LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Pat Kelsey and his University of Louisville men’s basketball team gave Cardinal fans many reasons to get thoroughly stoked about this season — and seasons to come.
Mike Woodson and his Indiana University team gave Indiana fans a list of reasons to question what the Hoosiers have been practicing and how urgently IU needs a change in the head coaching position.
Louisville marched into the Battle 4 Atlantis event in The Bahamas Wednesday afternoon and turned Woodson’s team upside down, pinning an embarrassing 89-61 defeat on the No. 14 Hoosiers. A 3-point underdog in Las Vegas, the Cards led by as many as 37.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Cards flipped positions with the Hoosiers’ in Ken Pomeroy’s computer rankings, jumping from No. 58 to 38, while IU made the reverse move from 38 to 58. It was also the Cards’ first win against a ranked opponent since they beat No. 19 Virginia Tech on Jan. 6, 2021.
It’s the kind of win you want to show the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee in March.
“So proud of our guys, their defensive effort,” Kelsey said. “Just thought they played with such tenacity and grit, so much activity.”
It was IU’s 10th double-figure loss in the Hoosiers’ last 35 games. This was also a coach in his fourth season on the job getting dominated by a coach who totally rebuilt his roster with considerably less Name/Image/Likeness money last spring. Advantage, Kelsey.
It’s the kind of loss that will continue to weaken Woodson’s already shaky standing in the IU fan base, considering the Hoosiers missed the NCAA Tournament last season and were blown out in the tournament in 2023 and 2022.
“The games are not going anywhere,” Woodson said. “We’ve got a game tomorrow (afternoon) and we gotta go back and put them through this film session and see if we can learn from it.”
Four Louisville players scored in double figures. Point guard Chucky Hepburn delivered the finest all-around game, leading Louisville with 16 points, 10 assists and seven steals. Hepburn stole the ball on IU’s first possession and converted a layup. Consider the tone set.
Compare those numbers to Indiana’s top three guards — Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle and Trey Galloway. They combined for 3 points (on 1 for 15 shooting), 2 assists and nine turnovers.
“They came out at the very beginning and they punched us in the mouth,” Woodson said. “We didn’t respond and it didn’t get better throughout the ball game.”
The Cards played the 2024 edition of college basketball, spacing the floor and moving the ball while scoring with precision from multiple spots on the court.
The Cards made nearly 57% of their shots, including 10 from distance. They dogged the Hoosiers into more turnovers (23) than field goals (21).
Louisville looked crisp, prepared and engaged. Indiana looked sloppy, lost and disinterested — similar to the way they played last season while losing by double figures nine times.
Kelsey had answers for anything Indiana tried. Woodson stood on the sidelines with his hands on his hips wondering what was happening to his team, which won an exhibition game at Tennessee last month
I’m not going to let us forget this game because this was embarrassing,” Woodson said.
Louisville knocked IU directly out of the Top 25 and made its case for inclusion in next week’s poll, especially if they can ride the momentum for another win or two in the Bahamas.
It was never in doubt and rarely close, especially after the Cards stretched an 8-point halftime lead to a 17-point advantage in the first three minutes of the second half.
After missing their first shot of the second half, Louisville made its next eight shots as well as 17 of 18. Nine were layups or dunks. Three were from distance. the Louisville lead rockets from 37-31 to 74-40.
“We came out there and we started hitting them first and most of the time the more physical team wins,” said U of L forward Noah Waterman, who scored 16 points in 27 minutes.
The Cards played harder. They played smarter. They played with more confidence.
And Kelsey had them better prepared — much better prepared.
They gave Woodson’s team a thoroughly entertaining serving of modern basketball, mixing an assortment of dunks, layups and three-point shots.
The Cards played with energy, purpose and flair. They scored 30 points off Indiana turnovers.
Indiana walked the ball up the court, forced the ball inside and stopped caring early in the second half, often jogging back on defense. It was a surrender similar to the surrender that Indiana showed in its season-ending 93-66 loss to Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament last March. The Hoosiers’ last four losses on neutral courts have all been by 20 or more points.
Louisville (4-1) will play its second game Thursday at noon, against the winner of Wednesday’s second game between No. 3 Gonzaga and West Virginia. It will be carried by ESPN. IU (4-1) moves to the losers’ bracket and will get the loser of the Gonzaga-WVU game. That game will tip at 2:30 on ESPN2.
The Cards outplayed and outmaneuvered the Hoosiers in the first half. Louisville scored the first two baskets and did not trail, building their lead to 10 points.
Louisville outscored Indiana 21 to 9 from the three-point line, making more threes (7 of 17) than the Hoosiers attempted (3 of 6).
That is a basic math issue that is difficult for a team to overcome unless it is making a solid percentage of shots around the rim. Indiana did not do that. The Hoosiers were only 6 for 23 on two-point field goal attempts, while turning the ball over 11 times
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