Louisville Basketball: Cards Biggest Wins in the Last 5 Years

11/27/18 vs. No. 9 Michigan State – W 82-78 in OT

Chris Mack didn’t take long to get his first big win as head coach at Louisville. The Michigan State Spartans were ranked in the top 10 and one of the early favorites to win the national championship. Veteran point guard Cassius Winston and his backcourt mate Josh Langford had been tearing it up so far.

Since it was still early, and a lot of people were unsure of how a Mack led team would respond in a game of this caliber, not many expected Louisville to win this one. You don’t just beat a title contender (and eventual final four team) in your first year as head coach, with a team coming off an NIT berth… do you?

As “unlikely” as some may have thought Louisville’s chances of winning were, an unlikely hero stepped up bigger than he ever has in his career for the Cards. Ryan McMahon scored a game-high 24 points and was lights out from 3 as well as the free-throw line to lead the Cards to victory.

It seemed as if Louisville was going to come up short in a heartbreaker, but once they forced OT, they were dead set on coming out on top.

Honorable Mentions

2/1/16 vs. #2 UNC – W 71-65

Damion Lee led the way in an upset for the Cards, on a team that could have done big things in March given the chance.

1/14/17 vs. #7 Duke – W 78-69

Donovan Mitchell got the last laugh against Grayson Allen with the famous slap to the face.

1/10/18 @ #23 FSU – W 73-69

Arguably the biggest win of the David Padgett era. The Cards rallied from down 13 to snap the Noles’ 28 game home win streak.

Which of these games is your personal favorite? Louisville has managed to do some big things while overcoming adversity in recent years. Expectations for this seasons squad couldn’t be any higher. All signs point to Cardinal basketball winning even more and even bigger starting right now. Get ready Card Nation, L’s up!