The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team continues its remarkable resurgence under coach Pat Kelsey, securing an 89-81 victory over Florida State on Saturday to improve to 20-6 (13-2 ACC). This win marks Louisville’s ninth consecutive conference victory – their longest ACC streak since joining the league in 2014.
Hepburn’s Heroics Fuel Late Surge
Transfer guard Chucky Hepburn delivered a career-high 28 points against FSU, including 12 in the final 6 minutes to seal the win. The Wisconsin transfer has elevated his game recently, averaging 21.4 PPG in February while shooting 48% from three-point range . His backcourt partnership with Charleston transfer Reyne Smith (17 points vs FSU) gives Louisville one of the nation’s most explosive guard tandems.
ACC Standings Shakeup
Louisville now sits tied for second in the ACC with Clemson at 13-2 – just 1.5 games behind Duke . Their remaining schedule features critical matchups:
| Date | Opponent | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | @ Virginia Tech | Quad 1 road game |
| Mar 1 | vs Pittsburgh | Senior Day implications |
Tournament Outlook
ESPN’s latest bracketology projects Louisville as a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament – a stunning improvement from last year’s 8-24 disaster. Key factors driving their success:
- Transfer portal dominance: 8 of top 9 scorers are transfers
- Elite defense: Ranked 12th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency
- Clutch performance: 7-1 in games decided by ≤5 points
