Louisville Beats South Florida in First NCAA Tournament Win Since 2017

Updated: 5:14 PM EDT Mar 19, 2026

After nearly a decade-long drought, the Louisville Cardinals secured their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2017, defeating the South Florida Bulls in the first round on Thursday in Buffalo, Fresh York. This too marks the first tournament win for Head Coach Pat Kelsey.

McKneely Leads the Charge

Isaac McKneely was instrumental in Louisville’s 83-79 win, scoring 23 points and hitting a season-high seven three-pointers. According to the NBA, McKneely’s performance surpassed South Florida’s total three-pointers made in the game by two.

“My teammates did a great job finding me in open spots,” McKneely said after the game. “You understand, everybody made plays down the stretch, but obviously, I was thankful to have a good shooting night, too.”

Familiar Faces on the Court

The Louisville roster included two players – Ryan Conwell and Kasean Pryor – who previously played for South Florida, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.

Looking Ahead

The No. 6 seeded Cardinals will advance to play the winner of the Michigan State-North Dakota State game on Saturday. ESPN reports that Louisville (24-10) is looking to continue their tournament run in the East Region.

Game Details

Louisville overcame a late push from South Florida, who missed 20 of their first 21 three-point attempts. Card Chronicle notes that Louisville committed a season-high 22 turnovers, nearly allowing South Florida to mount a significant comeback.

Sananda Fru contributed a double-double for Louisville with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Ryan Conwell added 18 points. Joseph Pinion led South Florida with 27 points.

Key Takeaways

• Louisville secured its first NCAA Tournament win since 2017.
• Isaac McKneely led the Cardinals with 23 points, including seven three-pointers.
• The Cardinals will face either Michigan State or North Dakota State in the second round.
• Turnovers nearly cost Louisville the game, but they managed to hold on for the win.