Louisville Cardinals Edged Out by DePaul Blue Demons at Wintrust Arena
The Louisville Cardinals faced a challenging contest at Wintrust Arena, ending with a 68-75 defeat against the DePaul Blue Demons. The Cardinals now stand with a record of 0-1, while the Blue Demons have marked their first victory, moving to 1-0.
The game was closely contested, with the lead changing hands five times and the score tied on three occasions. Despite the competitive nature of the match-up, it was ultimately DePaul's more efficient shooting that made the difference. The home team shot an impressive 51 percent from the field compared to Louisville's 40 percent and outperformed them in two-point percentage as well, hitting at a rate of 65 percent.
The Cardinals did put up strong numbers in several areas. They managed to secure nine steals over DePaul's five and blocked three shots during play. Their effort on fast breaks yielded them 13 points, showcasing their ability to capitalize on quick transitions.
Louisville also demonstrated resilience under pressure by scoring 17 points off turnovers and grabbing eight offensive rebounds which led to 15 second-chance points. However, they struggled beyond the arc with only five three-pointers made from nineteen attempts—a mere 26 percent success rate.
On individual performances for Louisville, their players fought hard in both halves but were particularly assertive in the second half where they scored nearly double their first-half total—46 points compared to just 22 before halftime.
Conversely, DePaul showcased balanced scoring across both halves and capitalized on their free throw opportunities by making seventeen out of twenty-four attempts (71 percent). Their defensive prowess was highlighted by seven blocks and they edged out Louisville in total rebounds with thirty-six against thirty-two for the visiting team.
As for discipline on court, personal fouls were frequent for both sides; however it was more problematic for Louisville who had two players foul out compared to none for DePaul. This may have impacted rotations and strategies as they navigated through these challenges without key personnel at critical moments.
Looking ahead after this tough loss on foreign ground, fans can look forward to seeing how Louisville will regroup when they return home. The next game is scheduled against Arkansas State Red Wolves at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville on December 13th at 8:00 PM Eastern Time. Fans can catch this upcoming matchup live nationally on ACC Network channel six hundred twelve.