Louisville basketball is 6-0 for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, and the Cards are ranked No. 6 in the nation. Louisville's dominant backcourt continues to turn heads and impress as Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell are stealing the spotlight of Louisville's undefeated start, but Isaac McKneely is also finding his rhythm as he is averaging 3.8 made 3-pointers on 41.3 percent shooting from downtown per game.
This Cardinals backcourt has the whole nation on notice, and with their gauntlet of a December schedule quickly approaching, the team is flourishing at the right time. Entering the season, Louisville had that November 11 game with Kentucky circled, but it was no secret that they had many challenging games.
Louisville's December schedule has three ranked matchups as of now, but one game in particular feels like it just got a whole lot harder after the Tennessee Volunteers upset No. 3 Houston last night in the Players' Era Festival.
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Louisville basketball’s revenge game just became a whole lot harder
The Cardinals' non-conference schedule is no joke as they are playing on the road against No. 22 Arkansas, No. 25 Indiana, and No. 17 Tennessee over 11 days and four games. This four-game stretch will tell a lot about Louisville this season and help shape them for a National Title run. But one thing is for certain that the showdown with Tennessee in Knoxville just got a whole lot tougher after last night.
Louisville is eyeing revenge on the Volunteers after Tennessee came to KFC Yum! Center last year and spoiled the Cards' white out game. The Cards lost 77-55 to Tennessee in the second game of the season, and now that Louisville is traveling to the Food City Center next month, and they are hoping to give them a nice taste of revenge.
However, Tennessee just pulled off one of the biggest wins of the season so far, as they defeated No. 3 Houston 76-73 after Ja'Kobi Gillespie scored 22 points. The Volunteers' massive win proves the Cardinals' matchup in Knoxville will be one of their toughest games of the season. Tennessee is ranked No. 17 in the nation at the moment, but after pulling off that wild win and being 6-0, they are poised to take a massive leap in the next rankings.
ESPN Analytics currently gives Tennessee a slight edge over Louisville, with a 52.3 percent chance of winning, while Louisville has a 47.7 percent chance. These two National Title-contending teams will square off on December 16 on ESPN in a massive non-conference showdown.
It is going to be a thrilling SEC vs ACC battle, and with elite 5-stars going head to head. Louisville will be eyeing that revenge from last season, but Tennessee just sent a message to the nation that they are the real deal, and Louisville fans quickly took notice.