Eight months after closing down Freedom Hall in fashion, the Louisville basketball team brought some of the magic from the victory over Syracuse to the new KFC Yum! Center, defeating the No. 18 Butler Bulldogs 88-73 Tuesday night.

“We’re real proud of our guys,” said head coach Rick Pitino.  “We ended a glorious building last year at Freedom Hall, and now opened our new building, the finest basketball arena in the country very well tonight.”

Sophomore Rakeem Buckles led the way for the Cards, scoring 17 points with 11 rebounds.  Junior Terrence Jennings added 13 points, four blocked shots and eight rebounds.

“They’re good basketball players, they’re all fearless,” said Butler head coach Brad Stevens.  “Buckles and Jennings were very impressive in the post.  I think the predictions on these guys were wrong based on what I’ve seen from them.”

Louisville balanced its scoring, as guards Preston Knowles and Elisha Justice scored 12 each.  Sophomore Mike Marra added 11, and point guard Peyton Siva managed nine points in just 15 minutes of playing time after getting into early foul trouble.

“This team has terrific potential,” said Pitino.  “They worked their tails off on defense with all the respect they have for Butler.”

Butler, who lost to Duke in last year’s NCAA Championship game, returned three starters, most notably Lexington native Shelvin Mack, who scored 25 points, 17 in the first half.  Senior forward Matt Howard added 23 points and nine rebounds, but no other Butler players reached double-digits in points.

“I don’t think it’s rocket science they just outplayed us,” said Stevens.  “We got caught up in a great environment against a good team.  This was a game you usually decline: opening a new arena in front of 22,000 people.  It’s the e-vite you click ‘no’ on before you even open it.”