Louisville Eyes Redemption in Knoxville Showdown Against Tennessee
KNOXVILLE, TN - There are early-season games, and then there are measuring-stick moments. For Louisville basketball, tonight’s clash with No. 23 Tennessee falls squarely in the latter category.
Back in early November, the Cardinals took a humbling loss to the Volunteers - a blowout that served as a reality check in Game 2 of Pat Kelsey’s debut season at the helm. Now, with a 9-1 record and momentum on their side, No. 11 Louisville returns to Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center with a shot at redemption and a chance to show just how far they’ve come.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, and the stakes feel bigger than just a non-conference matchup.
A Statement Win Within Reach
Louisville is fresh off arguably its most complete performance of the season - a 99-73 dismantling of Memphis at the KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals didn’t just beat their rival; they buried them with a barrage from deep, shooting 51.4% from three, and showcased serious depth with 44 points coming off the bench.
That kind of offensive rhythm, combined with a deep rotation that’s starting to click, makes this Louisville team dangerous - especially when the threes are falling. But tonight’s matchup will test them in a completely different way.
Tennessee: Tough, Tested, and Rested
Rick Barnes’ Tennessee squad comes in on a three-game skid - losses to Kansas, Syracuse, and Illinois - but don’t let that fool you. The Vols haven’t played since December 6, and that time off could be just what they needed to regroup.
Tennessee still ranks 18th on KenPom.com and boasts the nation’s top offensive rebounding rate. That’s not just a stat - it’s a mindset.
The Vols crash the glass with a physicality that wears teams down. Add in the 13th-ranked defense nationally, and you’ve got a team that can grind out wins even when the offense isn’t firing on all cylinders.
In short: they’re built for games like this.
Kelsey: “A Great Opportunity”
After the Memphis win, Kelsey didn’t mince words about what this matchup means.
“Hall of Fame coach, No. 1 rebounding team in the country, big-time environment,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for our team. We’ve got to have two great days of preparation, then be ready to go into that lion’s den.”
That lion’s den is Thompson-Boling Arena - one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. And for a Louisville team still defining its identity under a new regime, it’s the kind of environment that can either expose flaws or reveal something special.
What to Watch For
- Battle on the Boards: Tennessee dominates the glass, especially on offense. If Louisville can hold their own - or better yet, limit second-chance points - they’ll have a real shot.
- Bench Production: The Cards’ bench exploded against Memphis.
If that second unit keeps producing, it gives Kelsey the flexibility to match Tennessee’s physicality without wearing down his starters.
- Three-Point Shooting: Louisville’s 51.4% from deep last game wasn’t just a hot night - it was a sign this team can stretch the floor. If the shots are falling again tonight, it could open up everything else.
How to Watch and Listen
- TV: The game airs on ESPN, with Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes on the call.
- Streaming: Available via ESPN.com, the ESPN app, ESPN+ (subscription required), or FuboTV (free trial available).
- Radio: Paul Rogers and Bob Valvano will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville), and streaming on GoCards.com.
Betting Odds and Predictions
According to DraftKings, Louisville enters as a 2.5-point underdog, with the over/under set at 157.5. KenPom gives the Cards a 49% chance to win, projecting a tight 80-79 Tennessee victory. BartTorvik leans slightly in the Vols’ favor too, but both models suggest this one could go either way.
What’s Next for Louisville
Regardless of tonight’s outcome, the Cardinals will return home to face Montana on Saturday before heading west for road games at California and Stanford to close out the non-conference slate. Then it’s full steam ahead into ACC play, starting with a heavyweight matchup against Duke on January 6.
Louisville’s 2025-26 Schedule So Far
- Oct. 24: vs. Kansas (Exh.) - L, 90-82
- Oct. 28: vs. Bucknell (Exh.) - W, 99-76
- Nov. 3: vs. South Carolina State - W, 104-45
- Nov. 6: vs. Jackson State - W, 106-70
- Nov. 11: vs. Kentucky - W, 96-88
- Nov. 15: vs. Ohio - W, 106-81
- Nov. 21: vs. Cincinnati - W, 74-64
- Nov. 24: vs. Eastern Michigan - W, 87-46
- Nov. 26: vs. NJIT - W, 104-47
- Dec. 3: at Arkansas - L, 89-80
- Dec. 6: vs.
Indiana (Indianapolis) - W, 87-78
- Dec. 13: vs.
Memphis - W, 99-73
- Dec. 16: at Tennessee - 7 p.m., ESPN
- Dec. 20: vs. Montana - Noon, ACC Network
- Dec. 30: at California - 9 p.m., ACC Network
- Jan. 2: at Stanford - 8 p.m., ACC Network
- Jan. 6: vs. Duke - 7 p.m., ESPN
- Jan. 10: vs. Boston College - Noon, The CW
- Jan. 13: vs. Virginia - 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
- Jan. 17: at Pittsburgh - 8 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
- Jan. 24: vs.
Virginia Tech - 3:30 p.m., The CW
- Jan. 26: at Duke - 7 p.m., ESPN
- Jan. 31: vs. SMU - 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2
- Feb. 4: vs. Notre Dame - 7 p.m., ESPN2/ESPNU
- Feb. 7: at Wake Forest - Noon, ACC Network
- Feb. 9: vs.
N.C. State - 7 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 14: vs. Baylor (Fort Worth, TX) - 4 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 17: at SMU - 7 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
- Feb. 21: vs.
Georgia Tech - 2:15 p.m., The CW
- Feb. 23: at North Carolina - 7 p.m., ESPN
- Feb. 28: at Clemson - TBA, ESPN/ESPN2
- Mar. 3: vs.
Syracuse - 9 p.m., ACC Network
- Mar. 7: at Miami - 2 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU
- Mar. 10-14: ACC Tournament - Spectrum Center, Charlotte
Louisville’s 2025-26 Roster Highlights
This is a group that blends experience and upside - from veteran guards like Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely to rising talents like Sananda Fru and freshman Mikel Brown Jr. The frontcourt rotation is deep, with Aly Khalifa and Kasean Pryor providing size and savvy, while wings like Khani Rooths and Kobe Rodgers bring versatility on both ends.
Final Word
Tonight’s game is more than just a chance to even the score with Tennessee. It’s a litmus test for how far this Louisville team has come under Pat Kelsey - and how far they might be able to go.
Expect a battle in Knoxville. And don’t be surprised if it comes down to the final possession.