Louisville basketball's 2025-26 season is just hours from tip-off, and the Cards fans are buzzing with excitement. The city hasn't had this much hype going into a basketball season in a long time, and thanks to Pat Kelsey, Louisville is back and better than ever.
Louisville played two preseason games, and the vibe heading into game one tonight is high. The Cardinals learned a lot about themselves after the two preseason games, as the team continues to work on developing team chemistry. There are a lot of new faces, as well as some key returners. After the two preseason games, some stepped up, while others were less impressive.
So, with the season just hours away from tipping off, here are two Louisville Cardinals stocks rising, and two that are falling before the season opener.
2 Louisville Cardinals stocks rising, 2 that are falling before regular season debut
4. Rising: Mikel Brown Jr.
Mikel Brown Jr. bounced back in the best way possible from his underwhelming performance against Kansas. Against Bucknell, the 5-star freshman showed how high his ceiling is by splashing eight 3-pointers, including a buzzer-beater to end the first half.
Brown was weaving through the lanes and showcasing his playmaking abilities, but it was his shooting that blew the fans away. He was splashing them from well beyond the arc and with ease, too. He finished the game with 28 points while shooting 73 percent from the 3-point line, and added six assists and four rebounds.
The 5-star phenom is going to be a star this upcoming season, and Louisville fans cannot wait to see how far he will take the Cardinals in the 2025-26 season.