Louisville Basketball's Three-Point Reliance Proves Costly in ACC Title Race

Pat Kelsey's squad struggles to find alternative scoring options when its outside shooting goes cold

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Louisville basketball has enjoyed a strong season under second-year head coach Pat Kelsey, but the team's heavy reliance on three-point shooting has proven to be a double-edged sword. While the Cardinals' prolific outside attack makes them a tough out on their best nights, their inability to adjust when the shots aren't falling has led to several losses against top-25 opponents. Louisville's inconsistent defense, which allows opponents to attempt a high volume of three-pointers, has also been an issue and could hinder the team's chances of winning the ACC title.

Why it matters

Louisville's three-point-centric offense and porous perimeter defense have been the primary factors behind the team's up-and-down performance this season. As the Cardinals look to make a deep run in the ACC Tournament and potentially the NCAA Tournament, their reliance on the three-ball and defensive vulnerabilities could prove to be their fatal flaw against the conference's elite teams.

The details

Louisville averages the second-most three-point attempts in the country and ranks third with 11.6 made threes per game. This three-point prowess has fueled the team's stellar 124.9 offensive rating, which ranks 13th nationally. However, the Cardinals struggle mightily when their outside shots aren't falling, averaging just 9.57 made threes per game in their seven losses while shooting a dismal 29% from deep. This has exposed Louisville's lack of a reliable Plan B, as star guards Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. have shot just 27% and 25% from three-point range in losses, respectively. Defensively, the Cardinals allow opponents to attempt 22.4 three-pointers per game, the 203rd-highest mark in Division I, despite boasting a solid 98.1 defensive rating overall.

  • Louisville has won five straight games and eight of its last nine, with its only loss in that stretch coming against No. 4 Duke.
  • Freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. has been on a tear, averaging 34.3 points and shooting 60% from deep over his last three games.

The players

Pat Kelsey

In his second season as the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals, Kelsey has led the team's resurgence and put them in contention for a high seed in the ACC Tournament.

Mikel Brown Jr.

A freshman guard who has emerged as one of the best scorers in the country, averaging 34.3 points and shooting 60% from three-point range over his last three games.

Ryan Conwell

One of Louisville's star guards who has struggled with his three-point shooting, connecting on just 27% of his attempts in the team's losses.

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What’s next

Louisville will look to continue its strong play in the final weeks of the regular season and carry that momentum into the ACC Tournament, where the team will face its toughest test yet in its quest to win the conference title.

The takeaway

Louisville's reliance on the three-point shot has been both a blessing and a curse this season. While the team's prolific outside shooting makes them a dangerous opponent on their best nights, their inability to adjust when the shots aren't falling has proven to be their Achilles' heel. If the Cardinals hope to make a deep run in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments, they'll need to find alternative scoring options and shore up their perimeter defense to avoid being one-dimensional and susceptible to cold shooting nights.