No. 11 Louisville wasted little time making its presence felt on opening night, knocking off Chattanooga 84-70 at the Yum Center behind a balanced scoring effort and a defense that kept the Mocs under pressure all night.
The Cardinals didn’t exactly light it up from the outside or at the line, but they found enough offense across the roster to stay in control. Five Louisville players reached double figures, and the team’s work on the glass and in the turnover battle gave it the edge when the shot-making came and went.
Flory Bidunga set the tone with 16 points and 9 rebounds, falling just short of a double-double. He added three steals and finished 6-of-9 from the floor. Adrian Wooley was right behind him with 15 points, and his four steals helped fuel the kind of disruptive defense that made life difficult for Chattanooga.
Jackson Shelstad and Seth Trimble each chipped in 13 points. Shelstad also filled the box score with seven rebounds and three assists. Folgueiras added 10 points to round out Louisville’s double-figure scorers, while Karter Knox came up big on the boards with nine points and 11 rebounds.
Louisville shot 30-of-68 overall, good for 44 percent, but the perimeter numbers were rough. The Cardinals made just 9 of 35 from three-point range, a 25.7 percent clip. Even so, they kept finding other ways to separate.
The rebounding battle went to Louisville 42-38, and the Cardinals protected the ball far better than Chattanooga, finishing with 10 turnovers to the Mocs’ 18. That six-turnover cushion mattered in a game where Louisville never fully settled into a clean offensive rhythm.
Chattanooga actually shot 43.9 percent from the field and was better from deep, hitting 12 of 33 from three. The Mocs also went 13-of-21 at the free throw line, but they couldn’t overcome Louisville’s pressure or the extra possessions the Cardinals created.
For Louisville, the opener delivered a little bit of everything: encouraging balance, strong frontcourt production, and enough defensive activity to control the game. There’s still room to clean things up, especially with perimeter efficiency and consistency, but the Cardinals got the result they wanted to start the season.
Louisville next faces Morehead State on Saturday at noon at the Yum.
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Louisvilles Opening Win Still Left Fans With One Big Concern
Louisvilles season-opening win over Chattanooga had plenty to like, especially in the first half when the Cardinals came out sharp, shot efficiently and built a comfortable lead. Five players reached double figures, a sign of balance that should matter as the schedule tightens, and the 84-70 final gave Kenny Paynes team a clean result to start with.
Still, the second half left a familiar kind of unease for a fan base that wants more than just a win in November. Louisvilles offense cooled off, the shots stopped falling and a few late misses kept the game from feeling as comfortable as it once did, while 10 turnovers added to the uneven stretch. The opener showed the Cardinals can score in waves, but it also hinted at the kind of offensive lapses that can linger if they are not cleaned up quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Just Lost An Early Rotation Piece Pat Kelsey Needed
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Now the Cardinals have to reshuffle before the season even gets going, and Kelsey is leaning into the next-man-up mentality as the staff sorts through the backcourt and wing minutes Montgomery was expected to help fill. It is an untimely setback for a player Louisville was counting on to add depth and versatility, and it leaves the staff with one less proven piece while it waits for him to get back on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville 4-Star Commit Just Added To Jeff Brohms Recruiting Hype
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JaHyde Brown, the 4-star wide receiver pledged to Louisville, just set a new state record with 31 receiving touchdowns in a season, topping the old mark of 30. The production has helped send him climbing in the national recruiting rankings, giving Louisville another reason to feel encouraged about the talent it has lined up for the future. [Read more 🡒]