The No. 11 Louisville Cardinals defeated the No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks in a thrilling 89-83 exhibition win. Louisville fans got to see their new Cardinals squad in action for the first time, and it did not disappoint.
Louisville's 5-star freshman is already making a strong case to start for Pat Kelsey
Of course, Louisville has areas to clean up, like free throws, but for the most part, this was a game that Cardinals fans turned their TV off to and were impressed by. Kelsey added 11 players this offseason, and in their first game together, they won on the road in a tough environment against the No. 17 team in the nation.
There is a lot to talk about, and for the most part, a lot of it is good. So, with Louisville’s thrilling exhibition win, we wanted to break down the three biggest winners from the Cardinals' win over Kansas.
4 Louisville winners from the Cardinals win over Kansas
Jackson Shelstad
The Cardinals' leading scorer was Jackson Shelstad, the 4-star transfer from Oregon. The former 5-star point guard proved why he is such an elite offensive player, scoring 23 points on 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Shelstad hit pull-ups off the dribble, impressive step-backs, and catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, and was Kelsey’s general on the floor.
Shelstad had a very strong debut and proved why he has a good chance to be the Cardinals' leading scorer this season.
Obinna Ekezie Jr.
The Cardinals' 5-star freshman was sensational last night. Ekezie was everywhere and impressed everyone. Not only did the 7-foot-2 freshman show he can be an elite rim protector, finishing with five blocks, but he also proved he is a threat from beyond the arc, hitting four 3-pointers on six attempts. Ekezie finished with 16 points in just 19 minutes, and immediatley turned heads nationwide.
This Cardinals frontcourt could be one of the best in the nation if Ekezie keeps this up, as playing next to Flory Bidunga would give opposing teams nightmares.
De'Shayne Montgomery
De'Shayne Montgomery continues to impress Louisville fans. The 4-star transfer was the Cardinals' biggest sleeper addition this offseason, but he continues to prove he will be a huge bench option for Kelsey. The Dayton transfer added 10 points off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting and 1-of-2 from downtown. The two-way guard brings much-needed depth to Kelsey’s backcourt and is an explosive bench option. At 6-foot-4, Montgomery can finish at the rim, shoot from beyond the arc, and be a pest on defense, as he averaged 2.1 steals per game last year.
Montgomery will be a crucial piece for Louisville this season and could emerge as one of the Cardinals' X-factors. Louisville needed a reliable two-way guard off the bench and he is emerging as just that.
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