Louisville basketball falls to D-II Kentucky Wesleyan in exhibition

Louisville basketball won just 4 games all of last season. And though it doesn’t count, the Cardinals are not off to a fantastic start to Year 2 under HC Kenny Payne.

The Cardinals fell 71-68 in an exhibition matchup against D-II Kentucky Wesleyan at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville.

And this isn’t a championship caliber D-II team, though that wouldn’t really make this loss any better. Kentucky Wesleyan was picked to finish 8th in their league this season and finished last year just 3-12 away from home.

Not ideal.

Final from our second exhibition:

Louisville 68
Kentucky Wesleyan 71

— Louisville Men’s Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) October 31, 2023

As previously mentioned, Louisville went 4-28 last season with zero road wins and only 2 wins against Power 5 opponents. Jae’Lyn Withers and El Ellis, the Cardinals’ top 2 players, transferred out of the program following the season.

A reminder that at one point in 2019, Louisville was ranked No. 1 in the entire country. The Cardinals’ season starts for real on Monday, Nov. 6 against UMBC.

Let’s hear it, Kentucky fans.

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.