Nov 9, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) steals the ball from Louisville Cardinals forward James Scott (0) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images / Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

The Cards hosted the No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers at the KFC Yum! Center and were beaten 77-55. Poor shooting from beyond the 3-point arc was one of the main issues Louisville had in the defeat. They ended up making 10 threes but shot 38 of them making for an abysmal 28.3 3-point shooting percentage.

So when Kelsey reassured his players Saturday the sky was not falling, he had receipts. Tennessee was too much for the Cardinals – too physical, too resourceful, too resilient. Though the visitors committed 20 turnovers – and U of L last lost a game when forcing 20 turnovers in 2014 -- they scored the game’s first 10 points and would henceforth never lead by fewer than six points.