Louisville Cardinals Defeat Notre Dame Fighting Irish in NCAAM Matchup

Louisville's strong defense and efficient offense prove too much for Notre Dame

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:15pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Louisville Cardinals, ranked No. 24, defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 83-68 in a college basketball matchup on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Louisville's fast-paced offense and stifling defense were too much for Notre Dame, who struggled without the presence of injured star Markus Burton.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the contrasting styles and strengths of the two teams, with Louisville's relentless pressure and three-point shooting proving to be the difference. The loss drops Notre Dame to 11-11 on the season and 2-7 in conference play, while Louisville improves to 15-6 and 5-4 in league action.

The details

Louisville played at a faster tempo, averaging 73.1 possessions per game compared to Notre Dame's 69.0. The Cardinals' offense was more efficient, scoring 1.177 points per possession, while Notre Dame managed just 1.071. Louisville also took a higher percentage of its shots from three-point range, connecting on 54.4% of its attempts compared to Notre Dame's 41.5%. The Cardinals' defense was also stifling, limiting opponents to a 47.2% effective field goal rate and 45.1% two-point shooting.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Mikel Brown Jr.

A Louisville player who scored 20 points in the team's 88-74 win over SMU in their previous game.

Ryan Conwell

A Louisville player averaging 19.1 points per game and has made 73 three-pointers on the season.

Isaac McKneely

A Louisville player shooting 38.2% from three-point range and making 60 three-pointers, providing valuable floor spacing for the Cardinals.

Sananda Fru

A Louisville player finishing 75.0% of his shots and recording 27 blocks, helping the Cardinals control the paint without relying on post-ups.

Jalen Haralson

Notre Dame's leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points per game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game showcased Louisville's ability to control the tempo and dictate the flow of the game with their stifling defense and efficient offense. While Notre Dame has the shooting ability to keep games close, the loss of star player Markus Burton proved to be too much to overcome against a ranked opponent like Louisville.