LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Pat Kelsey and his University of Louisville men’s basketball team gave Cardinal fans plenty of reasons to be excited about this season – and those to come.

Mike Woodson and his Indiana University staff gave Indiana fans a list of reasons to question what the Hoosiers have done so far and how badly IU needs a change at the head coaching position.

Louisville marched into the Battle 4 Atlantis event in the Bahamas on Wednesday afternoon and upended Woodson’s team, suffering an embarrassing 89-61 loss to the No. 14 seed Hoosiers.

Four Louisville players scored in double figures. Point guard Chucky Hepburn had the best overall game, leading Louisville with 16 points, 10 assists and seven steals.

Compare these numbers to Indiana’s top three guards – Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle and Trey Galloway. Together they scored 3 points (including 1 for 15 shots), 2 assists and nine turnovers.

The Cards played the 2024 edition of college basketball, spacing the floor and moving the ball while scoring with precision from multiple spots on the court.

The Cards made nearly 57% of their shots. They gave the Hoosiers more turnovers (23) than field goals (21).

Louisville looked fresh, prepared and committed. Indiana seemed sloppy, lost and disinterested.

Kelsey had answers for everything Indiana tried. Woodson stood on the sidelines with his hands on his hips, wondering what happened.

Louisville knocked IU right out of the Top 25 and made a case for inclusion in next week’s poll, especially if they can use the momentum for another win or two in the Bahamas.

There was never any doubt and rarely was it close, especially after the Cards built an 8-point halftime lead to 17 points in the first three minutes of the second half.

The cards played harder. They played smarter. They played with more confidence.

And Kelsey had prepared her better – much better prepared.

They gave Woodson’s team a thoroughly entertaining dose of modern basketball, mixing a mix of dunks, layups and three-pointers.

The cards were played with energy, determination and tact. They scored 30 points off Indiana turnovers.

Indiana ran the ball down the field, forced the ball in, and stopped caring early in the second half.

Louisville will play its second game at noon Thursday against the winner of Wednesday’s second game between No. 3 Gonzaga and West Virginia. IU advances to the losers bracket and receives the loser of the Gonzaga-WVU game.

The Cards outplayed and outmaneuvered the Hoosiers in the first half. Louisville scored the first two baskets and didn’t trail, extending its lead to 10 points.

Louisville outscored Indiana 21 to 9 from the three-point line and made more threes (7 of 17) than the Hoosiers attempted (3 of 6).

That’s a basic math problem that’s difficult for a team to solve unless it manages a solid percentage of shots around the rim. Indiana didn’t do that. The Hoosiers went just 6 for 23 on two-point field goal attempts while turning the ball over 11 times.

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