Louisville Basketball Faces North Carolina in Key ACC Matchup

Cards look to earn marquee road win against 20th-ranked Tar Heels

Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:03am

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The No. 21 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team will take on the 20th-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in a key ACC matchup today at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill. Louisville is coming off an impressive 87-70 win over Georgia Tech, but head coach Pat Kelsey admitted there is still "a bunch of stuff" to clean up. North Carolina, led by fifth-year coach Hubert Davis, is looking to bounce back after losing star freshman Caleb Wilson to a hand injury. The game will air on ESPN, and fans can also listen to the radio broadcast on the Cardinal Sports Network.

Why it matters

This is a crucial Quad 1A matchup for Louisville as they look to bolster their NCAA Tournament résumé with a marquee road win. The Cardinals have struggled to pick up quality road victories this season, and a win over the Tar Heels would be a significant boost to their tournament hopes.

The details

Louisville (20-7, 9-5 ACC) is coming off an impressive home win over Georgia Tech, but head coach Pat Kelsey said there is still room for improvement. North Carolina (21-6, 9-5 ACC) has been without one of the ACC's top freshmen, Caleb Wilson, since he suffered a hand injury on Feb. 10. The Tar Heels are looking to bounce back after a 77-64 win at Syracuse over the weekend.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
  • Wilson has been out of the lineup for North Carolina since suffering a hand injury on February 10.

The players

Pat Kelsey

The head coach of the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team.

Hubert Davis

The fifth-year head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team.

Caleb Wilson

A top freshman forward for the North Carolina Tar Heels who has been out with a hand injury since February 10.

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What they’re saying

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

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

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

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.