Coverage from the game:

Brown: While Mikel Brown Jr. is out, Isaac McKneely must play more like this

Coverage during the game:

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PITTSBURGH — Pat Kelsey made a straightforward statement following Louisville basketball’s third loss in four games on Tuesday night.

“We’re not a very good team right now,” the coach said after the No. 19 Cardinals fell 79-70 to No. 16 Virginia at the KFC Yum! Center — struggling against the Cavaliers for over 38 minutes and trailing by as many as 15 points.

“I think we have the capacity to be a very, very, very good team,” he added. “But the team right now with Louisville on their chest isn’t good enough.”

Kelsey promised that things would change. Whether that promise holds true remains to be seen, especially when UofL (12-5, 2-3 ACC) travels to Pittsburgh (8-9, 1-3) for an 8 p.m. tipoff at Petersen Events Center.

Key Challenges Facing the Cardinals

The recent struggles of the Louisville basketball team have been glaring. After a strong start to the season, the Cardinals have faced a series of setbacks that have left them questioning their current performance. The loss to Virginia was particularly disheartening, as it highlighted several areas where the team needs to improve.

One of the main issues has been the inconsistency in player performance. While some players have shown flashes of brilliance, others have struggled to maintain focus and intensity throughout the game. This lack of consistency has made it difficult for the team to build momentum or sustain success.

Another challenge is the absence of key players due to injury or foul trouble. Mikel Brown Jr., who has been a vital contributor, has been sidelined, forcing other players to step up. Isaac McKneely, for example, has had to take on a larger role, but his performance has not yet met expectations.

A Turning Point for the Team

Despite the recent losses, Kelsey remains optimistic about the potential of the Louisville team. He believes that the players have the talent and ability to become a top-tier program again. However, he also acknowledges that the current roster is not performing at the level they are capable of.

“The team right now with Louisville on their chest isn’t good enough,” Kelsey said. “But I believe we have the capacity to be a very, very, very good team.”

This sentiment reflects a broader message from the coaching staff: the team must find a way to elevate their performance and start winning consistently. With the upcoming matchup against Pittsburgh, there is an opportunity to begin turning things around.

Looking Ahead

The game against Pittsburgh will be a crucial test for the Cardinals. It is a chance to prove that they can compete at a high level and bounce back from their recent losses. If they can secure a win, it could serve as a much-needed boost for the team’s morale and confidence.

However, the road ahead is still uncertain. The team will need to address its inconsistencies, improve its defensive efforts, and ensure that every player is fully committed to the game plan. Only then can they hope to return to the form that made them a powerhouse in college basketball.

As the Cardinals prepare for their next challenge, the pressure is on for them to show that they are capable of rising to the occasion. Whether they can do so remains to be seen.

Led by eighth-year coach Jeff Capel, the Panthers entered the weekend at 101st in the NET and 84th on KenPom.com’s adjusted efficiency rankings. They last played Wednesday — beating Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Follow along with live updates from Petersen Events Center below:

Final score | Louisville 100, Pitt 59

The Cards jumped on Pitt from the start and never let up, posting their biggest margin of victory in an ACC game this season. Maybe since joining the league.

Ryan Conwell led the team with a game-high 24 points as UofL shot a sizzling 63% from the field and 51% from 3-point range. J’Vonne Hadley added 17 points for Louisville, and C-A-R-D-S chants were audible in the second half in the arena.

7:48, 2H | Louisville 80, Pitt 51

UofL is on its way to wrapping up its second ACC road win in three tries. Pitt has outscored the Cards by two this half but has never put together a serious run to close the deficit.

Halftime score | Louisville 53, Pitt 22

The Cards jumped out early and keep pouring it on the Panthers. Isaac McKneely leads all scorers with 11 points for the Cards. He was followed by nine each from J’Vonne Hadley and Aly Khalifa.

The 3-point shot has been good to UofL, as six different players have made at least one, contributing to an 11-of-19 performance from behind the arc.

10:57 1H | Louisville 28, Pitt 7

The Cards’ three-touchdown lead already feels like it’s unsurmountable. Pitt called another timeout to a chorus of boos from the Petersen Events Center crowd.

15:23 1H | Louisville 13, Pitt 0

The Cards seemed to learn from their slow start in the loss to Virginia when they trailed 14-0. They’ve just about flipped it perfectly against Pitt, with a 13-0 lead thanks to Isaac McKneely making three 3-pointers. It forced Pitt coach Jeff Capel to call timeout before the under-16 media timeout.

Startling lineups | Louisville at Pitt basketball

Here are the Cardinals’ starters:

• G Ryan Conwell
• G Adrian Wooley
• G Isaac McKneely
• F J’Vonne Hadley
• C Sananda Fru

Here are the Panthers’ starters:

• G Damarco Minor
• G Brandin Cummings
• G Omari Witherspoon
• F Roman Siulepa
• C Cameron Corhen

Will Khani Rooths play for Louisville basketball today?

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Mikel Brown Jr. injury update for Louisville basketball game today

Click here to read the latest.

What channel is Louisville vs Pittsburgh basketball on?

The game between the Cards and the Panthers will air on ESPN2, which is channel 606 on AT&T U-Verse; channel 209 on DirecTV; channel 143 on Dish; and channel 509 on Spectrum.

