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Predicting the starters in Louisville’s first exhibition game

By Caleb Hall

An image of Kenny Payne is seen on the giant scorers screen before the Cards take on visiting Western Kentucky. Payne finally got his first win as head coach for Louisville as the Cards fight to beat WKU 94-83 at the Yum! Center in downtown Louisville Wednesday night. Dec. 14, 2022Louisville Men Vs Western Kentucky Basketball 2022
An image of Kenny Payne is seen on the giant scorers screen before the Cards take on visiting Western Kentucky. Payne finally got his first win as head coach for Louisville as the Cards fight to beat WKU 94-83 at the Yum! Center in downtown Louisville Wednesday night. Dec. 14, 2022Louisville Men Vs Western Kentucky Basketball 2022 /
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Louisville guard Tre White, left, reacts with Mike James as teammate Skyy Clark walks away at the Red-White scrimmage game at the KFC Yum! Center Oct. 11, 2023. White and Clark have both played together since the ninth grade.
Louisville guard Tre White, left, reacts with Mike James as teammate Skyy Clark walks away at the Red-White scrimmage game at the KFC Yum! Center Oct. 11, 2023. White and Clark have both played together since the ninth grade. /

Who will Kenny Payne start in Louisville’s first exhibition game?

Kenny Payne has not decided which players he will start for Louisville when talking about the exhibition game against Simmons College tonight. It is not completely a given who will start in this game, but these exhibition games are also games to figure out which players may stand out over others, and the lineup may change between now and November.

Payne brought in a bunch of new players while also retaining some of the bright spots of last season. Guys like Mike James, JJ Traynor, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield will certainly be important players in this team. But the fact that Payne hasn’t solidified their spot in the starting lineup does worry me.

Not only will Payne have to establish a starting lineup of returning players, but the new ones that are coming in too. Dennis Evans and Skyy Clark are the big names, but guys like Kaleb Glenn, Koron Davis, and Ty-Laur Johnson deserve some recognition as well.

Payne needs to instill this team with confidence going into this game. Anything less than a 10 point win would be embarrassing for the Cardinals, and a win would just be signaling this team in the right direction.

We won’t know the starting lineup until the start of the game, but here’s my predictions for who Kenny Payne will have starting the game for Louisville.

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