Louisville will look to leave its first losing season in more than two decades behind when first-year coach Kenny Payne leads the Cardinals and their seven returning players against visiting Bellarmine on Wednesday.

The Cardinals are coming off a season in which they went just 6-14 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and stumbled to a 13-19 finish, their first losing season since going 12-19 during the 2000-01 season.

But Payne, a former Louisville player and assistant coach for the New York Knicks, hopes to turn around a team that shot 67.4 percent from the free-throw line and just 30.9 percent from 3-point range. The Cardinals lost 10 games by single digits last season.

El Ellis (8.7 points per game), is the team’s top returning scorer, while forward Sydney Curry averaged 7.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. However, no other returner averaged more than six points per game.

The team is hoping transfer Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, who averaged 3.9 points and 2.9 rebounds for Tennessee, as well as four-star recruits Kamari Lands and Devin Ree, can contribute immediately.

The Cardinals didn’t play well in exhibitions against two Division II schools, following a 57-47 loss to Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 30 with an 80-73 win over Chaminade on Thursday.

“Are we ready for Bellarmine? I don’t know,” Payne said. “I know they’ll be disciplined. I know they’ll be sharp in what they’re doing. I know they’re going to throw a lot of different things.”

Bellarmine returns two starters — forward Curt Hopf (7.0 ppg, 4.2 rebounds per game) and Juston Betz (7.0 ppg, team-high 7.1 rpg), who was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Knights were picked to finish sixth in the conference’s preseason poll after winning the league’s conference tournament last year to finish 20-13.

Bellarmine used a 71-34 win over visiting Division III Centre College on Oct. 27 to prepare for its season opener against Louisville.

Guard Garrett Tipton had 15 points, while guard Bash Wieland added 14 points and seven rebounds. Guard Peter Suder posted 11 points and seven rebounds.

“I love their enthusiasm in which they played the game for each other,” Bellarmine head coach Scott Davenport said. “We talk about being unselfish in every aspect of the game and I saw that on the court.”

–Field Level Media

The best way for South Carolina to get off a good start under new coach Lamont Paris might be to bulk up on defense.

The opener comes Tuesday night at home against South Carolina State in Columbia, S.C.

“Just competitive nature all the way around,” Paris said of what he wants his program’s identity to be. “I think that normally shows itself defensively more than anything. Our competitive spirit, particularly on the defensive end.”

Such talk might sound rather mundane considering that South Carolina has the nation’s top recruit on its roster. GG Jackson will make his collegiate debut in this game.

“The biggest adjustment is the speed of the game,” Jackson said. “It’s so much faster here.”

Jackson, a 6-foot-9 forward, is a hometown product and created considerable buzz when he reclassified to enter college a year earlier than expected. He had been committed to play for North Carolina.

Paris spent the past five seasons as Chattanooga’s coach, going 87-72 with the Mocs. He brought the team to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

South Carolina went 18-13 in 2021-22, the final season under coach Frank Martin.

S.C. State is also under a new coach, with Erik Martin taking over.

“It has always been my dream to lead a Division I program as well as guide young men on and off the court as they prepare to graduate and move on to the next phase of their lives,” Martin said.

Martin spent the 16 seasons as an assistant coach under Bob Huggins, including the last 15 years at West Virginia.

S.C. State tied for last out of eight teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason poll. Guard Rahsaan Edwards of the Bulldogs was named to the conference preseason third team after averaging 8.4 points per game last year.

The Bulldogs will play 11 games before their home opener on Dec. 13 against UNC Asheville. S.C. State had a 15-16 record last season.

The Gamecocks had a preseason setback with guard Ebrima Dibba, a transfer from Coastal Carolina who suffered an Achilles injury that will keep him out for the entire season.

For the Gamecocks, this will be the first of six games played without leaving the state to begin the season, including three at the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic.

–Field Level Media

A banner season for Providence is now in the past.

After going 27-6, winning their first-ever Big East regular-season crown and earning an NCAA Tournament at-large bid, the Friars will begin a new campaign Tuesday against visiting Rider.

Reigning Naismith Coach of the Year Ed Cooley’s roster lists 14 players, eight of whom are newcomers. Seven became Friars as transfers.

“When you look at chemistry, it’s valuing what we do well and understanding our weaknesses so we can come together and try to improve,” Cooley said. “Chemistry is everything to me. If you have that, you’re going to give yourself an opportunity to have success.”

Leading the way will be graduate point guard Jared Bynum, whose 15.6 points per Big East game were the fifth-most in the league.

