Louisville basketball fell to the Kansas Jayhawks last night, 90-82, spoiling the long-awaited debut for this 2025-26 team. The Cardinals added elite players this offseason and entered the year with high expectations, but the fans unfortunately saw poor shooting and a sloppy game with over 20 turnovers.
Louisville has some areas to improve, like staying in control, taking good shots, and interior defense, but at the end of the day, it was just an exhibition game, and it helps this team out tremendously. Some fans may be overreacting to the Cardinals' loss, but this team has the potential and the skill to be one of the best teams in the nation, and getting gut-punched last night gives them that sour taste in their mouth that they don't want to feel again.
Immediately after the game, we compared this loss to last season's Tennessee loss, and it appears the team reacted the same way. And so the vets and key returners are stepping up and taking on the leadership, and J'Vonne Hadley is letting the fans know they are going to be alright.
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J’Vonne Hadley sends clear message to Louisville basketball fans
Last year, Louisville got blown out by Tennessee early in the season. It was just the second game of the year, and the Cardinals were inexperienced, with 12 new faces on the roster. They lost 77-55, but after that loss, Kelsey stated multiple times that it was that blowout that set that Cardinals team up for their historic run.
Louisville, of course, went on to have the biggest comeback season in program history and won the most conference games in program history. They finished 27-8 and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over five years. Now, Louisville just got beaten handily in an exhibition game by Kansas, and when Hadley was asked about it, he made it clear there are similarities to last year's loss to Tennessee.
"It's a learning experience, especially playing another top 25 team early," Hadley stated on the importance of last night's game. "All the guys that were here last year, we had talked about everything that happened last year. We got punched early, too. It happened last year. We will be alright. We have to learn, fix ourselves, and look at ourselves in the mirror. We will be alright."
Louisville fans are, of course, a bit more concerned, but Hadley mentioned it is a learning experience multiple times and that this team needs to play more games together. This team has plenty of talent, and the shots are going to fall, but, as Hadley said, this team hates this feeling after a loss, and the best part is this was just a preseason game. So, Louisville is still 0-0, has gained huge experience, and learned the areas they need to improve.
This program showed last year resilience, grit, and fight after the Tennessee loss, and this fanbase should expect the same thing this year. This team is better than they were last year, and a loss to Kansas is a blessing in disguise. They have to take care of the ball, make shots, and can't turn the ball over. Like Hadley said, they will look themselves in the mirror and get ready for November 3.
So, let's hold off on the brakes being overreacting just yet, and let's have an eyebrow raised. Louisville’s first test didn’t go as planned, but if history tells us anything, that’s the recipe for a historic season.
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The regular season for the Cardinals will start Nov. 3 at the KFC Yum! Center, when they take on South Carolina State. For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's 2025-26 season and recruiting, stay tuned.