Louisville basketball is just one day away from playing in the ACC Tournament, and the Cardinals are heading into the postseason on a two-game winning streak that has suddenly had fans believing this team can make some noise this March. The Cards, as of now, are trending toward a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament as they sit 22-9 on the season and 11-7 in ACC play, which also has the Cardinals at the No. 14 NET ranking before they tip off ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament play against either Syracuse or SMU at 2:30 p.m. local time Wednesday.
Predicting the 2026 ACC Tournament results for Louisville basketball
Louisville is currently seed hunting in the ACC Tournament, as this conference tournament will have major implications for the Cards. There is a long shot for Louisville to climb up to the No. 4 seed, but if the Cards can earn wins over SMU, Miami, and Virginia and punch their ticket back into the ACC Championship for the second straight season, it wouldn’t be out of the question.
So, with conference tournament week officially here and Louisville trying to climb to a 4-seed or 5-seed, here are four teams Louisville fans want to see lose early during conference tournament week.
4 teams that need to lose to improve Louisville's NCAA Tournament seeding
Wisconsin
Wisconsin currently sits with the same record as Louisville, 22-9, and is the No. 5 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Badgers have won four of their last five and, according to Bracket Matrix, have an average seed of 5.89 across 123 brackets. Wisconsin will play on Thursday, March 12, against the winner of Washington and USC.
Louisville fans should be locked in on these games as the Trojans defeated the Badgers back on Jan. 25, 73-71. If Wisconsin loses to USC again or Washington, the Cardinals would have a clear path to jump them in the NCAA Tournament seedings. However, even if Washington wins Thursday, if they get thumped by Illinois, it should still give Louisville a path to jump the Badgers if the Cardinals beat SMU and Miami.
North Carolina
Another ACC team Louisville fans should be rooting for to lose early is the North Carolina Tar Heels. This one can be tricky, as the Cards would love UNC to upset Duke, so Louisville’s ACC Title game would be much more manageable if they make it, but if UNC loses to Clemson in its first game, the Cards would have a chance to jump the Tar Heels.
North Carolina secured the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament and is trending to be a No. 6 seed, despite not having Caleb Wilson for the last seven games. However, with the Cardinals possibly surging at the right time and the Tar Heels showing flaws without their best player, Cardinals fans should root for UNC to lose early and the Cardinals to go on a run. UNC plays the winner of Clemson vs the winner of Virginia Tech vs Wake Forest.
St. John's
This one could be a long shot as St. John’s looks like it likley is a lock at a 5-seed as Bracket Matrix reports that they have an average seed of 5.21 across 123 brackets, but if St. John’s can collapse and have a huge upset and lose to Providence or Butler and Louisville marches to the ACC Championship game, then the Cardinals would have a strong case to jump the 25-6 Red Storm.
Providence already handed St. John’s a loss this season at Madison Square Garden, as the Friars defeated the Red Storm 77-71 back in early January. It is just one of two conference losses for St. John’s, and if Providence can do it again, Louisville could make the case to jump St. John’s. The Cards defeated Kentucky, and the Red Storm lost to the Wildcats, and if Louisville goes on another conference tourney run and the Red Storm loses early, then Louisville’s resume might give them the boost to the 5-seed.
Vanderbilt
One team that Louisville fans would love to lose early in their conference tournament is the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vandy sits at 24-7 overall and is the No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament, already having a spot in the quarterfinals. Vandy will likely see Tennessee for its second straight game, as they just beat the Volunteers in their final game, 86-82.
It might not be possible for Louisville to jump Vandy, but if Tennessee can pick up its second win over the Commodores this season, Louisville’s loss to Tennessee looks better, and it doesn’t give Vandy a chance to earn anymore marquee wins. Louisville would likely have to go to the ACC Championship game to have a chance to climb over Vanderbilt, but if Tennessee can dominate and win big, there might be a path for Louisville to pass Vanderbilt.