Isaac McKneely does it all in No. 12 Louisville's win over Ohio
Louisville’s balanced attack was no match for Ohio. The Cards continue their hot start, improving to 4-0 after a 106-81 victory over the Bobcats.
Players were filling up the stat sheet left and right. Louisville had six players score in double figures, including all starters. Ryan Conwell led the way with 22 points, while Mikel Brown had 19 of his own. Ohio was led by senior guard Jackson Paveletzke, who dropped 28 points on 57 percent from the field.
It was the West Virginia transfer guard Isaac McKneely who had the most complete performance for the Cards. His defensive tenacity and offensive efficiency stood out during his 24 minutes on the court.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously that was a big win last week, but PK preaches and preaches the next thing. We moved on past that game, we were focused on this game, and we knew Ohio wasn’t going to be a slouch,” McKneely said postgame.
Sharpshooter
The reigning ACC best three-point shooter put on a show against Ohio. After shooting 42.1 percent from distance last season, McKneely packed his bags and came to Louisville. Through three games, he has averaged 11.3 points on 41.7 percent from behind the arc. McKneely might have the biggest green light in college hoops, having shot 85.7 percent of his shots from three so far.
McKneely had 15 points, shooting the ball 5-of-11 from the field with 4-of-10 coming from distance. Coach Kelsey has done a great job replicating set plays for McKneely, like he did with Reyne Smith last season. Catch and shoot, off the dribble, fading away, there was no predicting what came next for McKneely
“I got excited in shootaround this morning because PK always gives us a first play of the game, and he drew it up for me, so I was really excited about that. Knocking it down early for a shooter definitely boosts your confidence. To see one go down early, you’re more confident to take the next one,” said McKneely.
Only shooting one from inside the arc, McKneely made his presence known. After a beautiful shot fake, he attacked downhill straight into Ohio’s 6-foot-9 big man, Kiir Kuany. Attempting a poster dunk, MnKneely had to settle for a and-one layup that proved he can do more than just shoot.
“That’s one of the reasons I came here, because I knew playing in PK’s system, you can’t just sit out there and shoot threes. He wants all of his guards, one through five, he wants everyone to be able to touch the paint and make plays. So that’s what I’ve been working on all off-season and try and show it in the games now,” McKneely explained.
Defensive presence
McKneely finished second on the team with a 19+ rating. His offensive impact was impactful, but it was the hustle plays that enhanced his all-around performance.
Tied for the team high, McKneely grabbed six rebounds. Due to his high IQ and speed, most of those boards led to transition buckets and open shots. McKneely never seemed to get fatigued, hustling on and off the ball.
Hitting the deck hard from the and-one layup, the very next possession, McKneely got up and blocked an Ohio player at the rim. This burst of energy and fearlessness to take on a bigger player is what Coach Kelsey loves in his guards.
“We always talk about defensive keys to the game and offensive keys to the game, and 99% of the time, the first offensive key is getting a stop,” McKneely explained.
On multiple other occasions, McKneely had great on-ball defense, protecting his man from getting downhill in the paint. Late in the second half, he had a chase-down contest that would usually be an easy layup. In a game where Louisville finished with 25 personal fouls, McKneely did a great job of remaining poised and only having one.
Louisville has averaged 103 points per game this season. They have the week off before taking their high-powered offense down the road to Cincinnati, renewing their historic rivalry.
