### Louisville Dominates Indiana in Lopsided Battle 4 Atlantis Clash

Indiana faced a crushing defeat against Louisville in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday, trailing by as many as 38 points before succumbing to a dismal 89-61 loss. Here are five key takeaways from the game.

The game quickly revealed the disparity between the two teams' preparation and readiness. Louisville outclassed Indiana from the opening tip, leading wire-to-wire. After gaining a 10-point lead twice in the first half, the Cardinals decisively took control at the beginning of the second half. Indiana, overwhelmed by Louisville's onslaught, failed to mount any significant resistance.

Pat Kelsey’s Louisville team was precise in its execution and set the competitive tone early. In stark contrast, Indiana appeared complacent, relying on raw talent rather than effort and strategy. The Cardinals’ relentless ball pressure caused Indiana's guards to falter, leading to numerous turnovers. Louisville capitalized on their perimeter shooting, leaving Indiana without a counter to the Cardinals’ effective spacing and movement.

Heading into this matchup, Indiana boasted a 4-0 record, but those victories came against lesser competition. The game against Louisville marked Indiana’s first significant challenge, and the Hoosiers were visibly unprepared. Indiana’s backcourt, considered a strong point in the preseason, fell short. Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, and Trey Galloway struggled mightily, combining for only 1-for-15 shooting and nine turnovers in nearly an hour of play. Rice managed just three points on 1-for-11 shooting, while Carlyle and Galloway were plagued by turnovers and inefficiency.

Turnovers were a significant issue for Indiana, which turned the ball over 23 times, amounting to a turnover percentage of 31.9%—the second-highest under Coach Woodson in his four seasons at Indiana. The team’s guards, particularly Rice, were unable to cope with Chucky Hepburn’s seven-steal performance.

Defensively, Indiana offered little resistance, allowing Louisville to dictate play. The Cardinals connected on 10 triples at a 37% clip but were even more effective inside the arc, converting 27-of-38 two-pointers at a 71.1% rate. Despite being undersized, Louisville dominated near the rim, scoring 21-of-32 attempts.

Indiana's track record against high-caliber non-conference opponents remains subpar. Last season, the Hoosiers suffered heavy defeats to UConn, Auburn, and Kansas, managing only one notable victory over Louisville, which finished 185th in KenPom rankings. Previous seasons under Woodson saw similar struggles against elite teams, with victories few and far between.

Wednesday's defeat by Louisville further highlights Indiana’s ongoing issues against top-tier competition, showcasing the need for improvement if they aim to compete at a higher level this season.