Exhibitions are over, and the regular season is here. Louisville basketball will take the hardwood, ranked No. 11 in the AP Top 25 poll, and this city is buzzing with excitement.
After two exhibition games, in which the Cardinals went 1-1, they will take on South Carolina State in their season opener. Fans will pack the KFC Yum! Center and get a look at their squad in real action, and get a first glimpse of what the rotation honestly will look like for Pat Kelsey and his Cardinals. It will be interesting to see what coach Kelsey took away from the exhibition games and how the team will adjust.
With the Cardinals taking the floor this evening, here is how fans can watch the game and a prediction.
How to watch South Carolina State vs Louisville basketball
Louisville and South Carolina State will tip off Monday, Nov. 3, at 9 p.m. local time at the KFC Yum! Center. The season opener will air on the ACC Network.
Series History
These two teams are practically new to each other, as they have had an infrequent history of series. The history of this matchup dates back so far that there is limited information available. The last meeting took place in 1982, when the Cardinals picked up a victory. Louisville basketball will look to set the tone in this rare matchup and establish its dominance early in the game.
Prediction
The Cardinals will blow out the Bulldogs and show why they are one of the top favorites to win it all. This team will unleash its offensive firepower and demonstrate its capabilities early in the game, and the stars are going to take over.
Louisville's 5-star freshman standout Mikel Brown Jr. will show the world why he deserves all the hype and prove to NBA scouts that he is ready for the big leagues. He put up 28 points and collected six assists in the Cardinals’ last exhibition game, which included eight 3-pointers. The Bulldogs will be no match for the freshman phenom. Look for Brown to drop at least 20-plus points and five or more assists.
Kelsey has emphasized how he wants his team to shoot 3s, and they will continue to do so. They have demonstrated their ability to get up many shots and proved they have the shooters to drain shots from beyond the arc. The combination of transfers Isaac McKneely and Ryan Conwell, along with Brown, will carry the load of the offense and splash plenty of 3-pointers. The overall talent on this Cardinals team will be too much as they rout the Bulldogs.
Prediction: Louisville 91 South Carolina State 66
What's next for Louisville
Louisville will host Jackson State on Nov. 6 at the KFC Yum! Center in its second game of the regular season.