Louisville didn’t just beat Morehead State on Saturday. It flattened the Eagles, 107-57, in a game that was over early and never came back into view.
The Cardinals were already up 46-33 at halftime, then came out of the break and immediately stretched the gap. They scored on their first three possessions of the second half, and by the time Morehead State finally got its first basket after intermission with 17:49 left, Louisville had already started to pull away in a big way. The Eagles’ next points didn’t come until 6:48 remained, and in that stretch the Cardinals ripped off 33 straight.
The margin of domination showed up everywhere, but especially on the glass. Louisville finished with 59 rebounds, two more than Morehead State scored points. That kind of gap made it clear this was not the 2011 NCAA Regional.
Even with the game out of hand, the Cardinals spread the offense around. Seven players finished in double figures, led by Obi Ekezie’s 20 points and Karter Knox’s 15. Will Hanke also had a moment worth remembering, scoring with a nifty up-and-under the first time he touched the ball.
Obi added 13 rebounds to go with his scoring, while Flory Bidunga grabbed seven. Four players finished with six rebounds, including Isaac Ellis, and a couple more chipped in five. It was the kind of night where the whole roster got involved, and the defense was part of the story too.
Alvaro Folgueiras helped set the tone for the second half with a skip pass to Jackson Shelstad for a wide-open three on the opening possession. Folgueiras, who started the offense more often than not, led Louisville with six assists, and three of them came during the Cardinals’ 11-2 burst to open the half.
There were a few other things worth tracking beyond the score. Louisville went 20-for-28 at the foul line, a number that looks solid on paper but may not tell the full story. The concern is that the players who get fouled most often are not always the most reliable at the stripe, with Seth Trimble singled out rather than Chucky Hepburn.
Flory Bidunga also showed a tendency to slap and reach at the ball, which could become something to watch if foul trouble shows up in a bigger game.
Karter Knox kept showing a scorer’s mentality, and the overall feel was that the group is genuinely willing to share the ball. Louisville finished with 21 assists. After turning it over four times in the first eight minutes, the Cardinals only gave it away three more times the rest of the way.
One more note: De’Shayne Montgomery’s time on the IR has at least opened a lane for Isaac Ellis, who is getting more minutes early than he otherwise might have. That has even led to some nickname conversations among the people around the program.
In Other News...
Memphis Faces An Early Test That Could Say A Lot
Saturdays college basketball slate brings a handful of early-season matchups worth watching, and for Louisville fans, the most relevant one is the visit from Morehead State. The card also includes Maryland at Georgetown, VCU at Memphis and Colgate against Drexel, with the preview noting the long-running edge to the Maryland-Georgetown rivalry and offering broadcast details for fans tracking the days action.
Memphis gets one of the more meaningful tests on the schedule against VCU, a game that should tell a lot about where the Tigers stand this early. With several other games and tip times listed for viewers to check through official schedules, the day has the feel of a useful measuring stick across the board, including in Louisville, where the Cardinals will be looking to handle business at home while keeping an eye on how the rest of the slate unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Showed Off Something Fans Have Been Waiting To See
Louisville gave its fans a look at the kind of complete performance they have been waiting to see, rolling past Morehead State 107-57 in a game that was never really in doubt after halftime. The Cardinals controlled the opening half, then turned it into a runaway with a dominant second-half surge, while also imposing their will on the glass with a 59-rebound effort that underscored just how one-sided the night became.
Obi Ekezie led the way with 20 points and 13 rebounds, and he was far from alone as several Louisville players reached double figures. For a team trying to build momentum and show more consistency, it was the sort of balanced, physical showing that can carry real weight beyond one lopsided final score. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Faces A Troubling Receiver Question Before Georgia Tech
Louisvilles passing game is heading into Week 10 with a real question mark as it gets ready to face Georgia Tech, and the concern centers on Lawayne McCoy. The star wide receiver is expected to miss an extended period because of a knee injury, leaving the Cardinals to sort out how they want to attack a defense that will be watching their receiving depth closely.
For a team trying to keep its momentum, losing a player like McCoy changes the feel of the matchup before it even kicks off. Louisville will have to lean on its remaining options and adjust on the fly, all while balancing a week that has already brought plenty of attention across the program, from footballs injury concerns to basketball notes involving former Cardinal Mikel Brown Jr. and coach Pat Kelseys push for more consistency. [Read more 🡒]