Skip to main content
Louisville HC Kenny Payne Postgame Presser vs. New Mexico State (11/26/23)

Preview: Louisville Cardinals vs. Bellarmine Knights

The Cardinals host the Knights in an attempt to avenge last season's loss to their crosstown foe.

In this story:

Louisville Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals

Bellarmine Knights (2-5, 0-0 ASUN) at Louisville Cardinals (3-3, 0-0 ACC)

- Tipoff: Wednesday, November 29 at 8:00 p.m. EST
- Location: KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
- How To Watch: ACC Network Extra
- How To Listen: 93.9 FM
- Betting Favorite: Louisville -6.0 (KenPom)
- All-Time Series: Louisville leads 12-1
- Last Meeting: Bellarmine won 67-66 on Nov. 9, 2022 (KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, Ky.)

Projected Starting Lineups

Louisville

  • G Skyy Clark (6-3, 205, So.)
  • G Tre White (6-7, 205, So.)
  • G/F Mike James (6-5, 200, R-So.)
  • F J.J. Traynor (6-8, 190, Sr.)
  • F Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (6-10, 240, Jr.)

Bellarmine

  • G Alex Pfriem (6-5, 205, Gr.)
  • G Ben Johnson (6-3, 195, R-So.)
  • G Garrett Tipton (6-4, 205, Gr.)
  • G Peter Suder (6-5, 220, So.)
  • F Langdon Hatton (6-10, 240, Jr.)

Comparison

See how the Cardinals stack up against the Knights, and who the statistical models favor: Tale of The Tape, Predictions: Louisville vs. Bellarmine

Game Notes

Louisville

  • After allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to make 25 of 55 combined 3-pointers (45.5%) in the first two games, the Cardinals have held their last four opponents to a combined 11-for-63 from 3-point range (17.4%).
  • As of Monday, Louisville led the country in free-throw attempts per game (30.3) and ranked second in made free throws per game (22.0). UofL’s 132 made free throws are the program’s second-most through six games since at least 2010, behind only the 2018-19 team. The Cards have made at least 21 free throws in four of six games this year, shot 58 more than their opponents and have made more free throws than their opponents have even attempted (124).
  • UofL’s 36 made free throws and 49 attempts against New Mexico State were the program’s most since 2018. Skyy Clark’s 15 made free throws were the most by a Cardinal since Samardo Samuels vs. Notre Dame in 2010, and his 16 attempts were the most since Russ Smith at Rutgers in 2014.
  • In Louisville’s first three games, sophomore guard Skyy Clark averaged 11 points per game while going 0-for-8 from 3-point range and 7-for-13 from the free-throw line. In the last three games, Clark is averaging 22.7 points per game while shooting 8-for-19 from long range and 24-for-28 from the stripe.
  • Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport spent nine seasons on the UofL staff from 1996-2005, including five seasons under head coach Denny Crum and then the last four as administrative assistant to head coach Rick Pitino. Bellarmine assistant coach Doug Davenport was Louisville’s Director of Video Operations for three years (2012-15).
  • Last game: Louisville was able to mount a late rally and force overtime against New Mexico State, eventually capturing a 90-84 win.
  • KEY FIRST HALF RUN: New Mexico State broke out to a 13-7 advantage at the midway point in the first half. Louisville ended the half on a 16-8 run that lasted 8:11 to cut the New Mexico State lead to two after a dunk by JJ Traynor with seven seconds remaining.
  • KEY SECOND HALF RUN: Louisville finished regulation on an 8-0 run, overcoming an eight-point deficit with 1:18 left. Tre White’s 3 with 21 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.
  • KEY OVERTIME RUN: With the game tied at 76, Louisville went on a 10-4 run – all from the free-throw line – for its largest lead of the day at 86-80.
  • UofL shot 25 of 56 (45%) from the field, 4 of 20 (20%) from 3-point range, and 36 of 49 (73%) from the free-throw line.
  • New Mexico State went 9 of 17 (53%) from the free-throw line.
  • The Cardinals’ 36 free throws made and 49 attempts were the most since Nov. 8, 2018, against Nicholls.
  • Skyy Clark set a new career-high in points with 29 to lead all scorers, netting 15 of 16 shots at the charity stripe. He also logged four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
  • Ty-Laur Johnson was effective with 10 points and matched his career-highs with six assists and two rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
  • Tre White surpassed his career high in points with 22 and added six rebounds, three steals and an assist.
  • J.J. Traynor also topped his career high in points, scoring 20 off the bench, along with nine rebounds, and an assist.

Bellarmine

  • Bellarmine returns to the KFC Yum! Center after pulling off a 67-66 win over the Cardinals last season in downtown Louisville for the program's first win over a Power 5 team.
  • Garrett Tipton was Bellarmine's leading scorer against Louisville last season with 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting. The Preseason All-ASUN selection has returned for a sixth season with the Knights. The second-leading scorer for BU against the Cardinals, Bash Wieland, who had 13 points, is also back.
  • Louisville will be BU's only ACC opponent this season. The Knights last season played at Louisville, at Clemson (L, 76-66) and at Duke (L, 74-57).
  • BU head coach Scott Davenport is a 1978 graduate of UofL. He served nine years as an assistant at UofL under Hall of Fame coaches Denny Crum and Rick Pitino from 1996-2005 before starting at BU in the 2005-06 season.
  • Half of the Knights' first eight games will come against Power 5 opponents. They previously faced the Pac-12's Washington and the Big 12's Kansas State and West Virginia. Following tonight's game, they will still have Power 5 contests remaining at Utah (Pac-12) and at BYU (Big 12) leading into Christmas break.
  • As far as challenging non-conference road games, Bellarmine is simply continuing a theme. In 2020-21, the Knights made their DI-era debut at Duke and played at Notre Dame. In 2021- 22, they opened at Purdue and also played at St. Mary's, Gonzaga and WVU along with a neutral-site game against UCLA. Last season, BU opened at Louisville and played at Clemson, Duke, UCLA and Kentucky.
  • Bellarmine played West Virginia down to the wire on Sunday night. The visiting Knights held the lead with less than 11 minutes left and were within one at 51-50 with 4:43 to go, but a 7-1 WVU run helped the Mountaineers stave off BU's upset bid.
  • Undersized Bellarmine hung with West Virginia on the boards. The Knights finished at only minus-3 and they had a 12-7 advantage in offensive rebounds, with second-chance points even at 9.
  • Peter Suder led Bellarmine with 19 points against West Virginia, and the sophomore guard previously had 21 against Chattanooga.

(Photo of Skyy Clark: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports)

You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:

Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report

You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter

© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.