Louisville vs South Florida: Up-Tempo Clash

0:00On March 17th, number 6, C. Louisville faces number 11, South Florida, and the NCAA tournaments first round on Thursday afternoon in Buffalo, New York. The Cardinals finish 23-10 while the Bulls wrapped up at 25-8. Both teams rank high in scoring and play at a quick tempo, promising an up-tempo battle. Louisville entered the season with big hopes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, but fell short of expectations in Coach Pat Kelsey's second year. Freshman Point Guard Mikel Brown Jr. has been key, averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. He's missed 12 contests with a back injury, including the conference tournament, and his availability remains up in the air after recent progress. South Florida's story stands out after overcoming loss. They hired Brian Hodgson last spring, following the death of their prior coach for medical complications last October. Now in their first tournament appearance since 2012, the Bulls ride an 11-game winning streak.

1:00Standout performers fuel both sides. For the Bulls Division II transfer, Wes and his lead at 16.8 points per game, with Isaiah Nelson adding 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds. Louisville relies on Ryan Conwell's team-high, 18.7 points, plus shooters like Javon Hadley and veteran Isaac McNeely. These former conference foes haven't met since February 2014, with Louisville holding a 29-4 all-time edge. The Cardinals chased their first tournament win since 2017, while South Florida hides a deep run in this fast paced clash.