Louisville basketball is trending up again, as the Cardinals went 2-0 this week with wins over North Carolina State and Baylor. The latest AP Polls were released, and while some may not give the Cardinals the respect they deserve, these AP voters did.
The Cardinals moved up three spots from last week as Pat Kelsey and the Louisville Cardinals are ranked No. 21 in the nation. The Cardinals' successful week had them jump Miami (Ohio), BYU, and Clemson, while the Tigers fell out of the rankings, the Cougars fell to No. 23, and Miami (Ohio) moved up to No. 22.
Louisville basketball gets the respect it deserves in latest AP Polls
Louisville’s five-game win streak has been what a lot of fans were expecting from the beginning of the season. The Cardinals have won four of these five games by 10 points or more and have won by an average of 17 points.
A large reason many voters, fans, and analysts are buying back into the Cardinals after this past week is because of Mikel Brown Jr.’s dominant week. The Cardinals' star guard went on to win the Naismith Men’s College Player of the Week after averaging 37.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assist and 4.0 steals, while shooting 22-of-37 from the field, 14-of-21 percent from downtown, and 16-of-16 from the free-throw line.
The former 5-star guard has this Cardinals ceiling soaring once again, and the fans are buying into the Final Four hope it had back on Nov. 11 after beating Kentucky. The Cardinals aren’t where they want to be by the time March 15 rolls around, and it is Selection Sunday, but after their midseason skit, this team is peaking at the perfect time.
Other ACC teams worth mentioning in the AP Poll's top 25 are Duke at No. 3, Virginia at No. 14, and North Carolina at No. 16. Clemson falls just outside the rankings after their two-game losing streak, as they are listed first in other receiving votes. Also dropping out of the rankings is Kentucky after its loss to Florida.
Louisville still has to face No. 16 North Carolina and the previously No. 20-ranked Clemson team on the road. The Cardinals' schedule is challenging, but it gives them a clear path to climb in the ACC standings and the AP Poll.
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's 2025-26 season and recruiting, stay tuned.