Louisville basketball (1-0) is gearing up for a major challenge this Saturday when they host No. 12 Tennessee (1-0) at the KFC Yum! Center. The matchup, which tips off at 12 p.m. EST, presents a prime opportunity for first-year head coach Pat Kelsey to notch a signature win early in the 2024-25 season.
Tennessee, coming off an Elite Eight appearance last spring, will bring a tough and experienced squad to Louisville. Despite some early-season injury concerns — including a lingering hip injury to key forward Felix Okpara — the Volunteers are a dangerous team, led by the backcourt duo of Chaz Lanier and SEC Defensive Player of the Year Zakai Zeigler.
For the Cardinals, Kelsey knows that limiting fouls and controlling the pace will be crucial. Louisville has struggled with foul trouble in its first few games, which could be significant against a team like Tennessee that capitalizes at the free-throw line. Kelsey is also 1-13 against top 25 teams as a head coach, with his only win coming against No. 18 Saint Mary’s on Nov. 11, 2019 while coaching Winthrop.
The Cards will need a big performance from Kasean Pryor, who leads the team in both points (18.0) and rebounds (12.0), and standout freshman Aboubacar Traore, who is already making an impact on defense.
While the Volunteers are the higher-ranked team, Louisville has a fighting chance. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Cards just a 36.3% chance to win. With a rowdy home crowd behind them and a chance to make a statement early in the season, the Cards will look to challenge the Vols and potentially crack the AP Top 25 with an upset victory.
This article appears in Nov 4-19, 2024.
