Louisville basketball defeated the Syracuse Orange last night in dominant fashion, winning 77-62 while shooting 43 percent from the field and 40 percent from downtown. The Cards were led by Ryan Conwell, as he led the Cardinals with 23 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
The Xavier transfer grew up a Louisville Cardinals fan, and when he was subbed out for the last time inside the KFC Yum! Center, he received a huge ovation and was seen kissing the Cardinals on the floor. Pat Kelsey has been passionate about his team all season long, and after the game, he sent a passionate message about how much it means to him and the team to be a Cardinal.
Related: 2 things we know and 2 questions we have after Louisville's win over Syracuse
Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball is excited for the postseason
While many Louisville fans are quite frustrated and disappointed with the Cardinals' season leading up to the final game of the regular season, Kelsey remains passionate about this squad and has full faith in them heading into the postseason.
“I love being a Louisville Cardinal, these guys love being a Louisville Cardinal, we understand what it means, we understand how much it means to this city," after the Cardinals' win over Syracuse. "These guys are absolutely emptying the tank and busting their butt to leave a great legacy, and it will be interesting how these next whatever it is, five weeks or so, go. But we are really excited about the opportunity.”
The Cardinals have just one game remaining in the regular season, with a final chance to earn that marquee road win. Louisville is 3-7 on the road this year, including a 1-7 record on the road against teams with above .500 records, and a 0-4 record on the road against ranked teams.
The Cards take on No. 22 Miami this Saturday inside Watsco Center, and while the Cardinals haven't played great against ranked teams, ESPN Analytics gives Louisville a 63.1 percent chance of winning. As of now, Louisville is the No. 6 seed in the ACC Tournament, and with the Cardinals eyeing a "legacy" run, they could face Miami again in the ACC Tournament semifinals.
The ACC Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 10, and Louisville will play its first game on Wednesday, March 11. The ACC Tournament will run through Saturday, with the finals on March 14 at 8:30 p.m. local time, and Selection Sunday will take place the following day, March 15.
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's 2025-26 season and recruiting, stay tuned.