Louisville fell at home today to rival Kentucky by a final score of 71-58. Kentucky jumped out to a 14-point lead in the first half and aside from an early second half run, Kentucky’s lead was never in real jeopardy.
Louisville was led by Christen Cunningham’s 20 points and Jordan Nwora’s 17 points. The next highest scorers for the Cardinals had 5 points a piece (Perry and Enoch).
Tyler Herro’s game-high 24 points (10-13 FG, 4-6 3PT) paced the Wildcats.
Louisville was outplayed today. The Cards had two 5+ minute stretches without a made basket and were outshot 50.9% to 36.4%. The difference wasn’t made from the 3PT line, it was made inside. Louisville and Kentucky each shot 20 threes. Louisville made 5. Kentucky made 6. The battle on the boards seemed obviously won by UK, but the final tally favored the Wildcats by only one rebound (34 to 33). Louisville even shot and made more free throws than Kentucky. The difference in this game was the play in paint and the quality of shots the two teams were taking. One team consistently got clean looks at the basket and finishes at the rim. And one team took contested shot after contested shot and had little, to no, movement on offense. The score shows which team was which.
Lucky for the Cards there’s plenty of season to bounce back. And although a loss to a bitter rival hurts, it doesn’t have to determine how the season will go.
Up next: Louisville begins ACC play with a home game against Miami. The game is on Sunday, January 6th at 6pm inside the Yum! Center.
As always,
Go Cards!
