from the floor.

But, but, but . . .

. . . 4/5 at the stripe.

Led by Cards in rebounds with 7.

Led the Cards in assists with 5.

Led the Cards in minutes played with 39.

Adrian Wooley was solid if not Mikel-ish running point. 14 and 6.

Ryan Conwell, to his credit, didn’t cough it up for the last 15:32. Scored 12 after the break, many key, led U of L with 16.

 * * * * *

A thing of beauty, this was oh so very not.

A victory bringing a quizzical smile, it was.

— c d kaplan