Louisville’s 84-70 win over Chattanooga on opening night looked like two different games stitched together.
For one half, the Cardinals were flying. They scored on 10 of their first 11 possessions and had the game at 37-14 after just 10:28.
Louisville led by as many as 25 and went to halftime up 56-35 after shooting 57% from the field and 8/19 from three. The Cardinals also piled up seven steals and put together what was described as the most beauteous Cardinal fastbreak in years, with a Jackson Shelstad > Adrian Wooley > Karter Knox sequence that drew attention.
Pat Kelsey even mixed in 13 different lineups despite having two men on injured reserve.
The opening stretch was efficient on offense and sharper on defense than Louisville has shown in a long while. It was, in the source’s words, exhilerating.
Then came the second half.
After the break, Louisville made only 29% of its shots and went a rough 1/16 from three. The Cardinals also hit just 9/18 free throws in the second half and finished 15/26 at the line overall.
Chattanooga kept hanging around, and Louisville’s lead was 24 with 9:02 left before the Mocs outscored the Cardinals by 10 the rest of the way. Louisville missed its final six field-goal attempts, failed to make a field goal over the last 4:13, and went 9 of its last 11 overall.
Still, there were some useful takeaways beyond the final margin. Five Cardinals finished in double figures, four had at least three assists, and Louisville turned it over only 10 times, though that came against a zone defense. Chattanooga finished with more second-chance points, more bench points and more assists than Louisville.
So the opener landed where it counts: 1-0.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Louisvilles Opening Win Showed Why Fans Should Stay Cautious
Louisvilles season opener against Chattanooga offered plenty to like, especially in the first half when the Cardinals looked sharp, shared the ball well and built a 21-point lead by halftime. Five players reached double figures, a sign of balance that should play well as the schedule gets tougher, and the 84-70 finish gave the home crowd an early glimpse of what this group can be when its clicking.
Even so, the second half was a reminder not to read too much into one good night. Louisvilles shooting dropped off after the break, and the 10 turnovers left enough slippage to keep the performance from feeling completely polished. For a team with bigger goals ahead, the opener was encouraging, but it also showed theres still work to do before the Cardinals can call this version of themselves finished. [Read more 🡒]