Debbie Antonelli of Mt. Pleasant will be broadcast on ESPN while son Patrick plays for Louisville

NASSAU, BAHAMAS (WCSC) – Bishop England graduate Patrick Antonelli started for Louisville on Wednesday as the Cardinals upset 14th-ranked Indiana.

When he started the game, his mother, Basketball Hall of Famer Debbie Antonelli, wasn’t just there watching the game. She was on the show for ESPN.

Patrick entered the game with just under two minutes left and the Cardinals, led by former College of Charleston coach Pat Kelsey, held an 86-52 lead. Beth Mowins, Debbie’s broadcast partner at ESPN, was the first to notice Patrick entering.

“Patrick Antonelli, at the scorer’s table, ready to check in, and extremely anxious and uneasy, he looks over at his Hall of Fame mother, Debbie,” Mowins said. “And here comes Patrick.”

Patrick scored 3 points on free throws and had a steal within 2 minutes. Debbie seemed to become emotional as Patrick stepped to the free throw line for his first shots. After scoring the first goal, Mowins joked that he was already a better free throw shooter than his mother. “Absolutely not,” Debbie replied quickly.

“Well, it’s definitely a dream come true for Patrick to be in Louisville and get his master’s degree,” Debbie said on the show. “The only thing that interests me about him is being around good guys and a good coaching staff. And that’s exactly what he has.”

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