How it happened: No. 6 Louisville cruises past NJIT 104-47
For the first time since 2019-20, No. 6 Louisville is unbeaten through the first month of the season after a 104-47 win over NJIT on Wednesday night.
It was the most prolific shooting performance of the season up until this point, as the Cards made 20-of-48 (41.7%) attempts from beyond the arc, a season-high. It’s also just two 3s shy of the school record for 3s made in a game — 22, from back in 2007. Louisville also had 32 points in the paint and got 12 points from the foul line.
Louisville had four in double-figures, including senior guard Ryan Conwell, who scorched the highlanders for a career-high eight 3-pointers and a season-best 32 points. He was also 6-of-6 from the line. The Xavier transfer continues to prove to be one of the most dependable, but also determined, scorers in the country.
Not only did Conwell score it at will, but he also had six assists, nine rebounds, and one turnover. As a team, the Cardinals moved it well enough for 24 assists on 36 made shots. 65.9 percent of Louisville’s field goals have been assisted this year, 13th-best in the nation.
After not making a field goal against Cincinnati, Isaac McKneely now has back-to-back games with 5 3s. The senior made 5-of-9 from distance against Eastern Michigan. He was 5-of-10 on Wednesday, adding 17 points.
Rounding out the starters, German center Sananda Fru provided eight points and six rebounds, and true freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr delivered a commanding offensive performance, showing balance. Brown made 3 triples and tallied seven dimes and one turnover. J’Vonne Hadley was also in double-figures with a quiet 12.
It seems like after every game, we’re saying sophomore Tuscaloosa native Adrian Wooley has played his best in the red and black. Seems like we can officially chalk up the guard’s 15-point, 5-of-6 shooting, and five-rebound performance against NJIT as the standard. He was efficient and aggressive in picking his spots, also making several key defensive plays.
It was also a total team effort on the glass, with Conwell’s nine boards. But eight different players finished the night with five or more rebounds. A testament to Louisville’s dedication to its core values on the floor. It was a 59-21 rebounding advantage, and the Cardinals scored 21 second-chance points.
An intense defensive approach is another one of Pat Kelsey’s calling cards, and again, Louisville held its opponent to under 35 percent shooting and scored 15 points off 11 turnovers.
Louisville entered Wednesday’s game as 44.5-point favorites, the largest spread and cover in school history.
The Cardinals will now have a week in between games as they head to Arkansas for the ACC/SEC Challenge and meet a pair of old “friends” on the opposing bench.
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