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There may not be a quieter, yet more important, 11 minutes in the 2025-26 Louisville basketball season than senior 7-footer Aly Khalifa's in the

Louisville Cardinals center Aly Khalifa (15) is defended by Clemson Tigers forward Nick Davidson (11) Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, during the NCAA men’s basketball game at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina. Clemson Tigers won 80-75.

Cardinal Sports Basketball

Cardinal Sports

Aly Khalifa's 'flu game' and silent impact in win over Miami

On the first play of the second half, Mikel Brown Jr. was late to closeout to a shooter.   This then led to a miss, where Louisville missed a

Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) is fouled byLouisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Louisville's lackluster defensive effort leads to loss at North Carolina

Editor’s Note: Introducing Cardinal Sports Insider. Moving forward, specifically throughout the basketball season, the Cardinal Sports Insider will

Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) pressures NC State Wolfpack guard Quadir Copeland (11) during ACC basketball February 9, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Cardinal Sports Insider: It's time for Louisville's guards to step up defensively

The University of Louisville men's basketball team travels to Texas and takes on the Big 12's Baylor Bears on Saturday before restarting ACC play

Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey signed a fan's Adidas shoe after the Cards beat NC State in ACC basketball February 9, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky.© Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

VIDEO: Louisville's Pat Kelsey, Khani Rooths, and Aly Khalifa preview Baylor

Louisville was forced to respond following a historic road loss at No. 4 Duke, and did it with an emphatic second half in an 88-74 win over SMU.

Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) celebrates slamming the ball home for two against SMU Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center. Jan. 31, 2026

How it happened: Bench pushes Louisville past SMU

As a young college basketball fan, I remember thinking of Louisville as one of the toughest, most rugged, and physical programs in the country. 

Jan 6, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey reacts during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Louisville basketball in 2026: Where's the nasty?

Louisville started Monday night’s contest at No. 4 Duke with promise. It didn’t end that way, as the Cardinals left Cameron Indoor Stadium in an

Jan 26, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Patrick Ngongba II (21) drives to the basket as Louisville Cardinals guard J'Vonne Hadley (1) defends during the first half at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

How it happened: Louisville blasted by Duke, dominated on interior

Louisville Cardinals center Aly Khalifa (15) celebrates after scoring a three-point shot against Duke Tuesday night at KFC Yum Center January 6, 2026.

Cardinal Sports Insider: Louisville taking defensive strides, begins important ACC stretch

Desperate for a win at Pittsburgh, 20th-ranked Louisville played that way in Saturday night's 100-59 win over the Panthers.  It was a much-needed

Jan 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Omari Witherspoon (8) drives to the basket against Louisville Cardinals guard Adrian Wooley (14) during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

How it happened: No. 20 Louisville smacks Pittsburgh

“Can you guard them?”  I’m not sure if this is a reference everyone will understand (NBA fans might), but it was the only thing I could think about

Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) directs a play as Louisville Cardinals guard J'vonne Hadley (1) guards during a conference ACC game. January 6, 2026.

Defense in despair: Can Louisville guard?

The Louisville Cardinals drop one at home versus the Duke Blue Devils, 84-73, bringing their record to 11-4 (1-2) on the season.  The Cardinals got

Jan 6, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) dribbles against Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Duke defeated Louisville 84-73. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Louisville's lackluster second half hard to overcome against Duke

No. 20 Louisville lost to Duke 84-73, bringing their record to 11-4 (1-2) on the year.   Pat Kelsey discusses Louisville's difficulty with

VIDEO: Louisville's Pat Kelsey, Ryan Conwell, and Aly Khalifa talk to media following 84-73 loss to Duke

Cardinal Sports Insider: Volume 4

Cardinal Sports Insider: Sananda Fru's offensive enlightening, Louisville heads to California

The University of Louisville men's basketball program officially closed its home chapter in 2025 with a 94-54 win over Montana.   After surrendering

