Louisville basketball defense impresses: Cards roll in Pat Kelsey debut at KFC Yum! Center

Posted by author November 5, 2024 Basketball

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The party Monday night at the KFC Yum! Center started with James Scott soaring through the air and throwing down an alley-oop off a perfectly placed lob from Chucky Hepburn. It ended with head coach Pat Kelsey walking off Denny Crum Court to a chorus of cheers, a winner in his official debut.

But what really got the Louisville men’s basketball fans going during the Cardinals’ 93-45 season-opening romp of Morehead State was something they didn’t see often during the historically bleak Kenny Payne era: defense.

Crossing into the final 9 minutes, 30 seconds of the first half, U of L’s Aboubacar Traore swatted a layup attempt from the Eagles’ George Marshall off the backboard. The ball ricocheted into the hands of Marshall’s tallest teammate, 7-foot center Dieonte Miles; who thought he had an easy bucket when he pump-faked Kasean Pryor at the rim.

He thought wrong. J’Vonne Hadley came crashing in from behind and blocked his shot. Hepburn fielded the loose ball, pushed it up the court and buried a 3 — part of an 11-1 run that put this one out of reach for good. An announced crowd of 12,490 went nuts.

If the Cards come correct on that end again Saturday, against No. 12 Tennessee, they could have even more to cheer about — the program’s first appearance in the AP Top 25 since Dec. 7, 2020, perhaps?

With nowhere to go but up, why not dream big? Especially after Louisville made the season opener look like a walk through the park. It got so lopsided the student section began chanting for walk-on Aidan McCool, the lone holdover from the Payne era, to be subbed in with more than five minutes remaining in regulation.

That’s what happens when you hold an opponent to 12-for-52 (23.1%) shooting, including a 3-for-28 clip during the first half, and force 21 turnovers leading to 29 points.

Pryor led U of L with 18 points on 5-for-10 shooting while tying Hepburn with a game-high four assists in 20 minutes off the bench. He was one of five Cards to finish in double figures. The others were Hadley (15), Scott (12), Terrence Edwards Jr. (12) and Reyne Smith (12).

Louisville and Tennessee are scheduled to tip off at noon Saturday.

This story will be updated.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.