Cardinals Travel to Cincinnati for 101st Meeting with Bearcats

Friday, November 21

Cincinnati, Ohio | Heritage Bank Center

6:30 p.m.

University of Louisville

Cincinnati

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Cardinals Travel to Cincinnati for 101st Meeting with Bearcats

November 20, 2025 | Men's Basketball

Pat Kelsey Press Conference Kobe Rodgers/Ryan Conwell Press Conference Cincinnati Game Notes Louisville Game Notes

Louisville is set to play Cincinnati on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 in The Hoops Classic in Partnership with Caresource

By: Dana Brown

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville men's basketball leaves the 502 for the first time this season to head up I-71 to renew a 104-year old rivalry with Cincinnati. The two programs will play in The Hoops Classic in Partnership with Caresource on Friday evening in the Heritage Bank Center at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Both teams enter the matchup undefeated; the Cardinals most recently defeated Ohio 106-81 on Saturday while the Bearcats bested Mount St. Mary's (Md.) on Sunday 72-55.

Louisville has faced Cincinnati 100 times, the most matchups between any two programs in UofL's 112-year history. The Cardinals own a 56-44 record over the Bearcats, with a 3-4 mark on neutral courts. The most recent meeting between the two teams happened at the Maui Invitational in 2022. Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey has never played the Bearcats as a head coach, but is familiar with them as he played at Xavier from 1995-98. His Musketeers went 2-1 over his three seasons there.

GAME 5
Listen: Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 FM & WGTK 970 AM flagship);
Streaming (William McDermott, pxp | Bob Valvano, analysis)
Watch: ESPN2 (Kevin Brown, pxp | Jay Williams, analysis)
Live Stats: bdGlobal Statbroadcast
Buy Tickets: Purchase Tickets

CARDINAL NOTES

Louisville's eight-point win over Kentucky marked the largest margin of victory the Cards have had over the Cats since 2008. It was the first time UofL has won the Battle of the Bluegrass since 2020, and the first time it claimed victory at home in the matchup since 2012.
Louisville is 31-0 under Kelsey when leading with five minutes to play.
Freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. was named Co-Player and Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday after averaging 24.0 ppg, 6.0 apg and shooting 48.1% from the floor in Louisville's two Week 2 victories.
A pair of Cardinals represent Louisville on the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List, Oscar Robertson Trophy Preseason Watch List and the Wooden Award Preseason Watch List; both Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. were named to the esteemed lists.
Freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr. was named to the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award Preseason Watch List while senior guard Ryan Conwell was named the Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Preseason Watch List.
Louisville led 59-15 at halftime against South Carolina State on Nov. 3. The 44-point halftime lead was the largest in program history.
Louisville's two season opening victories marked the first time the Cardinals have had back-to-back 30-point victories since 2016.
Head coach Pat Kelsey is the reigning ACC Coach of the Year - he is one of 10 active DI head coaches that have earned a Coach of the Year honor in three or more DI conferences.
There are 14 players returning to DI this season that have made at least 175 3-pointers with a career 3-point field goal percentage of 38% or more; Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely are two of those 14.
Currently, six of Louisville's 2025-26 opponents are ranked in the AP Poll, with five more receiving votes