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What did we learn in Louisville’s exhibition games?

1712782446370by: Connor Stanley10/30/25ConnorStanleyX
A referee has to separate Bucknell Bison forward Amon Dörries (22) and Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) during an exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday October 28, 2028.
A referee has to separate Bucknell Bison forward Amon Dörries (22) and Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) during an exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday October 28, 2028. © Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Louisville's exhibition games are officially in the books. The Cards were able to see valuable minutes to unpack some of their strength and weaknesses. Louisville was able to test different lineups, offensive and defensive sets, and try to build team chemistry before the "real" games begin next Monday. Louisville lost its opening game 90-82 to Kansas, but followed it up with a 99-76 victory over Bucknell. The Cards showed a lot of promise shooting the ball against the Bison, but they need to gain more interior presence and balance on defense. "We played two good teams. Obviously, Kansas, we lost that game. It was great. It wasn't great that we lost, I hate to lose, but we found a lot more about ourselves in things we have to get fixed and things we have to address in playing a team of that caliber," head coach Pat Kelsey said. Here's what we learned.

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