Louisville basketball must play the villain role as it faces South Florida in the NCAA Tournament’s first round BUFFALO, N.Y. — Louisville basketball is expected to take on the role of the underdog in its matchup against South Florida on Thursday, despite being the higher-seeded team. The No. 6-seeded Cardinals will face the No. 11-seeded Bulls, who are widely favored to pull off an upset in the tournament. The game carries extra weight due to the emotional stories of both teams’ coaches and players, which will be highlighted during the broadcast. The 2025 NCAA Tournament has seen fewer upsets compared to previous years, partly due to the influence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal, which have made Cinderella stories less likely. South Florida’s underdog narrative, however, resonates strongly with fans. The Bulls’ journey, combined with the personal stories of their coaching staff and players, positions them as a lovable underdog against Louisville. Louisville, on the other hand, faces its own challenges. The Cardinals have not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2017, and head coach Pat Kelsey is 0-5 in the tournament, including a first-round loss to Creighton last year. The team is also hoping to keep its season alive into next week, which could give star guard Mikel Brown Jr. time to recover from a back injury. “I wouldn’t call us villains,” UofL guard Isaac McKneely said. “But obviously, people are going to root against us.” The Cards’ opponents, however, are likely to be the focus of the crowd’s support. South Florida’s coach, Bryan Hodgson, has a compelling backstory that adds to the team’s appeal. Adopted as a toddler and raised in western New York, Hodgson founded a foundation to help foster kids and their families access sports.#south_florida #pat_kelsey #louisville_basketball #bryan_hodgson #isiah_jones
