Two Atlantic Coast Conference teams enduring recent losing streaks will collide on Tuesday night in Kentucky.
Syracuse basketball, which has lost three straight, heads to Louisville, which has dropped two in a row and three of its past four. The Cardinals (20-9 overall, 9-7 in ACC), picked to finish at No. 2 in the ACC standings during the 2025-26 campaign, are eyeing a top-eight place in the league race, while the Orange has qualified for next week's ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C.
The 'Cuse (15-14 overall, 6-10 in ACC) is currently in a tie for 13th place in the league standings. After Syracuse basketball plays at Louisville, the Orange will wrap up its 2025-26 regular season when it hosts long-time rival Pittsburgh this Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome.
How to watch Syracuse basketball at Louisville on Tuesday.
The 'Cuse and the Cardinals are scheduled to tip off at 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday, March 3, at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky., with television coverage on the ACC Network. SU has won four of its last five meetings against Louisville, although the Cardinals lead the all-time series, 20-14, per SU Athletics.
At this juncture near the end of the 2025-26 regular season, Louisville appears to be safely in the field of 68 for this spring's Big Dance. Over at the Bracket Matrix Web site, the Cardinals are forecast as a No. 6 seed.
Louisville's NCAA NET ranking is currently No. 17, whereas the Orange is No. 79. This is a quadrant-one opportunity for the 'Cuse. The Cardinals' resume includes quality wins over schools such as Kentucky, Cincinnati, Indiana, SMU and N.C. State, among others.
SU's woeful defense will be tested on Tuesday night. Louisville leads the ACC in points per game, at 86.0, while the Cardinals allow 72.2 points. Louisville averages 39.4 rebounds, 17.3 assists, 7.1 steals, 3.3 blocks and 11.9 turnovers per contest while making 47.0 percent from the field, 77.4 percent from the free-throw line and 35.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Syracuse basketball, on the other hand, scores 75.9 points per game and gives up 73.9 points. The 'Cuse averages 34.2 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 6.4 steals, 6.0 blocks and 11.1 turnovers per encounter while connecting on 47.1 percent from the field, 63.9 percent from the charity stripe and 33.7 percent from downtown.