Pat Kelsey's starting lineup in exhibition game already has Louisville fans talking

Louisville basketball just tipped off in its first exhibition game in the Bahamas, and the Cardinals fans are already scratching their heads. The Cardinals were set to play two exhibition games this offseason in the Bahamas, but due to roster availability, they are now only playing one.

It was reported on Monday that Louisville will be without 4-star transfer from Arkansas Karter Knox and 5-star 2026 commitment Obinna Ekezie Jr. Now, as the Cardinals are underway in the Bahamas, Louisville fans are a bit shocked by the Cards' starting lineup.

Adrian Wooley comes off the bench in Louisville's exhibition game

Pat Kelsey added nine players this offseason and brought back one key player, and when looking at this starting lineup, Louisville fans are a little stunned. Everyone knew Jackson Shelstad was going to start at point guard, Alvaro Folgueiras was going to start at power forward, and Flory Bidunga was going to start at center, but what many didn’t expect was London Johnson starting over Adrian Wooley.

The Cardinals' starting five is rounded out by the former NBA G-League guard and the Dayton transfer, De'Shayne Montgomery, which means Kelsey is bringing Wooley off the bench.

Wooley returning to Louisville was a huge addition to the Cardinals, as the former 5-star transfer is expected to be a key piece this upcoming season. Many assumed the combo guard would start for Louisville this afternoon as the Cardinals' starting shooting guard; however, that is not what happened.

The 5-star transfer from Kennesaw State ranked No. 9 overall and No. 2 among combo guards last offseason. He dominated his true freshman season, averaging 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Last year for Louisville, Wooley averaged 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. His best games were late in the season when he hit the game-winning 3-pointer against Miami and finished with 15 points on 55.6 percent shooting, and when he scored 17 points in the NCAA Tournament against Michigan State while shooting 70 percent from the field.

Louisville fans were hoping Wooley would take that leap this upcoming season, but with him coming off the bench behind Johnson, it has Cardinals fans raising eyebrows early. Louisville fans are trying not to overthink in late July, and maybe it was just Kelsey trying a different lineup, but this was not the starting lineup many Cards fans were expecting.

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