LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The first shot of the Pat Kelsey Era (exhibition edition) was a calm, crisp three-point launch by J’Vonne Hadley 23 seconds into the University of Louisville’s game against Young Harris Monday night at the KFC Yum! Center.
No good.
No problem.
The Cards’ second attempt was another three-pointer by Terrence Edwards Jr. four seconds later. Count it. The third attempt was a three-pointer by point guard Chucky Hepburn, still within the first minute of the game. Count that one, too.
So it went. And went. And went. Eight of Louisville’s first nine shots were threes. So were 16 of the first 19, by seven different players. And 28 of the first 34. And 32 of the first 38.
The Cards roared to a 16-2 advantage and never let their visitors from a Division II program in northeastern Georgia envision they could deliver an upset similar to the ones that Lenoir-Ryne (October 2022) or Kentucky Wesleyan (October 2023) did the last two painful seasons.
Louisville 106, Young Harris 59. Kelsey’s team took 56 of their 78 field goal attempts from distance, making 24.
"I believe (the high volume of threes) will kind of be a trend," said guard Reyne Smith, who made 6 of 8 from distance. "It's a big emphasis for us to get the best shot possible every time."
The best shot can mean the most open shot. It can also mean the most efficient shot. And the wise coaches will take a solid three-point attempt over a reasonable mid-range shot worth two points.
That’s the most threes that a Louisville men’s team has made in a game — and the threes came from eight players, lead by Edwards who hit 6 of 11 while scoring 24 points. Smith had 20. Credit Hepburn with 11 as well as seven assists.
Kelsey's team took nearly 47% of its shots from deep last season at the College of Charleston and more than 47% in 2022. Kelsey was not ready to commit to a team taking 72% of its shots from three. In fact, he said that he was more nervous prior to this game than he had been in any game of his 12-season head coaching career.
"I was totally out of sorts," he said. "We don't talk about shooting threes. Our major focus is playing off the attack. Then the threes sort of present themselves."
The Cards had 63 points at halftime. Louisville scored 28 in its first half loss to Lenoir-Rhyne and 26 against Kentucky Wesleyan last season. They did not score more than 54 points in a half in any game last season.
Is this the way it’s going to be against Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee or even Morehead State, the Cards’ real opening night opponent Nov. 4?
Unlikely.
As I mentioned Young Harris is a Division II program. Young Harris finished 17-12 last season, giving up 94 points points to Lees-McRae and 88 to Chowan. Practice safe hype. They don't defend the way a Tony Bennett team used to do it.
Was it concerning that Young Harris rebounded well against the Cardinals and seemed able to work the ball inside? The visitors finished with a dozen offensive rebounds. Considering Louisville did most of its work from the perimeter, it is not surprising that points in the paint were even at 32 each.
So yes, it was a little concerning.
But overall it was the kind of performance that confirmed the optimism reflected in the computer rankings like Ken Pomeroy, where the Cards will start the season ranked No. 64 after finishing last season ranked No. 185 and the season before that No. 290 and the season before that No. 127. The energy, the effort and the organization were all there.
Here's a better statistic. Of Louisville's 40 field goals, 27 were the result of an assist.
"The ball was really popping," Kelsey said. "Our pace was good. I thought we were really playing downhill, attacking the paint.
"We value (sharing the ball) in recruiting. Guys who make other people better."
What the performance did seem to achieve was re-energize the crowd, which was announced as 10,928.
After Edwards drained back-to-back-to-back three-pointers barely a dozen minutes into the first half, the crowd was up and howling as if Russ Smith and Donovan Mitchell had just walked through the door.
They were standing. They were screaming. And they were encouraging more three-point shooting.
And that’s exactly what they got.
"I think the crowd really, really appreciated how we were playing," Kelsey said.
The Cardinals will return for their final exhibition against Spalding here next Monday at 7 p.m.
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