A former Saint Joseph’s (Pa.) transfer, Bynum became the first Big East player in 25 years to record three 25-point games off the bench in the same season.

In the new season, he will be the go-to man.

“Last year is last year, something good to talk about and look back on,” Bynum said. “But we have to focus on now, not the past.”

Kentucky transfer forward Bryce Hopkins has assimilated nicely. He had 14 and 17 points in exhibition wins over Division II American International and Assumption, respectively.

After upsetting top-seeded Iona, Rider’s 2021-22 season ended in its first MAAC semifinal since 2011. It finished 14-19 (8-12 MAAC).

The Broncs return four starters and 74 percent of their scoring from a season ago, led by Dwight Murray Jr., who logged 13.1 points and a league-leading 4.7 assists per game. Murray, Mervin James and Allen Powell were all selected to All-MAAC preseason teams.

“We’ve got some returning guys that still have that fire,” coach Kevin Baggett said. “Now, we’ve got to get all the other guys who are new … going and understanding the sense of urgency this year.”

Three transfers have Division I experience, including forward Allen Betrand, who missed last season at Rhode Island with an ACL tear.

All-time, the Friars are 84-11 in season openers and 4-1 against Rider. The teams last met in 2017.

–Field Level Media

Texas Tech transfer Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 24 points, Coleman Hawkins had 23 and No. 23 Illinois clamped down on Eastern Illinois with swarming defense in an 87-57 victory Monday night in Champaign, Ill.

Shannon made 13 of 15 free throws and added eight rebounds. Hawkins scored 18 points in the first half with five 3-pointers. Dain Dainja came off the bench to post 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and 10 rebounds.

Hawkins had a game-high 12 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 5.9 points per game last year but showcased his scoring potential in a lineup loaded with new blood.

Kinyon Hodges led the Panthers with 14 points and five rebounds and Yaakema Rose had 10 points and four rebounds for Eastern Illinois.

Illinois kept its pressure defense on until the final minute and forced 18 turnovers while limiting the Panthers to 35 percent shooting (21 of 60).

Shannon converted an old-fashioned three-point play as part of an 8-0 run that put the Illini ahead 63-41 with 12:40 remaining.

Fellow transfer Matthew Mayer (Baylor) had seven points and four rebounds and freshman point guard Skyy Clark had three points, one assist and five turnovers in 23 minutes.

Illinois built a 15-point lead at halftime with six blocks — two from 6-foot-7 sophomore RJ Melendez — and a 27-14 advantage on the boards. The Illini went on to win the rebounding battle 53-30.

–Field Level Media

Preseason All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis recorded 15 points and seven rebounds to help No. 13 Indiana cruise to an 88-53 victory over visiting Morehead State in the season opener for both teams Monday at Bloomington, Ind.

Malik Reneau also scored 15 points in his college debut as Indiana improved to 6-0 all-time against Morehead State. Jordan Geronimo added 10 points for the Hoosiers.

Mark Freeman scored 14 points in the first half for Morehead State but sat out the second with a twisted ankle. Drew Thelwell added 11 for the Eagles, who committed 21 turnovers to Indiana’s 10.

The Hoosiers shot 61 percent from the field, including 4 of 11 (36.4 percent) from 3-point range, and led by as many as 37 points.

Morehead State connected on 37 percent of its shots and 9 of 30 from behind the arc.

Jackson-Davis scored 13 first-half points to help the Hoosiers hold a 41-29 lead. Morehead State was hurt by 13 turnovers.

Indiana led 16-9 after a dunk by Jackson-Davis before Morehead State scored the next eight points. Freeman capped the run to give the Eagles a 17-16 edge with 12 minutes to go in the half.

Tamar Bates scored the next five points to give the Hoosiers a four-point edge before Freeman converted a four-point play to tie it at 21 with 9:17 remaining before the break.

But Morehead State committed seven turnovers while going scoreless for 5 1/2 minutes. Indiana cashed in with 13 consecutive points, including a layup by Jackson-Davis to take a 34-21 lead with 4:16 remaining in the half.

Tucson Redding drilled a 3-pointer with 3:47 left to end the Eagles’ drought. But the Hoosiers rattled off seven more straight points with Jackson-Davis’ three-point play pushing the lead to 41-24 with one minute left.

The Hoosiers led by 12 at the break and then tallied the first six of the second half to make it 47-29.

Miller Kopp made two 3-pointers during a span of 1:17 and the latter one pushed the lead to 20 for the first time at 59-39 with 11:28 left.

