Let’s clear something up to avoid all the confusion when deciding potential Final Four contenders: Defense alone is not going to win a championship.

The game of basketball has changed. Most notably, the rule emphasis changed so those handchecks and elbows that once upon a time limited free movement are no longer going to help offensively challenged teams in a big way, as both No. 10 Louisville and No. 19 West Virginia demonstrated Friday. The game belongs to the scorers now.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino has recently said he’s going back to recruiting shooters at every position. Early in his coaching career, his teams were defined by his embrace of the 3-point shot, and he made sure he had a roster full of players who took advantage of it.

It’s only recently that his teams have been defined more by their defensive play, with a matchup zone to go with his trademark pressure.

The Cardinals have ranked in the top 10 of defensive efficiency in each of the past five seasons. That includes 2011-12, when Pitino guided a team that ranked 109th nationally in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom, to a Final Four appearance.

Those days of being carried by defense appear to be over.

The Cardinals entered Friday ranked No. 1 in defensive efficiency. It didn’t stop them from giving up a lead that reached 22 points late in the first half against No. 20 Baylor in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship.

Donovan Mitchell and No. 10 Louisville once again struggled with their shooting in Friday's loss to Baylor. Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports

When faced with scoring droughts in the second half, Louisville didn’t have a clear-cut player to whom Pitino could give the ball and say, "Go get a basket."

Sophomore guard Donovan Mitchell, who led the team with 17 points and is the Cardinals' leading scorer this season, may eventually become that player. But he shoots just 39 percent from the floor.

Junior guard Quentin Snider isn’t scared of the moment in close games and has the desire to take the big shots. But he’s shooting just 30 percent from the field.

They’re the two players who have logged the most attempts for Louisville this season.

The Cardinals have yet to shoot 50 percent in any half this season. In Atlantis, they shot 30 percent in a 68-62 overtime victory over Old Dominion and 37 percent in their 62-52 win over Wichita State.

When Louisville was held to just 39 percent shooting in Friday's 66-63 loss to Baylor, it marked the first time in five seasons the Cardinals had at least three consecutive games below 40 percent shooting. The last time was a six-game streak during the 2011-12 season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

West Virginia faces a challenge similar to Louisville's.

The Mountaineers, who rank No. 1 nationally in defensive turnover percentage according to KenPom, entered Friday averaging 35.3 points off turnovers per game. They managed just 19 in their 81-77 loss to Temple.

When the Mountaineers are making shots, they can get into their pressure defense and create all kinds of chaos for opponents. But again, that’s all contingent upon them making shots.

Friday, they fell behind by 20 after shooting just 32 percent in the first half. West Virginia made a furious run in the second half, when its shots started falling and the Mountaineers were able to force more turnovers.

It proved to be too late. Thanks to an offense that’s doing too little.