Mikel Brown Jr. Leads Louisville to 99-76 Exhibition Win Over Bucknell

In their final exhibition game before the regular season, the No. 11 Louisville Cardinals defeated Bucknell 99-76, showcasing a strong performance particularly from freshman point guard Mikel Brown Jr., who scored a game-high 28 points with impressive shooting accuracy. Brown bounced back from a poor performance against Kansas by hitting 8-of-11 three-pointers and contributing six assists, signaling his maturity and preparation as praised by coach Pat Kelsey. Virginia transfer Isaac McKneely also played a key role, scoring 18 points and making 6-of-9 shots from beyond the arc. Louisville's offense excelled with a 50% shooting rate from three-point range, with seven players contributing to the team's long-range shooting success. Despite the strong offensive display, the frontcourt remained a concern, as key big men Sananda Fru and Vangelis Zougris struggled with limited playing time and poor stats against mid-major competition. Overall, Louisville demonstrated significant improvement from their previous game, setting a promising tone as they enter the regular season.