Louisville basketball is heating up at just the right time. Winners of five straight, the Cardinals are finally starting to look like the team many hoped they could be under Pat Kelsey.
And make no mistake - this isn’t just a soft stretch of the schedule. They’re not just winning, they’re dominating.
The latest proof? A 41-point beatdown of NC State followed by a convincing 11-point win over Baylor - both games where Mikel Brown Jr. took center stage. Brown’s emergence has been a game-changer for Louisville, giving them a dynamic, confident floor general who’s not just putting up numbers, but setting the tone on both ends of the court.
With the team finding its rhythm, the buzz around this Louisville squad is growing - and fast. There's real belief among the fanbase that this group has the depth, talent, and momentum to make a serious run in March.
A recent poll showed the majority of fans believe this team has Elite Eight - even Final Four - potential. And based on how they’re playing right now, it’s hard to argue.
But despite all that momentum, the Cardinals were hit with a surprising snub this week. College basketball analyst Andy Katz released his latest “Power 37” rankings, and Louisville landed all the way down at No. 24 - a placement that raised more than a few eyebrows in Cardinal country.
Fans didn’t hold back. Social media lit up with reactions ranging from disbelief to outright laughter.
Many called the rankings “rage bait,” while others dismissed them as a joke altogether. The biggest sticking point?
Louisville being ranked behind a handful of teams they’ve clearly outperformed lately - including St. Louis, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Wisconsin, and, most notably, Kentucky.
That last one stings a little more than the rest. Kentucky, sitting at No. 14 in Katz’s rankings, has lost two of its last five, including a blowout 25-point loss to Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile, Louisville is climbing, both in terms of performance and in the AP Poll, where they currently sit at No. 21.
Kentucky, for what it’s worth, has dropped out of those rankings entirely.
So when fans saw the Wildcats ranked ten spots higher in Katz’s list, the reaction was swift and loud. Some questioned whether the analyst had even been watching recent games. Others simply laughed it off, refusing to let the perceived slight derail the good vibes surrounding this team.
Here’s the thing: rankings like these aren’t the final word, especially not in February. What matters now is what Louisville does with the opportunity in front of them. And that opportunity is massive.
The Cardinals have a chance to build a serious NCAA Tournament résumé down the stretch. Matchups against SMU, Clemson, North Carolina, and Miami all loom large. Win a few of those - especially on the road - and the national narrative will have no choice but to catch up.
Next up: a road test at SMU in Dallas, tipping off tomorrow night at 7 p.m. local time. Another chance for Louisville to prove they’re not just a hot team - they’re a legitimate contender.