Graduate transfer Cunningham sparks Louisville’s national rise

LOUISVILLE, KY. — Christen Cunningham’s sole focus a year ago was recovering from illness and salvaging what remained of his senior season at Samford. Playing at Louisville or anywhere in the Atlantic Coast Confer- ence never crossed his mind, which makes his current situation all the more satisfying.

Not only is Cunningham healthy again, the graduate transfer has the newly ranked Cardinals on a roll thanks to his play at point guard. His 11-assist, turnover-free effort in last week’s rout of Georgia Tech was just the program’s third such per- formance in 47 years and marked his second consecutive game with a career best in assists. The effort highlighted a third straight win and helped No. 23 Louisville (13-5, 4-1) climb back in the rankings for the first time since early last season.

“That’s something I’ve been trying to do, cut down on my turnovers,” said Cun- ningham, one of three grad transfers signed by first-year coach Chris Mack.

This season was expected to be transitional for Louisville and Mack, who was hired last March to replace interim coach David Padgett after a tumultuous 2017-18 campaign. Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino was fired before the season after the school acknowledged its involvement in a federal bribery investigation of college basketball, and the NCAA stripped the Cardinals of their 2013 NCAA championship last February as discipline for a sex scandal. The Cardinals also lost point guard Quentin Snider and three other starters from a 22-14 team that reached the NIT quarterfinals.

The NCAA granted Cunningham a medical waiver for a fifth season that opened the door to come to Louisville.