G Kasen Harrison (6-2, 200, Sr.) G Paul Jones III (6-4, 170, Fr.) G Bryce Baker (6-5, 200, Jr.) F Kelton Talford (6-7, 200, Sr.) F K.J. Doucet (6-7, 230, Sr.)

The most consistent Big South program of the 21st century, Winthrop has won 21 conference championships and made 11 NCAA tournament appearances since the year 2000, but none since 2021. The 2024-25 Eagles were picked to finish second behind only High Point in this year's Big South preseason media poll.

"It doesn't matter to us what the preseason rankings say," Eagles head coach Mark Prosser said before the start of the season. "For us, the expectation never changes. Our university, our fan base and our athletic department expect us to win championships and to win a championship every year. We haven't won a championship in a couple of years, and I think that makes people anxious. The motivation level doesn't change regardless of where we are picked to finish in the conference."

Winthrop returns four starters and its top four scorers from a team that won 17 games a season ago.

Leading that quartet is two-time Big South All-Conference selection Kelton Talford. The 6'7 senior led the team in both scoring and rebounding a year ago, and is off to a solid start again in his final collegiate season. His 15.0 ppg are the second most on the team and his 7.2 rpg lead the squad. While Talford reportedly spent a chunk of the offseason trying to make himself more of a shooting threat, he still does all of his damage inside the arc. He has attempted just one three-pointer this season and scores virtually all of his points around the rim or moving towards it. He's a great scorer, but not the most naturally gifted offensive player, and he will throw the ball away if met with the right level of pressure.

Winthrop's leading scorer so far this season is another returning starter from last season, 6'2 senior guard Kasen Harrison (16.3 ppg). Harrison has been remarkably consistent throughout his college career, averaging double figures in scoring in both of his seasons at Lamar and all three of his years with the Eagles. Harrison will shoot the three in spots, but his strong suit is also playing downhill and scoring inside the arc.

K.J. Doucet (14.3 ppg), yet another returning senior starter, is maybe the Winthrop player best suited to have success in this game. The 6'7 forward can score at all three levels and is shooting 58.8 percent from three entering Friday night's contest. He led the team in scoring during the non-conference portion of the season, further evidence that his skills translater better against a different level of opponent than Harrison's or Talford's do. This is the guy the Cardinal defense need to mark on the perimeter the most.

Winthrop enters Friday night playing at the 47th-fastest pace in the country, and it'll be a surprise if the Eagles don't try and run with Louisville inside the Yum Center. Prosser's team is also one that's used to playing in competitive games. They had a shot in the final minute at Virginia Tech (lost, 58-52), and each of their three games since have been decided by one or two points.

Two things have held Winthrop back so far this season: Turnovers and poor three-point shooting. The Eagles are giving the ball away on 20.9 percent of their offensive possessions, which ranks 304th out of 364 Division-I teams. They shoot a decent amount of threes, but are making them at just a 25.8 percent clip, good for 326th in the country.

Winthrop has made up for this by shooting 55.8 percent inside the arc, and getting to the free-throw line more than all but five teams in Division-I. Contesting without fouling will be a key for the Cards on Friday night.

Notable:

-- Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey spent nine seasons as the head coach at Winthrop, where he posted a 186-95 record and won seven conference championships.

-- Louisville currently ranks second in the country in three-point attempts per game (36.7) and third in the country in turnover margin (9.3). The Cardinals are also 10th in turnovers forced per game (19.0).

-- Winthrop is 5-42 all-time against opponents from the ACC. The Eagles lost to Virginia Tech earlier this season and will also play at Florida State on Dec. 17.

-- Winthrop's last last over an ACC opponent was Nov. 17, 2014 as the Eagles won 77-74 at Clemson.

-- Louisville has 11 players who were on teams that played in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The roster in total has made 14 NCAA Division I Tournament appearances at their previous schools, playing in 20 NCAA Tournament games across their careers.

-- After going 59-0 in November home games from 1991 to 2021, Louisville has lost at least one November home game in each of the last four seasons.

-- Before 2021, Louisville's last November home loss had come in 1972.

-- This will be the first time in program history that Winthrop has ever played a game against one of its former head coaches.

-- Louisville has a 253-80 record against non-conference opponents over the last 23 seasons (includes postseason), including a 185-26 record in home regular season non-conference games. The Cardinals are 109-17 at home in regular season non-conference games over the last 14 seasons.

-- Inside the KFC Yum Center, Louisville has a 105-17 record in non-conference games.

-- Louisville is coming off of losing 20+ games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The program has only lost 20 games three times in its 110-year history.

-- Louisville is 221-15 over the last 21 seasons and 2-0 this season when scoring 80 points or more.

-- Louisville is 14-0 over the past 10 seasons when limiting opponents to no more than one three-point field goal.

-- Since 2004, Louisville is 130-0 when leading by more than 10 points at halftime.

-- Louisville is 115-0 all-time when scoring 100 or more points in non-overtime games.

-- Louisville has won 163 consecutive games when holding an opponent under 50 points.