Dave O’Brien (play-by-play) and Cory Alexander (analyst) will be on the call.

If you subscribe to a cable package, you’ll be able to livestream the game via ESPN.com and the ESPN app. If you don’t have cable, you can livestream the game via ESPN+ (subscriber only) or Fubo, which offers a free trial here.

How to listen to Louisville basketball vs Pittsburgh on the radio

Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Jody Demling (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).

You can also listen online via GoCards.com.

Louisville vs Pittsburgh basketball betting odds, score predictions

Betting odds: Louisville is a 6 ⅟₂-point favorite (-110) on DraftKings, which set the over/under at 151 ⅟₂ points (-110). 

Score predictions: KenPom gives the Cards a 73% chance of winning and projects an 80-73 final score in their favor. BartTorvik.com is also forecasting a Louisville victory (74%), with a projected final score of 80-73.

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Questions can be submitted via email (bholton@gannett.com) and X, formerly Twitter, to @brooksHolton.

Louisville basketball 2025-26 schedule

• Friday, Oct. 24: vs. Kansas (exhibition) | SCORE: Kansas 90, Louisville 82
• Tuesday, Oct. 28: vs. Bucknell (exhibition) | SCORE: Louisville 99, Bucknell 76
• Monday, Nov. 3: vs. South Carolina State | SCORE: Louisville 104, South Carolina State 45
• Thursday, Nov. 6: vs. Jackson State | SCORE: Louisville 106, Jackson State 70
• Tuesday, Nov. 11: vs. Kentucky | SCORE: Louisville 96, Kentucky 88
• Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. Ohio | SCORE: Louisville 106, Ohio 81
• Friday, Nov. 21: vs. Cincinnati | SCORE: Louisville 74, Cincinnati 64
• Monday, Nov. 24: vs. Eastern Michigan | SCORE: Louisville 87, Eastern Michigan 46
• Wednesday, Nov. 26: vs. NJIT | SCORE: Louisville 104, NJIT 47
• Wednesday, Dec. 3: at Arkansas (ACC/SEC Challenge) | SCORE: Arkansas 89, Louisville 80
• Saturday, Dec. 6: vs. Indiana (at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis) | SCORE: Louisville 87, Indiana 78
• Saturday, Dec. 13: vs. Memphis | SCORE: Louisville 99, Memphis 73
• Tuesday, Dec. 16: at Tennessee | SCORE: Tennessee 83, Louisville 62
• Saturday, Dec. 20: vs. Montana | SCORE: Louisville 94, Montana 54
• Tuesday, Dec. 30: at California | SCORE: Louisville 90, California 70
• Friday, Jan. 2: at Stanford | SCORE: Stanford 80, Louisville 76
• Tuesday, Jan. 6: vs. Duke | SCORE: Duke 84, Louisville 73
• Saturday, Jan. 10: vs. Boston College | SCORE: Louisville 75, Boston College 62
• Tuesday, Jan. 13: vs. Virginia | SCORE: Virginia 79, Louisville 70
• Saturday, Jan. 17: at Pittsburgh | SCORE: Louisville 100, Pittsburgh 59
• Saturday, Jan. 24: vs. Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m., The CW
• Monday, Jan. 26: at Duke, 7 p.m., ESPN
• Saturday, Jan. 31: vs. SMU, 7 p.m., either ESPN or ESPN2
• Wednesday, Feb. 4: vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m., either ESPN2 or ESPNU
• Saturday, Feb. 7: at Wake Forest, noon, ACC Network
• Monday, Feb. 9: vs. N.C. State, 7 p.m., ESPN
• Saturday, Feb. 14: vs. Baylor (at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas), 4 p.m., ESPN
• Tuesday, Feb. 17: at SMU, 7 p.m., either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU
• Saturday, Feb. 21: vs. Georgia Tech, 2:15 p.m., The CW
• Monday, Feb. 23: at North Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN
• Saturday, Feb. 28: at Clemson, TBA, either ESPN or ESPN2
• Tuesday, March 3: vs. Syracuse, 9 p.m., ACC Network
• Saturday, March 7: at Miami, 2 p.m., either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU
• Tuesday, March 10, through Saturday, March 14: ACC Tournament (Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina)

Louisville basketball 2025-26 roster

• Mikel Brown Jr. (guard, freshman)
• Mouhamed Camara (forward, freshman)
• Ryan Conwell (guard, senior)
• Sananda Fru (forward/center, junior)
• J’Vonne Hadley (guard, sixth year)
• Will Hanke (guard, freshman)
• Aly Khalifa (center, redshirt senior)
• Spencer Legg (guard, senior)
• Isaac McKneely (guard, senior)
• Kasean Pryor (forward, sixth year)
• Kobe Rodgers (guard, redshirt senior)
• Khani Rooths (forward, sophomore)
• Cole Sherman (guard, senior)
• Adrian Wooley (guard, sophomore)
• Vangelis Zougris (forward/center, junior)

Pittsburgh basketball 2025-26 schedule

Click here to view the Panthers’ complete schedule.

Pittsburgh basketball 2025-26 roster

Click here to view the Panthers’ complete roster.

Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville vs Pitt score, UofL basketball game highlights