Louisville Defeats Baylor Behind Disruptive Guard Play

J'Vonne Hadley credits Louisville's defensive intensity for sparking the victory

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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No. 24 Louisville defeated Baylor 82-71 on Saturday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, extending the Cardinals' winning streak to five games. Louisville's defensive pressure, led by its disruptive guard play, was the key to the victory according to guard J'Vonne Hadley. The Cardinals held Baylor to just 36.7% shooting from the field and 2-of-22 from 3-point range, despite the Bears attempting 10 more free throws. Mikel Brown Jr. led all scorers with 29 points, while Hadley contributed 20 points and 5 rebounds for Louisville.

Why it matters

This win extends Louisville's winning streak to five games as they close out their non-conference schedule. The Cardinals' defensive intensity and ability to disrupt Baylor's offense proved to be the difference in the game, highlighting their potential as a strong defensive team in the ACC.

The details

Louisville outscored Baylor 48-37 in the second half, connecting on 15 of 23 field goal attempts. The Cardinals dominated the paint, scoring 40 points inside, and attempted a season-low 18 3-pointers. Louisville forward Kasean Pryor briefly left the game in the first half after receiving a technical foul for comments directed at the Baylor bench, but later returned in the second half.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 15, 2026 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

The players

J'Vonne Hadley

A Louisville guard who contributed 20 points and 5 rebounds in the victory, and credited the team's defensive intensity as the key to the win.

Mikel Brown Jr.

The Louisville guard led all scorers with 29 points, adding 6 assists and a season-high 5 steals.

Kasean Pryor

A Louisville forward who briefly left the game in the first half after receiving a technical foul, but later returned in the second half and contributed a field goal, defensive plays, and a rebound.

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What they’re saying

“Our guards really disrupted them and you know it ignited a lot of our offense... you know transition buckets... we disrupted them and that's what really helped our offense go.”

— J'Vonne Hadley, Louisville Guard (world-today-news.com)

What’s next

Louisville's next scheduled game is on February 17th against Miami.

The takeaway

Louisville's defensive intensity and ability to disrupt their opponent's offense proved to be the key factor in their victory over Baylor. The Cardinals' strong defensive performance highlights their potential as a formidable team in the ACC conference.