LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The University of Louisville men's basketball program released its 11-game non-conference and two-game exhibition game schedule Thursday, and this is what one of the national analytics websites shows about the schedule:
The Cardinals will start the season ranked ahead of seven of the 11 opponents, at least according to Bart Torvik's formula (barttorvik.com). They will play three programs that played in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Make of that what you like, because Louisville started last season ranked firmly ahead of Bellarmine, Wright State and Appalachian State and then lost home games to all three teams by a single point, the first warning that a 4-28 record was on its way for coach Kenny Payne in his first season.
This season, the Cardinals will also begin regular season play with three games at the KFC Yum! Center. The opponents are UMBC (the University of Maryland in Baltimore County) on Nov. 6; Chattanooga on Nov. 10 and Coppin State Nov. 15.
Nobody in that trio made the NCAA Tournament last season. UMBC was 18-14, Chattanooga was 18-17, and Coppin State was 9-23.
With an upgraded roster from the transfer portal and at least three top-100 freshman recruits, Louisville is ranked No. 145 in Torvik's preseason formula, comfortably ahead of No. 334 UMBC, No. 224 Chattanooga and No. 361 Coppin State.
The Cardinals follow that home stretch with back-to-back games at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Louisville will play Texas, likely a preseason top-15 team, at 3 p.m. Sunday Nov. 19. The following day UofL will play either defending national champion Connecticut or Indiana.
The Cards will return to play twice at home, including a Nov. 29 rematch with Bellarmine University, which spoiled UofL's season opener last season by winning, 67-66, at 2nd and Main.
Louisville's only non-league road game will be against DePaul, which finished 10-13 and in 10th place in the Big East in 2023.
The Blue Demons' athletic director is former Kentucky assistant AD Dewayne Peevy, who worked with Payne at UK. The Cards have a 38-22 record against DePaula but have not played the Blue Demons since 2021.
After the trip to Chicago, Louisville will return home for its final three non-league games against Arkansas State, Pepperdine and the annual rivalry game against Kentucky, which is booked for Thursday, Dec. 21.
Of the 11 teams, six suffered losing seasons last year: Coppin State, New Mexico State, Bellarmine, DePaul, Arkansas State and Pepperdine.
Texas and Kentucky made the NCAA Tournament, as did UConn and Indiana.
Louisville's first appearance at the KFC Yum! Center will be Oct. 11 for the Red-White Scrimmage. The Cards will then welcome Simmons College (Oct. 18) and Kentucky Wesleyan (Oct. 30) downtown for exhibition games.
The dates for the Cards 20-game Atlantic Coast Conference schedule will be announced later month.
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
