Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. to Miss Second Straight Game with Back Injury vs. Montana
Louisville will once again be without its star freshman point guard, Mikel Brown Jr., as he continues to recover from a lower back injury. Brown has been ruled out for today’s non-conference matchup against Montana at the KFC Yum! Center, marking his second straight absence.
Brown, who’s been a major spark for the No. 11 Cardinals this season, came into the week averaging 16.6 points per game - second-most on the team - while also leading Louisville with 5.1 assists per contest. His ability to control tempo, create off the dribble, and find teammates in rhythm has been a cornerstone of the Cards’ offensive identity so far.
He missed Tuesday’s road loss at No. 23 Tennessee after being labeled a game-time decision. Head coach Pat Kelsey explained after that game that Brown had been limited in practice in the days leading up to the matchup and tried to warm up pregame, but wasn’t physically ready to go.
“We were hopeful the last couple of days that he’d be able to play,” Kelsey said. “He was in pain, and that limited him in practice. Tried to get him going pregame, but he just wasn’t able to go.”
Kelsey emphasized that the decision ultimately came down to the medical staff, and that the team had been preparing for the possibility of being without Brown.
In Brown’s absence, sophomore guard Adrian Wooley stepped into the starting lineup for the first time since transferring from Kennesaw State. Wooley responded with a season-high 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 34 minutes - a strong showing under short notice, as he didn’t know he’d be starting until just a couple of hours before tipoff.
Louisville also dealt with another backcourt setback during the Tennessee game, as redshirt senior guard Kobe Rodgers exited late in the second half after taking a hit to the head. He was evaluated for a possible concussion, and his status for today’s game remains uncertain. Kelsey only briefly addressed Rodgers’ injury postgame and didn’t provide an update on his availability.
Despite the injuries, Louisville will look to close out its pre-Christmas slate on a high note. After today’s noon tip against Montana, the Cardinals won’t return to action until Dec. 30, when they begin ACC play with a late-night road trip to California.
Today’s game won’t be on traditional television - it’ll stream exclusively on ACC Network Extra, which can be accessed through ESPN.com or the ESPN app for viewers with ACC Network credentials. Rich Hollenberg and Tom McKneely will be on the call.
With Brown sidelined again and Rodgers’ status still in question, Louisville’s depth and adaptability will be tested. But if Wooley’s performance in Knoxville was any indication, the Cardinals may have more backcourt firepower than initially expected.