Box Score
Kentucky Wesleyan coach Happy Osborne remarked earlier in the week that he didn't want to focus so much on the final score but rather his team's effort in Tuesday's exhibition against defending national champion Louisville at the KFC Yum! Center.
Osborne joked after the game that he was smart in saying that.
The Cardinals' athleticism and dominance in the paint proved to be too much for the overmatched Panthers to overcome in a 115- 67 drubbing in front of 20,288 fans.
"I thought early we got behind, then we got behind more," Osborne said. "We got behind and we fought back, came in to the half down 16. Honestly, I'm not surprised. We've been at this two weeks. New system, new coach, new assistant coaches, new players. We've been at it two weeks, they've been at it a little longer than that."
KWC fell behind early and never could respond.
Louisville opened up a 20-4 run to firmly pull ahead, 31-11, midway through the first half and led 49-33 at halftime after a late 7-2 KWC run.
The Cardinals then opened the second half with a 13-3 run, then put together a 16-5 run midway through the second half before eventually leading by as many as 50.
A major theme throughout the game, however, was the amount of fouls called on both teams. KWC was whistled for 41 team fouls and five Panthers fouled out of the game. Senior Lonnie Hayes picked up four fouls in a first half where KWC put Louisville in the bonus not even three minutes into the game.
There were 64 fouls called between the teams, due in large part to a new rule implemented this year that calls for hand checks to be called more frequently.
"Does it affect the way I want to play? Yes," Osborne said. "Personally, I think it bars the game of basketball."
Aside from the fouls, KWC didn't help itself by committing 24 turnovers and shooting 32.8 percent from the field while Louisville limited itself to 14 turnovers and shot 57.6 percent.
Five Louisville players finished in double figures, led by Montrezl Harrell's 20 points and seven rebounds.
One KWC player who impressed Osborne was freshman Ken-Jah Bosley, who finished with a team-high 21 points and six rebounds.
"He's exactly what I think he is," Osborne said. "He's going to fight you. He's a winner. The toughest kids I've got are Ken-Jah Bosley and (freshman) Freddie Young."
For Bosley, it was a chance to prove himself. The former Madison Central High School standout grew up a Louisville fan and said he felt slighted when no recruiting overtures came his way from the Cardinals.
"I was really just making shots," he said. "My teammates put me in positions to make shots. We didn't come out with a victory, which is a disappointment but we're just going to learn from this. We're a real good team. We're going to learn from this and be ready."
KWC outrebounded Louisville in the first half, 28-22, but eventually lost the battle on the glass, 51-41.
The Panthers' Lonnie Hayes finished 12 points — all in the second half — and Alex Brown had 11.
Osborne recounted one of his Georgetown teams losing by 24 to Louisville one year then propelling that into 35 straight wins.
He said his team has to look in the mirror and decide not to want to suffer a loss like this again this season.
He was realistic, however, noting the challenge his team was up against starting the season against one of the best teams in the country.
"The Cavs were busy or else we'd open with them," he joked. "The good news is we still get to cash the check."
With just two weeks of practice under their belt, Osborne said his team has plenty to work on after Tuesday's loss before KWC's season opener on Nov. 8 against Quincy.
"They've got a pretty nice team in case anybody didn't know that," he said. "It is what it is. What did we learn? ...They're my team, I'm going to believe in them, I'm going to love them, and I'm going to do my best."
