Louisville, ranked #11, will need to put together a slightly better performance against Morehead State than what it showed in Monday night’s 84-70 victory over Chattanooga. The Cardinals got off to a red-hot start, making 10 of their first 12 shots, but cooled off considerably in the second half. Louisville shot just 29% from the field (9-for-31) after halftime and managed only 28 points. The Cardinals will also need to be more efficient at the free-throw line after converting just 15 of their 26 attempts.
Morehead State could have trouble generating offense in this matchup, especially if it looks to slow the tempo and limit Louisville’s possessions. The Cardinals prefer to play at a faster pace, and even if Morehead State manages to slow things down, it will need to consistently get stops to stay competitive. Louisville has a clear advantage in size, talent and athleticism, with multiple players capable of scoring in transition, attacking the basket and creating their own shots. While the Cardinals struggled after halftime against Chattanooga, it was their first game of the season, and they entered the break with a 21-point lead. All five Louisville starters reached double-figures, and Jackson Shelstad, Seth Trimble and Flory Bidunga give the Cardinals plenty of offensive firepower to overwhelm Morehead State over the full 40 minutes.
Morehead State vs Louisville prediction: Louisville -36.5 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.
