Louisville Dominates South Florida in March Madness Matchup

Cardinals' J'vonne Hadley leads the way with a standout performance

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:29pm

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The Louisville Cardinals defeated the South Florida Bulls in a decisive March Madness matchup, with senior guard J'vonne Hadley leading the way for the Cardinals. Hadley's strong scoring and 3-point shooting proved too much for the Bulls to handle, as Louisville pulled away for a comfortable victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Louisville's March Madness hopes alive, as they advance to the next round of the tournament. The loss ends South Florida's tournament run, but the Bulls can be proud of their impressive season that saw them earn a spot in the Big Dance.

The details

J'vonne Hadley, the 6-foot-7 senior guard for Louisville, had a standout performance, scoring 18 points and knocking down 4 three-pointers. Hadley's size and versatility proved to be a mismatch for the smaller South Florida defenders, as he was able to bully his way to the rim and also step out and hit perimeter shots. The Cardinals also played strong defense, limiting South Florida's second-chance opportunities and forcing them into tough shots.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
  • Tip-off was at 1:30 p.m. ET.

The players

J'vonne Hadley

A 6-foot-7 senior guard for the Louisville Cardinals who led the team in scoring with 18 points, including 4 made three-pointers.

Wes Enis

The leading scorer for the South Florida Bulls, known for his 3-point shooting ability.

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What they’re saying

“J'vonne really set the tone for us today with his scoring and playmaking. He's been a consistent leader all season and we're glad to have him leading the way in March Madness.”

— Kenny Payne, Head Coach, Louisville Cardinals

“We knew Hadley would be a tough matchup for us, but we just couldn't find a way to slow him down. Credit to Louisville, they played a great game and deserved the win.”

— Brian Gregory, Head Coach, South Florida Bulls

What’s next

Louisville will advance to face the winner of the Kansas-Gonzaga game in the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Louisville's balanced attack and standout performance from J'vonne Hadley proved too much for the South Florida Bulls to overcome. The Cardinals' ability to limit the Bulls' second-chance opportunities and force them into tough shots was a key factor in the victory, keeping Louisville's March Madness hopes alive.