In a matchup that exposed Indiana’s lingering inconsistencies and Louisville’s growing confidence, the Hoosiers fell 87–78 Saturday, undone by a second half defensive lapse and a barrage of timely Cardinals shooting. Despite a 26-point outburst from Tucker DeVries, Indiana never led and spent most of the afternoon chasing a Louisville team that dictated tempo, physicality, and composure.
Louisville built its identity early from the perimeter, knocking down 13 threes at a 42% clip, including a blistering 5 for 9 performance from senior sharpshooter Isaac McKneely. Ryan Conwell shouldered the scoring load with 21 points, buoyed by 10-of-11 shooting at the line. Every time Indiana threatened to string together momentum, it seemed the Cardinals had an answer. Their pivotal 16–0 second half run pushed the margin to 19 with under five minutes remaining, effectively burying the Hoosiers’ hopes of a comeback.
Indiana’s offense, though uneven, showed flashes of polish, particularly from DeVries, who earned 13 free throw attempts and knocked down four threes. However, the Hoosiers’ supporting cast struggled to match him. Liam Wilkerson added 12 points, but needed 15 shots to get there, and turnovers; 13 total, including five from Ty Conerway, repeatedly stalled possessions before they could take shape. Despite both teams finishing with 34 rebounds, Louisville’s interior rotations smothered Indiana’s second chance opportunities, holding them to just 10 offensive boards.
The final minute encapsulated Indiana’s frustrations. With 10 seconds left, Hadley stripped Conerway of the basketball, sealing the victory and symbolizing the broader issues that plagued IU all afternoon: loose handles, loose defensive closeouts, and little margin for error. As Indiana dropped to a frustrating defeat, the Cardinals closed crisply at the line, sealing their ninth win behind an 86% team free throw performance.
Indiana leaves this one with clear positives; DeVries’ scoring surge, stretches of sharp ball movement, a late 8-0 run, but many more questions. Louisville, meanwhile, looked every bit like a team finding its stride: balanced, aggressive, and increasingly dangerous as conference play looms.
Louisville plays Memphis next Dec. 13 back at the Yum.
One Reply to “Louisville MBB Recap: Cards Fly Past Hoosiers”