Louisville Mens Basketball

Louisville is looking to bounce back after two tough losses in the Empire Classic in New York. They fell to No. 19/17 Texas on a last-second shot and saw a late lead slip away against Indiana. Despite these setbacks, the Cardinals have a 4-1 advantage in the series against New Mexico State and have won their last three meetings.

The Cardinals have a long history at Madison Square Garden, having played there 54 times dating back to 1948. Many memorable moments have taken place in this historic venue, including championships and tournament titles. Louisville’s head coach Kenny Payne previously served as an assistant coach for the NBA’s New York Knicks, who also call Madison Square Garden home. Payne’s return trip to Madison Square Garden serves as a reunion for two other members of the Louisville staff, Gabe Snider and Justin Perez, who both previously worked for the Knicks.

Louisville’s sophomore guard, Skyy Clark, showcased his clutch shooting by sinking a crucial 3-pointer with 1:20 remaining to give the Cardinals an 80-78 lead. However, the Longhorns responded with a free throw and then capitalized on a shot clock violation to gain possession with 7.9 seconds left. That’s when Abmas sealed the deal with his game-winning shot.

Leading up to this game, Louisville bounced back from a tough loss with an impressive 61-41 victory over Coppin State at home. On the other side, Texas showed their dominance as they cruised to a 80-64 win against Rice, improving their record to 3-0.

Head coach Kenny Payne expressed his satisfaction with the team’s defensive performance, stating, “That is a good sign of what we are capable of being defensively.” Despite the 20-point victory, Payne believes there is still room for improvement, emphasizing the team’s need to focus on their confidence, work ethic, and energy. He acknowledged the team’s potential to defeat formidable opponents but stressed the importance of each player understanding their responsibilities and obligations for the team’s success.

This will only be the second meeting between Louisville and Coppin State, with their last encounter resulting in a 75-49 victory for the Cardinals in 2001.

Entering halftime trailing 33-27, the Cardinals were hopeful of turning the game around. However, Chattanooga began the second half with an 8-0 run, quickly extending their lead and ultimately reaching a 21-point advantage with 6:52 remaining. Louisville’s head coach, Kenny Payne, acknowledged the opposing team’s determination, stating, “They walked in not afraid of us and executed their game plan. I thought they were the aggressors tonight.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team is gearing up for their second game of the season as they face off against Chattanooga at the KFC Yum! Center on Friday night. The game, which is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET, will be available for streaming on ACC Network Extra and ESPN+.

The Cardinals impressed with their dominance in the paint, scoring 60 points down low, and saw five players reach double figures in scoring. Head coach Kenny Payne expressed the importance of this win, acknowledging that it was a hard-fought battle by his players. He highlighted the team’s execution and their ability to relentlessly attack the opposition while playing unselfishly.

In their two exhibition games, the Cardinals had mixed results, with a dominant 91-50 victory over Simmons College but a narrow 71-68 defeat to Kentucky Wesleyan. Meanwhile, UMBC had a strong showing last season with an 18-14 record but fell to Fordham 79-75 in their lone exhibition game this year. This will be the first meeting between Louisville and the Retrievers, making UMBC the only new opponent on the Cardinals’ schedule for this season.