A layup by Reneau pushed the lead over 30 and made it 75-44 with 6:44 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Hartford coach John Gallagher sent his letter of resignation to the university’s president Monday, the Hartford Courant reported, just one day before the team is scheduled to play its first game of the season.

Gallagher spent the past 12 seasons as head coach of the Hawks. He guided Hartford to a surprise victory in the America East Conference tournament in 2021, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.

One month later, Hartford revealed its plans to reclassify from Division I athletics to Division III, surprising students and coaches at the time.

According to the Courant, Gallagher alleged in his resignation letter that the university did not allow him to bring an athletic trainer with the team to a closed scrimmage last week at Dartmouth, part of an ongoing cutting of resources that he claims is affecting student-athletes’ well-being. He said one of his players hurt his knee at Dartmouth and was unable to receive proper care.

“As I have communicated on numerous occasions … the University of Hartford has not only breached the material terms of my contract, but has consistently and repeatedly undermined the men’s basketball program to the point where player safety and well-being has been jeopardized,” Gallagher wrote in his letter to campus president Gregory Woodward, per the Courant. “… This is something that I, as a coach I cannot tolerate.”

Gallagher, 45, had a 169-207 record with the Hawks.

The 2022-23 season is a transitional year for Hartford’s athletic programs. It will begin playing at the Division III level in 2023-24.

Hartford had not released a statement or announced an interim coach as of Monday afternoon. The Hawks are scheduled to host Sacred Heart on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media

David Jones collected 21 points and 10 rebounds as host St. John’s took control in the opening minutes and cruised to a 97-72 victory over Merrimack on Monday night in New York.

Jones produced a standout debut for the Red Storm after transferring from DePaul. In 24 minutes, Jones made 8 of 16 shots, including five 3-pointers, after shooting 27.3 percent from behind the arc in two seasons with DePaul.

Jones led a balanced attack that saw all five Red Storm starters reach double figures and St. John’s shoot 56.9 percent to offset a whopping 29 turnovers.

Montez Mathis added 16 points for the Red Storm, who dominated their first meeting with Merrimack by leading for 37:52, scoring 46 points in the paint and converting 18 layups and dunks.

Posh Alexander added 14 points, six steals and five assists while Andre Curbelo contributed 13 points and seven assists in his debut after transferring from Illinois. The backcourt duo combined for eight of St. John’s 14 steals and 12 of its 22 assists.

Joel Soriano also produced a double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds, as St. John’s held a 47-26 rebounding edge.

Jordan Minor led Merrimack with 19 points while Jordan Derkack added 15. Merrimack, the preseason favorite in the Northeast Conference, shot 38.5 percent, committed 21 turnovers and missed 23 of 29 3-point tries.

Jones capped a 23-5 run by hitting a layup to give St. John’s a commanding 32-14 lead with 9:22 remaining in the opening half. Consecutive 3s by Jones and Mathis swelled the lead to 38-17 with 7:40 remaining and the Red Storm extended the lead to 51-30 by halftime.

Jones hit three 3-pointers to give St. John’s a 65-38 lead less than four minutes into the second half, but Merrimack got within 71-56 on two free throws by Derkack with 8:34 left.

St. John’s finished it off with a 16-2 run highlighted by Jones’ fifth 3-pointer to extend its lead to 87-58 with 5:02 left following a layup by Alexander.

–Field Level Media

Antonio Reeves scored 22 points off the bench and CJ Fredrick added 20 as No. 4 Kentucky opened the season with a 95-63 victory against visiting Howard — despite playing without three starters Monday night.

Fredrick, a transfer from Iowa, was making his Wildcats debut after missing all of last season due to a hamstring injury. Jacob Toppin added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Cason Wallace scored 15.

Oscar Tshiebwe, the reigning National Player of the Year, and All-SEC guard Sahvir Wheeler were sidelined by injury, and Daimion Collins missed the game in wake of his father’s death last week.

Kobe Dickson scored 17 and Elijah Hawkins added 14 to lead the Bison.

The Wildcats held the Bison to 34.3 percent field-goal shooting (23 of 67), including 28 percent (7 of 25) on 3-point tries.

Kentucky shot 54.8 percent from the floor (34 of 62), including 45.8 percent (11 of 24) on 3-pointers.

Kentucky attempted 15 more free throws (28 to 13) than the Bison and made 16, compared with 10 for Howard.

Howard scored first in the second half on a layup by Jelani Williams, but Fredrick later had two baskets and a 3-pointer during a 12-0 run that gave Kentucky a 63-30 lead.

