Much too early, far too early. But the University of Louisville basketball team is off and running, with an opening 109-71 exhibition win over Kentucky Wesleyan at the KFC Yum! Center.
Unfortunately the one-sided affair may say more about the demise of Wesleyan basketball than it does about what to expect from UofL during the 2016-17 season. The winner of eight Division II championships but the last one was in 2001. This alumnus was attending KWC in Owensboro when they won their first one in 1966.
Deng Adel living up to his pre-season hype, leading all scorers with 16 points on five of seven field goal attempts while connecting on all five free throw opportunities. Jaylen Johnson collecting 15 points.
What the Cardinals are going to need is someone who can hit from the outside. And the answer just could be Ryan McMahon, who is passing the look test early on — four of five field goal attempts, including three 3-point goals — with 14 points in only nine minutes in the second half.