Cardinals Open 113th Season Monday Night - University of Louisville Athletic

Monday, November 2

Louisville, Ky.

9 p.m.

University of Louisville

Chattanooga

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Karter Knox dunks the ball during the game against Mercyhurst at the KFC YUM! Center on October 28.

Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics

November 01, 2026 | Men's Basketball

Louisville Game Notes Chattanooga Game Notes Pat Kelsey Press Conference

Louisville is set to play Chattanooga at 9 p.m. ET following the women’s game at the KFC Yum! Center

By: Dana Brown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball begins its 113th season on Monday night, opening up the 2026-27 year against Chattanooga in the KFC Yum! Center. The game will be televised on ACC Network beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

The Cardinals won both of their exhibition games heading into this season, including an 89-83 victory at Kansas and a 71-39 win against Mercyhurst.

Louisville is 6-6 all-time against Chattanooga. The two programs last played in 2023 when the Mocs snapped a five-game winning streak for the Cards. UofL head coach Pat Kelsey is 2-0 in his career against Chattanooga.

GAME 1
Listen: Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 FM & WGTK 970 AM flagship);
Streaming (Paul Rogers, pxp | Bob Valvano, analysis)
Watch: ACC Network (Wes Durham, pxp | Debbie Antonelli, analysis)
Live Stats: Louisville Statbroadcast

CARDINAL NOTES

A trio of Cardinals have been named to the Naismith Starting 5 Preseason Watch Lists: Jackson Shelstad to the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award, Seth Trimble to the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award and Flory Bidunga to the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.
Junior forward Flory Bidunga was one of 20 players named to the NABC Player of the Year
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.