Hawkins scored five points as the Bison trimmed the lead to 65-40, but Reeves answered with a 3-pointer and the Wildcats eventually pushed the lead back to 30. Their biggest lead was 38.

Wallace had three consecutive Kentucky baskets as the Wildcats opened a 16-7 lead.

The Bison got within six points twice before Fredrick made a 3-pointer and another jumper to help Kentucky open a 31-16 lead.

The lead grew to 18 before Steve Settle III converted a three-point play to pull Howard within 15.

Fredrick made three free throws as the Wildcats opened a 21-point lead and Ugonna Onyenso converted two layups in the final minute, pushing the lead to 49-26 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Thad Matta’s return to the college basketball sidelines was a resounding success as Butler rolled to a season-opening 89-53 victory over New Orleans Monday night at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Six-foot-11 North Carolina State transfer Manny Bates produced a career-high 25 points — highlighted by six dunks — along with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks in 28 minutes for Butler (1-0) as the 55-year-old Matta won his first game as a head coach since parting ways with Ohio State in June 2017.

Chuck Harris posted 17 points and Purdue transfer Eric Hunter Jr. added 14 points as all five starters hit double figures in Matta’s first game as Butler’s boss since March 18, 2001, in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.

Denver transfer Jordan Johnson paced New Orleans (0-1) with 15 points while Tyson Jackson added 14 points. Butler limited the Privateers to 41 percent shooting while forcing 30 turnovers.

Johnson swished a 30-footer to open the season’s scoring for the Privateers, but Butler gradually took control with an aggressive man-to-man defense that forced UNO into 14 turnovers in the game’s first 15 minutes.

Harris’ unguarded 3-pointer from the corner gave Butler its first double-digit lead (20-10) with 8:12 left in the first half and forced New Orleans to use its first timeout.

Then Hunter took over by attacking the basket repeatedly. During a four-minute stretch, he drove for a left-handed layup, a resounding lefty slam and a right-handed layup to boost Butler’s margin to 32-16. Bates added back-to-back slams as the Bulldogs carried a 46-21 lead into intermission.

Butler’s lead swelled to 32 points early in the second half as Bates and reserve Pierre Thomas threw down consecutive slams to make it 59-27.

The Bulldogs played without two of their four highly touted transfers — Akron’s Ali Ali and Georgia State’s Jalen Thomas — due to injury. New Orleans big man Simeon Kirkland, who was selected to the Southland Conference’s preseason second team along with Jackson, picked up two early fouls and finished with 4 points and 3 rebounds.

–Field Level Media

Caleb Daniels hit six 3-pointers with 24 points and 10 rebounds, Eric Dixon added 20 points and three blocked shots and No. 16 Villanova defeated visiting La Salle 81-68 on Monday in the season opener for both teams.

It was the debut for Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune, who took over for Hall of Famer Jay Wright, who retired after guiding the Wildcats to two national championships in a highly-successful 21-year stint.

Jordan Longino and Brandon Slater had 12 each for Villanova against the Big 5 rival. The Wildcats won handily despite playing without Justin Moore (Achilles) and Cam Whitmore (thumb).

Josh Nickelberry led the Explorers with 22 points, while Hassan Drame added 17 and Khalil Brantley had 11.

It was the La Salle coaching debut for the 74-year-old Fran Dunphy, who previously led Pennsylvania and Temple to a combined 17 NCAA Tournaments.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 28-11 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half after Daniels made his fourth 3-pointer. Anwar Gill then hit two free throws, Nickelberry added a jumper and La Salle cut the deficit to 28-15.

But Villanova’s Mark Armstrong came back with a 3-pointer and Dixon hit consecutive baskets in the post as the Wildcats led 35-17 with 4:36 remaining in the half. Neither team scored in the final 2:59 as Villanova led 37-23 at halftime.

Daniels hit his fifth consecutive 3-pointer and the Wildcats went ahead 43-27 just 1:45 into the second half.

Nickelberry responded with a 3-pointer and a three-point play to close La Salle within 43-33.

The Explorers went 7 of 8 from the field to open the second half but still trailed 57-42.

The Wildcats’ Chris Arcidiacono then made a 3-pointer, Slater drove to the basket and scored and the lead ballooned to 20 for Villanova.

When Gill knocked down a tough shot in the lane with 7:59 to go, La Salle cut the deficit to 65-52. Slater and Daniels scored on consecutive possessions to put the Wildcats ahead by 17.

–Field Level Media

–Field Level Media