Louisville opened Pat Kelsey’s first season with an 84-70 win over Chattanooga, and the final margin looked a lot cleaner than the closing stretch felt. The Cardinals got to 1-0, but Kelsey wasn’t thrilled with how they finished, especially when it came to shooting. Still, there was enough good mixed in with the sloppy to leave Louisville with both a win and a clear list of things to fix.
The biggest bright spot was Adrian Wooley, who kept making a case for a starting role while Karter Knox works back toward 100%. The former 5-star transfer played with the kind of edge Kelsey wants to see, finishing with 15 points on 7 made field goals and shooting 50% overall.
The 3-point shot wasn’t there - he went 1-of-6 from deep - but the aggression was. Kelsey said exactly what he liked about it: “I loved his aggressiveness,” stated Kelsey.
“I want him to be that way. Adrian is great when he is leaning forward and playing downhill and playing on the attack, and you saw that today.”
Flory Bidunga looked every bit like the kind of player Louisville expects him to be. The Kansas transfer, a preseason All-American, led the Cardinals with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting and added nine rebounds, three steals and one assist.
He gave Louisville a real presence around the rim, and the Cardinals’ ceiling clearly rises when he’s doing that kind of damage on both ends. He’s a lob threat, a rim protector, and the kind of frontcourt weapon Kelsey can build around.
For a half, Louisville looked like a team with serious upside. The Cardinals played fast, used their size and speed, and shot the ball well enough to build a 21-point halftime lead.
They were 57% from the field and 42% from 3 in the opening half, while also controlling the glass. That’s the version of Louisville that has people talking about Final Four expectations.
But the second half brought the reminders that this team still has work to do. Free throws were a mess, and Kelsey made sure to call it out afterward.
Louisville shot just 50% from the line in the second half, finishing 15-of-26 for the game. Kelsey didn’t sugarcoat it: “Obviously, 15 feet away and the clock is stopped, and you are shooting free-throw, and you shoot 50%; obviously you need to be better than that,” stated Kelsey.
The 3-point line was even rougher after halftime. Louisville had gone 8-of-19 from deep in the first half, but the second half flipped hard the other way.
The Cardinals missed 15 of their 16 attempts after the break and finished 9-of-25 overall, good for 25.7% from beyond the arc. That’s the kind of number that will keep drawing attention, especially after the concerns around Louisville’s perimeter shooting before the season and the struggles against Mercyhurst and Chattanooga.
So the opener gave Louisville a little of everything: encouraging individual performances, a strong first-half showing, and two glaring issues that need cleaning up fast. The record says 1-0. The film says there’s plenty more to sharpen.
In Other News...
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
Louisvilles preseason plans took a hit when transfer guard DeShayne Montgomery was ruled out for 4-6 weeks with a foot injury, putting his debut for the 2026-27 season on hold. The 4-star transfer from Dayton had already flashed well in exhibition play, which made him look like a real early rotation option for Pat Kelseys group and a potential spark off the bench.
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
Louisvilles latest win over Stanford gave Jeff Brohm another chance to point to the kind of explosive offense he wants his program to be known for, with Isaac Browns 75-yard rushing touchdown serving as one of the biggest highlights of the afternoon. It also came at a good time for the Cardinals on the recruiting front, because one of their most important commitments keeps piling up attention of his own.
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 🡒]