LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In an unfortunate turn of events for the Louisville Cardinals, senior guard Reyne Smith exited the matchup against California early due to a suspected lower leg injury. The incident occurred with 12:36 remaining on the clock in the first half.
After halftime, Smith was seen rejoining his team, albeit after the other players had already made their way onto the court. Notably, he refrained from participating in the warmup exercises. Smith currently ranks third on the team, boasting an impressive average of 13.8 points per game. His presence has been pivotal in Louisville’s renewal this season. He joined the team after transferring from the College of Charleston, bringing along significant experience and continuing under the leadership of coach Pat Kelsey.
Standing tall at 6-foot-2, the Australian has earned a reputation as one of the leading outside shooters on the national stage. Over the course of this season, he has managed to make 106 of his 277 attempts from beyond the arc. His proficiency in 3-pointers has not only made him the leader in the Atlantic Coast Conference but has also positioned him third nationally for the number of 3-pointers made.
The potential prolonged absence of Smith could severely impact the squad’s depth, compounding previous challenges after losing key players Koren Johnson and Kasean Pryor to season-ending injuries in November. Regardless, the Cardinals displayed resilience by maintaining a formidable performance, entering the game against California on the back of a seven-game winning streak and a commendable 17 victories in their last 18 games, achieving a 23-6 record with a 16-2 mark in the ACC.
