Wednesday night Louisville hosted their only exhibition game of the 2026-2027 season in the KFC Yum! Center with the Mercyhurst Lakers from the Northeast Conference invading. Mercyhurst made the jump to the conference and Division 1 in 2024.
Just prior to tipoff it was announced that Louisville center Gabe Dynes underwent shoulder surgery and would be out for four months. The 7’5” transfer from USC was one of the more intriguing roster pieces for The Ville based on height and rim presence alone.
The loss of Dynes did not make too much of a difference in the exhibition as Louisville cruised past Mercyhurst 71-39 on Wednesday night. The Cards put an extra emphasis on building a strong defensive roster after the first two years of the Pat Kelsey era were predicated on up-tempo high volume shooting teams. Tonight, that was put on display as The Ville only shot 13 three-point attempts (2-13). 56 of Louisville’s 71 points came in the paint. Mercyhurst was held under 40 points (21 in the first half, 18 in the second half.)…