Louisville vs. NJIT preview

Louisville Cardinals (6-0) vs. NJIT Highlanders (3-4)

Game Time: 9 p.m.

Location: KFC Yum Center: Louisville, Ky.

Television: ACC Network

Announcers: Cooper Boardman (play-by-play) and Randolph Childress (analysis)

Officials: TBA

Favorite: Louisville by 44.5

Series: First Meeting

Projected Starting Lineups:

Louisville

G Mikel Brown Jr. (6-5, 190, Fr.)
G Isaac McKneely (6-4, 195, Sr.)
G Ryan Conwell (6-4, 215, Sr.)
F J’Vonne Hadley (6-7, 210, 6th)
F/C Sananda Fru (6-11, 245, Jr.)

NJIT

G David Bolden (6-0, 185, Fr.)
G Jeremy Clayville (6-1, 175, So.)
G Ari Fulton (6-7, 205, So.)
F Jordan Rogers (6-6, 215, So.)
C Malachi Arrington (6-11, 220, So.)

Statistics:

NJIT’s Season to Date:

Relevant Videos:

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About NJIT:

Louisville is slated to face what seems like its final significant walkover game of the 2025-26 season late Wednesday as the NJIT Highlanders arrive in town.

NJIT is currently in its third year with head coach Grant Billmeier and has already started off stronger than the previous seasons, having only secured six wins last year and seven the year before.

Billmeier employs a fast-paced ball-screen-oriented strategy. The Highlanders tend to dominate possession. Last year’s offensive focus was on Tariq Francis, who transferred to Rutgers after averaging 19.2 points per game. This season, the scoring has diversified somewhat through their initial games.

The Highlanders boast the highest percentage of returning playing time (57%) from last season among all teams in the America East and have also secured a group of impactful transfers via the portal. Unsurprisingly, their leading scorer so far this season is a true freshman.

From Milwaukee, David Bolden, a 6’0 point guard, is entering Thanksgiving Eve with a team-leading average of 13.4 points per game. He possesses excellent shooting capabilities from outside and seems to have taken over Francis’ role as the core of Billmeier’s offense. Ari Fulton, a 6’7 sophomore who became a starter last season, contributes as the team’s second double-digit scorer (12.1 ppg) and leads in rebounding at 8.3 rpg.

The most gifted player on this lineup, who I anticipate will end up being the top scorer, is 6’3 junior Sebastian Robinson. Missing the first three games of the season due to injury, he has yet to log more than 19 minutes in any game so far. Expect that to potentially change tonight.

To put it plainly: This team lacks offensive prowess, and their system does not maximize the offensive skills that do exist. NJIT generally executes a ball-dominant pick-and-roll system with little floor spacing and no pressure at the rim, resulting in an abundance of midrange isolation plays. This is not just subpar for any team, but particularly unfavorable for a team like the Highlanders competing in such matchups.

Defensively, the performance is marginally better. Marginally.

Kansas City transfer Melvyn Ebonko was anticipated to significantly impact their defense, but he has only participated in one game due to injuries. With him sidelined, 6’11 sophomore Malachi Arrington has stepped up as the mainstay and top rim protector.

NJIT has managed to keep their opponents’ shooting percentages in check, both inside and from beyond the arc; however, this is likely reflective of the competition level (Cincy is the sole team in the top 160 on KenPom they’ve faced, and they allowed 93 points) as much as anything else.

The Highlanders play at a quicker tempo than might be advisable given their roster, which means Louisville could have the chance to record some striking offensive stats in this matchup. Don’t be surprised if the Cards cross into triple digits following a brief two-game pause.

Notable:

—Louisville has achieved a 6-0 record for the first time since the 2019-20 season, aiming to enter December with a perfect record for the first time since that same year.

—Over the last 24 years (including postseason), Louisville holds a 264-84 record against non-conference teams.

—Entering Wednesday’s contest, Louisville is ranked fourth nationally in scoring margin at over 29.8 points per game. The Cardinals also rank eighth in three-point attempts per game (33.5) and three-pointers made per game (12.2).

—The Cardinals have a home record of 193-27 in regular season non-conference games over the past 24 years, going 117-18 at home in regular season non-conference contests over the last 15 years.

—NJIT began the season 3-1 for the first time since 2015-16.

—Playing inside the KFC Yum Center, Louisville boasts a 113-18 record in non-conference matchups.

—After a perfect 59-0 record in November home games from 1991 to 2021, Louisville has encountered at least one loss in November home games during each of the previous four seasons.

—Before 2021, Louisville had not suffered a November home defeat since 1972.

—Pat Kelsey is the current reigning ACC Coach of the Year, recognized as one of ten active DI head coaches who have received Coach of the Year accolades in three or more DI conferences.

—Under Kelsey, Louisville is 33-0 when leading with five minutes remaining.

—In the past ten years, Louisville has gone 14-0 when restricting opponents to one or fewer three-point field goals.

—Louisville maintains a perfect 119-0 record when scoring 100 or more points in games that do not go to overtime.

—The Cardinals have achieved 166 consecutive victories when holding opposition teams under 50 points.

Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Louisville 96, NJIT 61