Louisville Cardinals Suffer Road Loss to SMU

Head coach Pat Kelsey discusses team's defensive struggles and turnover issues

Feb. 20, 2026 at 4:23pm

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The No. 21 ranked Louisville Cardinals fell to SMU on Tuesday night by a score of 95-85, bringing their record to 19-7 (8-5) on the season. Head coach Pat Kelsey discussed his team's subpar defensive performance and offensive turnover issues that led to the loss.

Why it matters

This loss is a setback for the Cardinals, who were looking to build momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. The team will need to address its defensive lapses and ball control problems if it hopes to make a strong push for the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Louisville was led by Mikel Brown Jr., who finished with 29 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks. J'vonne Hadley added 14 points, nine rebounds, and one assist. However, the Cardinals gave up a season-high 95 points as SMU scored 1.30 points per possession and shot over 60 percent from the field.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 18, 2026.
  • Louisville's next game is at home against Georgia Tech on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 2:15 pm ET.

The players

Pat Kelsey

Head coach of the Louisville Cardinals basketball team.

Mikel Brown Jr.

A player for the Louisville Cardinals who scored 29 points in the loss to SMU.

J'vonne Hadley

A player for the Louisville Cardinals who scored 14 points and had 9 rebounds in the loss to SMU.

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What they’re saying

“We must address our defensive lapses and turnover issues if we hope to make a strong push for the NCAA Tournament.”

— Pat Kelsey, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Louisville Cardinals will look to bounce back when they host Georgia Tech on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 2:15 pm ET.

The takeaway

This loss is a setback for the Cardinals, who will need to quickly correct their defensive and ball control issues in order to regain momentum and secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.