Louisville Earns No. 6 Seed for NCAA Tournament, Draws USF in Opener

The Cardinals will get their run in the Big Dance started against the Bulls.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 10:07pm

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The Louisville men's basketball team has earned a No. 6 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and will face 11-seeded South Florida in the first round. The Cardinals, led by second-year head coach Pat Kelsey, are seeking their first tournament win since 2017 after falling in the first round last year.

Why it matters

Louisville entered the season with high expectations as a potential Final Four contender, but has had some ups and downs, including briefly falling out of the AP Top 25. This tournament appearance is crucial for the program's continued momentum under Kelsey.

The details

Louisville (23-10) will take on South Florida (25-8) on Thursday, March 19, with the tip-off time to be determined. The Cardinals are placed in the East Region, with their first and second round games to be played at the Keybank Center in Buffalo, New York. Their region also includes No. 3 Michigan State, No. 11 North Dakota State, and the top four seeds of Duke, UConn, MSU, and Kansas.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament is scheduled to begin with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.
  • Louisville's first round game against South Florida will be played on Thursday, March 19.

The players

Pat Kelsey

The second-year head coach of the Louisville men's basketball team.

Ryan Conwell

The shooting guard for Louisville who was named a Second Team All-ACC selection.

Mikel Brown Jr.

The point guard for Louisville who earned a Third Team All-ACC nod and was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team.

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What’s next

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The takeaway

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