Laura Ziegler had 17 points, Elif Istanbulluoglu scored 16 and No. 22 Louisville shut out 12th-ranked North Carolina in overtime, winning 76-66 in the Tar Heels’ Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
Imari Berry scored an early sesaon-high 17 points off the bench and No. 23 Louisville overcame a slow start to blow out East Tennessee State 88-50.
The one-sided victory extended Louisville’s winning streak to seven as the Cards improved their record to 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the ACC.
All The Ville had to do Wednesday night was defeat Team DRC and a remarkable summer basketball moment was guaranteed.
If the high court agrees to hear the case, it could prompt more discussion of whether the NCAA should be paying its student athletes.
The user-friendly part of the schedule twists into a mighty challenge Sunday. The Cards are booked for a 3:30 p.m. game against No. 17 Texas in Madison Square Garden.
The Cardinals return home Wednesday night to play the worst team on their schedule — Coppin State, which is 0-2 this season after going 9-23 last season.
A year after Louisville opened its season by losing to Bellarmine, Wright State and Appalachian State by a point, the Cards stumbled, fumbled but finally rallied to defeat UMBC (Maryland-Baltimore County), 94-93.
Simmons Athletic Director Jerry Eaves credits UofL coach Kenny Payne for making this happen.
Louisville's Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods simultaneously held five, three-hour “Safe Summer Kickoff” events in the city's west end on Saturday.