Louisville’s exhibition against Mercyhurst was messy in plenty of the usual preseason ways, but it also offered the first real glimpse of what Pat Kelsey may want this group to become.
The Cardinals were sloppy, turnover-prone and at times out of rhythm against a much lesser opponent. Still, there was an obvious plan baked into the night: get downhill, attack the rim and lean on size inside.
That showed up right away. On Louisville’s first possession, Alvaro Folguieras handled the ball at the top of the key and fed Flory Bidunga with a high-low look after Bidunga had sealed his defender. The result was a flush, and it set the tone for how the Cards wanted to operate.
Bidunga was a force around the basket. His game can look pretty raw when he wanders outside his comfort zone, but inside he was exactly what Louisville needed. All nine of his field goals were slams except maybe one or two, and he finished with nine rebounds while rejecting a couple of Mercyhurst attempts.
Obi Ekezie also made his presence felt, officially credited with four blocks. Even that may undersell the way he affected shots, since at least that many more Mercyhurst attempts seemed to die simply because he was there. He also grabbed eight rebounds.
Folguieras chipped in seven rebounds and five assists, a useful all-around line for a player Louisville leaned on early and often.
Even with Gabe Dynes projected to miss four months, the Cardinals appear to have an interior presence that matters, which is something Pat Kelsey’s first two teams did not have. That thought naturally drifts to another name: Sananda Fru.
Louisville made its intentions clear by repeatedly forcing the issue at the rim. The Cards scored 56 of their 71 points in the paint. Their other nine points came at the line, and they did it on 17 free throw attempts, a 53% clip that stands out as a number worth watching.
The only two Louisville threes came early. Isaac Ellis drilled the first one 28 minutes into the game, and Jackson Shelstad followed with the next trip down. After that, the deep ball never really became part of the night.
Turnovers were another issue. Louisville committed 17, most of them unforced.
Bidunga was responsible for four, all on possessions where he tried to be something he isn’t. At Kansas last season, his reputation was built on defense, not as a first or even second offensive option behind Tre White, Melvin Council and Darryn Peterson when he played.
Folguieras had three turnovers, though two of those came late when the game was already slipping away and he took risks in transition. Those feel a little less worrisome than the rest.
The crowd was quiet and not especially large, and Louisville played with less focus and urgency than it will need in the months ahead.
There were still a few plays that stood out. Karter Knox springing Adrian Wooley on a 2-on-1 break for a back-and-forth oop and dunk.
Folguieras diving to the floor to tie up a loose ball. Louisville scoring on its first six possessions after halftime.
Bo Zhang saw the floor, as did Ellis. Wooley didn’t score, but he still turned in a strong night with five rebounds and two assists. De’Shayne Montgomery was again steady and efficient off the bench.
Louisville also picked it up defensively in the second half. Better defense.
Better results. That line fits here well enough.
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