The Louisville Cardinals seem to be still on a mission to prove that they can compete with the top teams in the country as they face an eight-game stretch to end the regular season. And the journey ahead is anything but easy, with seven games against teams ranked in the top 80 of the NET Rankings.
The recent game against No. 19/20 Miami was a clear indication of the Cardinals’ ability to put up big numbers on the offensive end, but their efforts were in vain as they suffered a 93-85 road loss. This game marked the first time the Cardinals have shot 57% or better against an AP ranked team since 2005 and the first time they have shot 57% or better on the road at a ranked team since 1992. At this point anything positive they haven’t done in 30 years, no matter how small, is a step in the right direction.
The upcoming home game against the No. 7/6 Virginia Cavaliers will be a true test of the Cardinals’ willingness to compete with one of the top teams in the nation. Louisville’s all-time record against the Cavaliers is 5-20, and even in a successful year would need to bring their A-game to secure a win.
The Cardinals have struggled against ranked opponents in recent years, with a record of 45 wins out of their last 106 games against AP ranked opponents, including a loss against No. 19 Miami in their last Top 25 matchup. However, Louisville has won 23 of their last 57 games when facing Top 10 teams.
To end the season on a high note, the Cardinals will need to improve their game as they face an uphill battle. The remaining opponents have an average NET ranking of 41, and the Cardinals will need to bring their best efforts to each game. Their recent reduction in turnovers and improved three-point shooting give fans hope that the team is making progress.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Kenny Payne, the Cardinals are preparing to face formidable opponents, including Florida State, Virginia Tech, and Duke. Each game will be a battle, and the Cardinals will need to fight tooth and nail to stay afloat.
Despite the loss to Miami on Feb. 11, the Louisville Cardinals have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about their chances against top-ranked opponents. One of the primary reasons for that optimism is senior guard El Ellis, who had an impressive game with 33 points and five assists against the Hurricanes.
Ellis’ performance was historic, as he became the first Cardinal with at least 33 points and five assists in a game since Darrell Griffith did so against Iowa in the 1980 Final Four. Ellis and Griffith are also the only two Cardinals to record multiple 30-point, five-assist games in a single season.
Over the last 16 games, Ellis has averaged 18.5 points, 5.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. He is currently one of 18 players in the nation with at least 435 points and 115 assists this season. Additionally, Ellis has been positive or even in 14 of the last 16 games, after having a positive or even assist-to-turnover ratio just three times in the first nine games of the season. In his last 11 games since the start of 2023, he has recorded 61 assists against just 34 turnovers.
But Ellis is not the only Cardinal making a difference. Redshirt junior forward Jae’Lyn Withers has been on fire in the past six games, averaging 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 50% from the field, 59% from 3-point range (17 of 29), and 79% from the free-throw line. Withers leads the ACC in conference play in 3-point shooting among players with at least 1.5 made 3s per game.
Redshirt freshman guard/forward Mike James has also stepped up his game in the last 11 games, averaging 12.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 45% from the field and 41% from the 3-point line. In the first 14 games of the year, James averaged just 6.9 points while shooting 44% overall and 31% from 3-point range.
Freshman forward Kamari Lands has also been impressive in the last five games, coming off the bench to average 10.4 points per game while shooting 59% from the field (17 of 29) and 56% from 3-point range (10 of 18). He has also been perfect from the free-throw line during that stretch, improving his season percentage to an impressive 94% (43 of 46).
The end of this season has a much different feel than in recent time, with the squad not even expected to make the NIT field much less a NCAA tournament berth. Fans of the Louisville Cardinals have been looking to next season almost since the start of this one, with few answers for the problems that plagued them all year. They may not have the best record against ranked opponents, but they have shown that they are capable of competing at a high level, though the issue was always sustaining the effort. As the season comes to a close, the Cardinals should work to improve on the little things and show supporters that there is still some pride in the product put on the court.