Dec 20, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Isaac McKneely (10) dribbles against Montana Grizzlies guard Tyler Isaak (8) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Montana 94-54. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

How it happened: No. 11 Louisville dismantles Montana

Cardinal Sports Insider: J'Vonne Hadley, Khani Rooths, Pat Kelsey

Cardinal Sports Insider: Louisville's matchup problem and square pegs in round holes

Louisville basketball and Pat Kelsey travel on the road to Arkansas tomorrow, so it made sense that we took a step back after the first month of the

Nov 24, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell (3) reacts during the second half against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Eastern Michigan 87-46. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Ryan Conwell Louisville MVP

Louisville basketball roundtable: MVPs, tough schedule, and most underrated

Spending last year on the sideline, Louisville big man Aly Khalifa is finally seeing dividends pay off. Louisville blew past Eastern Michigan 87-46,

Louisville Cardinals center Aly Khalifa (15) had 11 points and was 3-for-4 in three-point shooting as well as six rebounds, five assists and three blocks as Louisville rolls 87-46 over Eastern Michigan to improve to 6-0 Monday night, Nov. 24, 2025 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Khalifa Louisville

Aly Khalifa has breakout performance in win over Eastern Michigan

After a slow start to begin the game, Louisville pulled out in front and never looked back, finishing off Eastern Michigan 87-46.  Louisville was

Louisville beats Eastern Michigan behind Khalifa, McKneely, bench effort

Louisville Cardinals center Aly Khalifa (15) celebrates with Louisville Cardinals guard Isaac McKneely (10) as the Cards make a stop in the second half against Eastern Michigan Monday night, Nov. 24, 2025 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Keys to victory: Bench effort leads Louisville past Eastern Michigan

No. 6 Louisville defeated Eastern Michigan 87-46 on Monday night, pushing the Cardinals' record to 6-0 on the season.  Cardinals head coach Pat

Nov 24, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey reacts during the second half against the Eastern Michigan Eagles at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Eastern Michigan 87-46. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

VIDEO: Louisville's Pat Kelsey, Aly Khalifa, and Isaac McKneely discuss victory over Eastern Michigan

The credit for UConn's run to back-to-back national championships seems to always be given to the creativity of the offense that Dan Hurley, Luke

Fru, Khalifa Film Room

Field of 68 Basketball

Field of 68

FILM ROOM: Why Sananda Fru and Aly Khalifa are the key to Louisville's offense

Louisville kicks off the season Monday, November 3, against South Carolina State. The Cards finished exhibition play with a 1-1 record and now look

Louisville Cardinals mascot is bathed in red as the team takes on Bucknell during an exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday October 28, 2028.

What to watch: No. 11 Louisville opens season versus South Carolina State

Louisville's exhibition games are officially in the books. The Cards were able to see valuable minutes to unpack some of their strength and

A referee has to separate Bucknell Bison forward Amon Dörries (22) and Louisville Cardinals forward Khani Rooths (9) during an exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday October 28, 2028.

What did we learn in Louisville’s exhibition games?

Louisville basketball saw the floor for the first time this season on Friday night, a 90-82 exhibition loss to No. 19 Kansas.   And while the game

Louisville Cardinals men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey talks to his team during the exhibition game against Kansas at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Friday, October 24, 2025.

Louisville Cardinals men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey talks to his team during the exhibition game against Kansas at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Friday, October 24, 2025. © Matt Stone/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Four takeaways: Louisville's Mikel Brown, bigs struggle in Kansas loss

Louisville basketball is right around the corner, and the media met with head coach Pat Kelsey and the 11th-ranked Cardinals to preview the 2025-26

Louisville men's basketball coach Pat Kelsey talks to reporters during the Cardinals' media day for the 2025-26 basketball season on Wednesday Oct. 15, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville basketball notebook: Media Day, Kasean Pryor, and the bigs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Last week, we spent a day hanging out with Louisville at their practice facility, watching the team workout and chatting with