5 non-conference matchups that will define Louisville basketball’s season

Louisville basketball's head coach has made it clear this offseason that he wants to send a message to the NCAA that the Cardinals are not ducking the smoke. The Cards' non-conference schedule is grueling with elite powerhouses from dominant college basketball conferences.

Louisville clinched seven games inside ESPN's most recent preseason top 25, and two of its games are labeled as its opponents' biggest non-conference games. Kelsey and his Cardinals have their eyes set on history, and this roster is one of the best in the nation. The Cardinals are ranked No. 7 in ESPN's top 25 rankings, and with goals of winning the ACC and their first National Title since 2013, this schedule sets them up for a successful season.

The Cardinals have 12 of their 13 non-conference games scheduled after the additions of Montana and South Carolina State. So, as the fans wait for that last non-conference game, here are the five biggest non-conference games this season for the Louisville Cardinals.

5 non-conference matchups that will define Louisville basketball’s season

5. Memphis at Louisville - December 13

Louisville brought back one of the biggest rivalries in the program's history. The Cardinals have played Memphis more than anyone else, with the two teams having played 100 times exactly. Louisville leads the series against the Tigers with a record of 54-36. Louisville plays Memphis at home at the start of a brutal back-to-back. The Cards will play Memphis on December 13 and then travel to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers.

The Tigers have made the NCAA Tournament three of the last four years. Memphis lost 5-star transfer PJ Haggerty, prompting them to turn to the Transfer Portal, where they claimed five 4-stars, including point guard Dug McDaniel. Kelsey bringing back this rivalry has both fanbases ecstatic and counting down the days for the 101st showdown.

4. Louisville at Indiana - December 6

The Cardinals are faced with a massive challenge in early December as they will travel from Arkansas to Indiana and will have an enormous back-to-back. The Cardinals will face the Razorbacks on December 3 and then will face Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 6, making it a grueling back-to-back in early December.

In one of the richest college basketball cities in America, Louisville will look to make a statement in early December. Playing on national television on CBS, the Cardinals will have the opportunity to prove why they are regarded as one of the best teams in the nation. Some key transfers will lead this Hoosiers squad as they gained eight players from the portal and are ranked as high as No. 10 for their portal additions, according to 247Sports. Indiana's top two transfers include Tucker DeVries and Lamar Wilkerson, both of whom ranked as 4-star transfers.

3. Louisville at Tennessee - December 16

Louisville will get a major test mid-December as the Cardinals and Kelsey seek revenge for last year's embarrassing loss. The Cards will travel to Knoxville to take on the Tennessee Volunteers and 5-star commit Nate Ament. The Cardinals were one of the finalists for the top five recruit in the 2025 class, and now they will get an opportunity to show him why he made the wrong choice.

The Volunteers' defense has been one of the best in the nation for the last five years and will be a massive test for this Cardinals offense as they get ready for ACC play. By this time, Louisville will have been battle-tested by multiple powerhouses and will have an understanding of who they are as a team. The Volunteers will be led by one of the best transfers from the Transfer Portal, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, who averaged nearly 15 points per game at Maryland.

2. Louisville at Arkansas - December 3

Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals will take on John Calipari's Arkansas Razorbacks on December 3 from the Bud Walton Arena. After a late-season surge from Calipari's Razorbacks and a mini postseason run, Arkansas found its way in the Sweet 16 and will look to carry that momentum into 2025.

Calipari will have four of his top nine scorers and will bring in two 5-star guards in Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas. On top of all that, they stole one of the best players from the ACC last year in Malique Ewin from the Transfer Portal, making them ranked No. 11 in ESPN's latest rankings. The Cardinals' blockbuster showdown is labeled as Arkansas' biggest non-conference game, and for many reasons, as these two elite backcourts going at it in early December will be must-watch TV.

1. Kentucky at Louisville - November 11

The clear No. 1 choice is the blockbuster showdown that will take place on November 11 inside KFC Yum! Center against the Kentucky Wildcats. The rivalry will make this one of the biggest non-conference games of the year, and there is even a chance this is a top 10 matchup in week one of college basketball.

It will have future NBA stars from both teams, led by 2025 recruits. Mikel Brown Jr. has made it clear this is the game he has circled on his calendar, and he is seeking revenge for the Cardinals faithful. Kentucky enters the season with the No. 6 best 2025 recruiting class, as 5-star Jasper Johnson will lead them. This game will set the tone for the season. If the Cardinals can take down the Wildcats this early in the season, expect Louisville to go on a run and gain confidence as the season progresses.

For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.