Louisville basketball made their NCAA Tournament return this afternoon after going six years without an appearance. The Cardinals had one of the best seasons in the nation and came in ranked No. 10 in the AP Polls.
However, they received an 8-seed. Yes, the Cardinals are ranked No. 10 overall, but an 8-seed. Nearly every expert but the committee projected Louisville to be around a 5-seed or 6-seed. This is the first time in AP Polls history that a team ranked in their top 10 entering the NCAA Tournament is an 8-seed or lower.
Louisville is in the South region and is going toe-to-toe with the Big East Tournament runner-ups, the Creighton Bluejays. The Cardinals came out hot on the offensive side, but then their glaring weakness was starting to impact the game.
It took 10 minutes for Creighton to expose Louisville basketball's glaring weakness
Louisville basketball's defense looks dead. The Cardinals' height difference is a glaring weakness in this game, causing Creighton to dominate the paint and from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals gave up 16 points in the paint in the first 10 minutes of this game, while the Bluejays were shooting 53 percent from the floor. Guard Steven Ashworth is leading Creighton, scoring 13 points in the first half, including three threes.
The Bluejays secured a 12-0 run in the first half, putting Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals on their heels. The Bluejays' size difference was a glaring factor in this first half as Creighton's star center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, finished the first half with 7 points and two rebounds. Bluejays forward Jamiya Neal would finish with 12 points and seven rebounds while splashing two threes.
Louisville's basketball defense is getting challenged in this first half, and Kelsey must start flipping the rotation. The Bluejays shooters are torching Louisville from the outside, and when Creighton runs a pick-and-roll, the Cardinals look lost every time.
The Bluejay's game-changing run would go on for over four minutes, leading to a 19-2 run in the first half, and Creighton would go up by 20. Creighton was blazing hot in the first half from beyond the arc as they splashed nine threes while shooting 54 percent from downtown. If the Cardinals want to save their season, Pat Kelsey must make a change on the defensive side. Hepburn and Hadley have to step up and force turnovers. James Scott has to have a better rim presence, and the Cardinals must play better around the perimeter.
On the offensive side, the jitters are as clear as day. The Cardinals' inexperience around this time of the year is showing, and Pat Kelsey must calm his team down. Louisville was seen hitting the side of the backboard and airballing multiple shots in the first half.
If Louisville wants to pull off this 20-point comeback, the Cardinal's perimeter and paint defense must be better in the second half. Chucky Hepburn can only do so much on the offensive side. Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals will need to start playing their game.
Louisville is looking for its first NCAA Tournament win since 2017.