LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Alarms sounded when the University of Louisville men’s basketball team lost its exhibition opener to Lenoir-Rhyne last Sunday. That wasn’t what the world expected in coach Kenny Payne’s first game.

Scoring 49 points while losing to a Division II opponent will get the warning lights flashing any time that happens.

The Cardinals returned to the KFC Yum! Center Thursday night and delivered another 40-minute hint this has all the ingredients to be a challenging season.

After trailing by 5 points with less than 12 minutes to play, Louisville rallied to defeat Chaminade, 80-73. On a day that began with Louisville getting a favorable ruling from the NCAA, the Cardinals didn't need another loss to a D2 program as they begin the climb back from their ongoing struggles.

"In my mind the ruling basically starts the program in the rebuild," said Payne, who organized a conference call with the parents of every player on Thursday afternoon to discuss the significance of the NCAA decision.

"This has been hard on everybody so I wanted them to know that I understand that and we are starting a rebuild. From this day on I don't have to worry about families second-guessing that I'm telling them the truth that we're going to be all right as a program."

"Just to hear it this morning, it was a big relief," U of L guard El Ellis said. "We have everything we need in our locker room to play in the post season. So I feel very glad about the decision they made."

Ellis (28 points), JJ Traynor (12) and Jae’Lyn Withers (17) saved the Cards. Ellis attacked the rim, getting to the line for 13 free throws. Traynor was a force on the glass, collecting six of his eight rebounds on the offensive end. Withers hit three shots from distance while grabbing 9 boards.

But the Cardinals will need more than that trio once they plunge into Atlantic Coast Conference play. They allowed 18 offensive rebounds. They committed more turnovers (14) than they forced (8) for the second consecutive game. They watched Chaminade guard Braden Olsen ignite for 27 points. 

Payne noticed -- and was unwilling to accept that.

"Basically what I'm saying is you're either the predator or the prey," he said. "You're not going to float through. The ball is just not going to fall in your hands. You have to be the aggressor. Predator or prey?"

That is certainly a message for Louisville's frontcourt. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield did not make a field goal and Sydney Curry had six points.

"There will come a point where that will be punishments or things that you do on the court that aren't aggressive," Payne said. "There will be consequences for things that you do that we practiced and can't get done.

"And again, I need those guys (in the frontcourt) to believe that they can take on any bigs in the country all three and dominate. I need them to believe I don't need them to get in the game and say, 'OK, we'll turn on the light switch.'

"There are no light switches. You are the lights switch. It has to be on the second you hit the floor."

Chaminade is a team that lost to Ohio State by 44 points two days ago in Columbus. Chaminade is another Division II program that, like Lenoir-Rhyne, posted a losing record (9-18) last season.

Louisville led for more than 12 minutes of the first half, pushing to a 42-32 halftime lead. Ellis scored 10. Mike James had 7, making back-to-back shots from distance. Withers had 8, also making a pair of threes.

But things got shaky in the second half — again. Chaminade scored 16 straight points, holding Louisville scoreless for 4 minutes and 14 seconds while twisting a 44-34 deficit into a 50-44 lead before the Cardinals engaged and secured the victory.

Payne tightened his rotation from Sunday, playing Ellis 38 minutes and Withers 34.

This was the Cardinals final exhibition. They return to the KFC Yum! Center Wednesday at 9 p.m. for their season opener against Bellarmine University.

The numbers at Ken Pomeroy’s analytics web site project a 75-62 U of L victory.

"Are we ready for Bellarmine?" Payne said. "I don't know.

"I know they will be disciplined. I know they will be sharp in what they're doing. I know they're going to throw a lot of different things. Scott Davenport (the Bellarmine coach) is a really good coach and he's had a lot of success there.

"They should have been in the NCAA Tournament last year so I know what we're facing."

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