Louisville suffered a significant setback on the road Sunday, falling to Memphis 98-78 after squandering a substantial early lead.
The Cardinals held an 18-point advantage during the first half and maintained an 11-point cushion at the break, “according to Yahoo Sports.”
The game marked a major turnaround for the unranked Tigers, who outscored their opponents 57-26 in the second half to secure the victory.
This result stands as the fourth-largest comeback by an unranked team against an AP top 10 opponent in the last 15 years, “as reported by Yahoo Sports.”
Memphis dominated the floor after halftime, shooting over 70 percent from the field.
Jayden Reid propelled the Tigers with 24 points and 10 assists, while teammate Tylik Weeks also contributed 24 points, 18 of which occurred in the second half.
Despite the offensive avalanche, Seth Trimble provided a steady performance for Louisville, recording 16 points, two steals, and two blocks.
Jackson Shelstad matched Trimble with 16 points, though he struggled to maintain momentum after the intermission.
The loss represents a difficult start to the season for Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey, whose team is widely viewed as a potential Final Four contender.
Critics noted that the Cardinals appeared less composed and less aggressive than their rivals during the pivotal second-half stretch.
The defensive performance proved particularly concerning, as the team allowed 98 points to a Memphis squad playing without its second-leading scorer.
The Cardinals were expected to prioritize defensive intensity this season, but the team failed to reach even an average level of play on that end of the court, “per Yahoo Sports.”
With the loss behind them, the team must now look toward three critical upcoming games in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving week.
Coaches and analysts alike emphasize that these matches will be essential for the team to regain its footing early in the season.