Louisville’s first win of the 2026-27 season came with a split personality. The Cardinals beat Chattanooga 84-70, and while the second half left Pat Kelsey frustrated, the opening 20 minutes gave a clear glimpse of why this group is carrying Final Four expectations.
Kelsey didn’t hide his feelings afterward. He said he was disappointed and “ticked off.”
“I was disappointed. I’m not gonna come in here and sugarcoat things.
I just can’t do that. I’m a little disappointed, I’m a little ticked off, and I’m excited about getting back to work.”
That reaction was tied to how Louisville finished, especially a second half in which the Cardinals shot 50% from the free-throw line and just 1-of-16 from 3-point range. But the game wasn’t defined by the late wobble alone. The first half was the part that backed up the hype.
Louisville entered the year with big expectations after adding 11 players in the offseason, including 5-star talents Flory Bidunga and Obinna Ekezie Jr., plus 4-star transfers Jackson Shelstad, Karter Knox and Alvaro Folgueiras. Against Chattanooga, that talent showed up early and often.
The Cardinals led by 25 with a minute left in the first half and controlled the game on both ends. They played with force, moved the ball at a fast clip and created the kind of open looks that make this roster look dangerous when it’s rolling.
“We have a chance to be really good and we have a chance to be really special,” stated Kelsey. “You saw what is possible in the first half.”
The numbers backed that up. Louisville shot 57% from the field in the first half, knocked down eight 3-pointers at a 42% clip and got the pace going in its favor. It started with defense, where Chattanooga managed just 0.89 points per possession.
“The pace was great, pitching that ball ahead, and we made shots,” stated Kelsey. “The first half was really, really good on both ends”
Flory Bidunga finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Cardinals, while Adrian Wooley added 15 points on 50% shooting. The second half was messy enough to draw Kelsey’s ire, but Louisville’s opening burst was the kind of stretch that explains why the ceiling around this team is so high.
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