Louisville basketball dominated this afternoon to earn its fourth win of the 2025-26 season. The Bobcats stuck around for a bit longer than Louisville fans would have liked, but after a 9-0 run in the second half, Louisville ran the Bobcats out of the gym by winning 106-81.
The Cards are 4-0 for the first time since 2020, and will be ranked inside the top 10 in the next AP Polls. So, with the city of Louisville buzzing with excitement around this basketball program, let's take a deep dive into five immediate observations after Louisville's win over Ohio.
5. Adrian Wooley steps up
Cardinals fans have been waiting for the game Adrian Wooley steps up off the bench, and this afternoon he gave some impressive minutes. Wooley got off to a hot start as he scored eight points in the first half, including two made 3-pointers. The Kennessaw State transfer showcased his abilities to shoot from beyond the arc the entire game, finishing with 11 points, 6 rebounds, including 4 offensive rebounds, 1 block, and 1 steal, and his two made 3-pointers.
Wooley is going to be a key player off this bench, and him earning his season high tonight is a good sign for Louisville moving forward. Wooley has to continue to grow confidence and be more comfortable, and tonight it looked like the 5-star transfer is beginning to find his role.
4. Cardinals best shooting performance of season so far
Louisville continues to shine beyond the arc. The Cardinals' backcourt dominated the 3-point line as Louisville fans saw Isaac McKneely step up and splash four made 3-pointers. Also joining the party is, of course, Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. as the deadly duo added six made 3-pointers, and Adrian Wooley added two off the bench.
Louisville as a team made a total of 16 3-pointers, which is a season high, and they achieved this while shooting a season-high 46 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals are going to be one of the best shooting teams in the nation, and today's impressive shooting performance is a testament to that.
3. Isaac McKneely has massive showing
Isaac McKneely had his best game as a Cardinal so far this afternoon. The sharpshooter not only logged 15 points, but he also splashed four 3-pointers at 40 percent. The Virginia transfer showed a lot of promise tonight as he dominated both ends of the floor and was aggressive the entire game.
McKneely was splashing 3's in transition, making plays on the defensive side, and finishing at the rim through contact. McKneely was all over this afternoon and was a key reason Louisville broke this game open, as he proved this afternoon that he is much more than just a sharpshooter. If Louisville can get this aggressiveness from McKneely, then this team is going to cause nightmares for the ACC and the rest of the league. Everyone knows his ability to shoot, but tonight he showcases his defensive skills and ability to attack the rim.
2. Mikel Brown Jr. shows his playmaking abilities
Mikel Brown Jr. finished with 19 points, but it was his unselfishness that stood out. The 5-star guard was weaving through the lane and finding his teammates throughout the entire game. Brown Jr. once again played his pace the entire game and was the floor general for Pat Kelsey, and he was able to log seven assists this afternoon.
Brown Jr. drew a lot of attention this afternoon, and the 5-star was able to showcase his ability to read the court and get teammates open. He stayed aggressive, attacking the rim and Ohio's defense, but rather than forcing bad shots, he played at his pace and got the ball to an open teammate. Brown Jr. is a rare 5-star who is bought into Kelsey and his culture, and his unselfishness and playmaking is going to take this team far into March.
1. Louisville's offense is red-hot
The Cardinals are a dominant offensive team. Louisville has scored 96 points or more in every game and has scored 100 points or more in three games. It is only four games into the season, and Louisville's three 100-point games are the most 100-point performances in an entire season in 15 years.
Louisville is seeing Conwell and Brown Jr. continue to take over as the two guards led Louisville with a combined 43 points. The Cardinals also saw Sananda Fru step up and go 6-6 from the free throw line, which is a great sign, and finished with 14 points. All five of Louisville's starters finished with 10 points or more, and Wooley joined the party as well, finishing with 11 points off the bench. This team is dominant on the offensive side, and through four games, it is exceeding expectations.