Louisville Returns Home for Final Tune Up - University of Louisville Athletic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball is set to take Denny Crum Court for the very first time this season in its final exhibition tune up on Wednesday evening. The Cardinals will face Mercyhurst at the KFC Yum! Center at 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on ACCNX.

UofL returns to the friendly confines of the KFC Yum! Center after spending last Wednesday in the hostile and historic Allen Fieldhouse. The Cardinals walked away with an 89-83 exhibition win over the Jayhawks.

EXHIBITION GAME 2
Listen: Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 FM & WGTK 970 AM flagship);
Streaming (Nick Curran, pxp | Bob Valvano, analysis)
Watch: ACCNX (Kent Taylor, pxp | Larry O'Bannon, analysis)
Live Stats: Louisville Statbroadcast

CARDINAL NOTES

On Monday, senior guard Jackson Shelstad was selected to the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List.
On Tuesday, fifth year guard Seth Trimble was picked for the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List.
Louisville was No. 11 in the Preseason AP Poll and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Cardinals return 10.3% of their scoring (305 of 2,949 points), 10.5% of their rebounding (407 of 1,342 boards), 10.4% of their assists (62 of 597) and 11.39% of their minutes played (797 of 7,000). Junior Adrian Wooley is the only scholarship player to return for Louisville as 13 players departed and head coach Pat Kelsey added 11 newcomers.
Louisville has six guaranteed opponents in the AP Preseason Poll, with two more receiving votes.
The Cardinals landed two players on the Preseason All-ACC Teams. Reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Flory Bidunga earned the First Team nod while guard Jackson Shelstad was picked to the second team. Louisville was picked third overall in the league by voting media members.
Louisville has two players from the Class of 2022 that are seeking a fifth year of eligibility via the legal system. Both Seth Trimble and LJ Wells are temporarily and currently eligible as of a court ruling in Jefferson County, Kentucky on Friday, October 16. Louisville is one of 10 Division I programs with multiple Class of 2022, 5 for 5 players on its roster.
There are three Cardinals, junior Karter Knox, fifth-year Seth Trimble and freshman Obinna Ekezie Jr., who have relatives that were drafted in the NBA.
After being named ACC Coach of the Year in 2025, head coach Pat Kelsey joined an elite group of now eight active head coaches that have won the Coach of the Year distinction for three or more DI conferences. Kelsey was named Big South COY in 2021 and CAA COY in 2024 before being hired at Louisville.
Louisville is 50-0 under head coach Pat Kelsey when leading with five minutes to play.

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Players Mentioned

Flory Bidunga

Obinna Ekezie Jr.

Karter Knox

Jackson Shelstad

Seth Trimble

LJ Wells

Adrian Wooley

University of Louisville Athletics