Louisville Cardinals Men 's Basketball - Wikipedia Louisville Cardinals Men 's Basketball Louisville Cardinals 2017 -- 18 Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball team University University of Louisville First season 1911 All - time record 1803 -- 901 (. 667 ) Head coach Chris Mack ( 1st season ) Conference Atlantic Coast Conference Location Louisville, Kentucky Arena KFC Yum ! Center ( 2010 -- present ) ( 22,090 ) Freedom Hall ( 1956 -- 2010 ) ( 18,865 ) Nickname Cardinals Colors Red and Black Uniforms Home Away Alternate NCAA Tournament champions 1980, 1986, 2013 * NCAA Tournament Final Four 1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 2005, 2012 *, 2013 * NCAA Tournament Elite Eight 1959, 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012 *, 2013 *, 2015 * NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen 1951, 1959, 1961, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2012 *, 2013 *, 2014 *, 2015 * NCAA Tournament appearances 1951, 1959, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 *, 2013 *, 2014 *, 2015 *, 2017 Conference tournament champions 1928, 1929, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2012 *, 2013 *, 2014 * Conference regular season champions 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2005, 2009, 2013 *, 2014 * * Vacated by NCAA The Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball team is the men 's college basketball program representing the University of Louisville ( U of L ) in the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) of NCAA Division I. The Cardinals have officially won two NCAA championships in 1980 and 1986 ( with the 2013 title being vacated ) ; and have officially been to 8 Final Fours ( with the 2012 and 2013 appearances being vacated ) in 38 official NCAA tournament appearances while compiling 61 tournament wins. Due to an FBI criminal investigation into illegal benefits and actions by college basketball coaches, financial advisers, and others, on September 27, 2017, head coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich were placed on administrative leave and were later fired. Two days later, assistant David Padgett, a former star player under Pitino at Louisville, was named as acting head coach. On February 20, 2018, the NCAA vacated the 2013 NCAA title. On March 27, 2018 it was announced that the University of Louisville signed Chris Mack to a seven year contract as head coach. Contents 1 History 1.1 `` Peck '' Hickman era ( 1944 -- 1967 ) 1.2 John Dromo ( 1967 -- 1971 ) 1.3 Denny Crum era ( 1971 -- 2001 ) 1.4 Rick Pitino era ( 2001 -- 2017 ) 1.5 Chris Mack era ( 2018 - present ) 2 Notable achievements 2.1 By the numbers 3 Post-season results 3.1 National championships 3.1. 1 1948 NAIA Tournament Championship 3.1. 2 1956 NIT Championship 3.1. 3 1980 NCAA Tournament Championship 3.1. 4 1986 NCAA Tournament Championship 3.1. 5 2013 NCAA Tournament Championship * 3.2 NCAA Tournament Final Four history 3.3 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 3.4 NCAA Tournament seeding history 3.5 Complete NCAA Tournament results 3.6 Complete NIT results 3.7 Regular season conference championships 3.8 Conference tournament championships 4 Season by season results 5 Rivalries 5.1 Kentucky Wildcats 5.2 Cincinnati Bearcats 5.3 Virginia Cavaliers 6 Notable Cardinals 6.1 Retired numbers 6.2 Cardinals in the Hall of Fame 6.3 National Player of the Year awards 6.4 All - Americans 6.4. 1 Consensus selections 6.4. 2 Other selections 6.5 Other major national awards 6.6 Honored jerseys 6.7 Conference Player of the Year 6.7. 1 Key 6.8 Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player 6.9 1000 - point scorers 6.10 Cardinals in the pros 7 Facilities 7.1 Home courts 7.1. 1 KFC Yum ! Center ( 2010 -- present ) 7.1. 2 Freedom Hall ( 1956 -- 2010 ) 7.1. 3 Jefferson County Armory ( 1945 -- 72 ) 7.1. 4 Belknap Gymnasium ( 1931 -- 44 ) 7.2 Practice facilities 7.2. 1 The Yum ! Center ( 2007 -- present ) 8 Controversies and scandals 8.1 2015 sex scandal 8.2 2017 corruption scandal 9 See also 10 References 11 External links History `` Peck '' Hickman era ( 1944 -- 1967 ) Bernard `` Peck '' Hickman 's 1944 team finished with a 16 -- 3 record and started a string of 46 consecutive winning seasons, which was an NCAA record. Hickman led Louisville to its first championship on a national level by winning the NAIB Tournament in 1948. In 1956, led by All - American Charlie Tyra, the Cardinals won the NIT Championship. In 1956 his team was placed on two years probation, to include bans on postseason play, by the NCAA due to recruiting violations. In 1959, Louisville made its first NCAA Final Four appearance behind the play of All - American Don Goldstein. The Cardinals never had a losing season in Hickman 's 23 seasons as head coach. He coached 11 20 - win teams, appeared in five NCAA tournaments, coached six NIT appearances and finished with a 443 -- 183 overall record, a. 708 winning percentage that ranks him in the top 45 all time. John Dromo ( 1967 -- 1971 ) John Dromo was Hickman 's assistant for 17 years and succeeded him at head coach in 1967. In four seasons as head coach, Dromo led the Cardinals to a 68 -- 23 record (. 747 winning percentage ) and the 1967 Missouri Valley Conference title. A heart attack during the 1970 -- 71 season forced Dromo to retire. His assistant, Howard Stacey, was named interim head coach for the final 20 games of the season. Denny Crum era ( 1971 -- 2001 ) Denny Crum was hired as head coach from his alma mater, UCLA, where he was the top assistant coach to John Wooden. It was under the guidance of Crum that Louisville became a college basketball power. In his first season, he guided the Cardinals to the NCAA Final Four, becoming the first coach ever to go to a Final Four in his first season as a head coach. Overall, Crum had six Final Fours with the Louisville Cardinals ( 1972, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1986 ). He is fifth all - time in Final Four appearances. The Cardinals won the 1980 NCAA Tournament championship by defeating UCLA 59 -- 54. Six years later, Louisville would overcome Duke 72 -- 69 for a second title. Crum is one of only 11 coaches to win two or more national championships. He was named National Coach of the Year in 1980, 1983 and 1986. He took the Cardinals to 23 NCAA tournaments, where they had an overall record of 43 -- 21. While in the Metro Conference, the Cardinals won 12 regular season titles and 11 tournament championships. In its 19 years of naming a champion, the Metro had Louisville as first or second place 17 times. In 1993, Crum became the second fastest coach to reach 500 wins. Crum was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1994. He retired in 2001 with a career record of 675 -- 295 (. 696 winning percentage ) over 30 seasons. He was a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame 's inaugural class in 2006. Rick Pitino era ( 2001 -- 2017 ) This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( January 2017 ) Rick Pitino was hired in 2001 after four years as head coach of the Boston Celtics, and previously as head coach of Louisville 's in - state rival, Kentucky. Pitino has guided the Cardinals to the NCAA Tournament in 12 of 15 seasons, reaching the Elite Eight six times and the Final Four three times ( 2005, 2012, and 2013 ). His teams have won six conference tournament championships and four regular season titles. The Cardinals have won at least 20 games every season since Pitino 's first season at Louisville. Through the 2015 -- 16 season, Pitino had amassed a record of 391 -- 134 (. 745 ) during his time at Louisville. Pitino was selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, and is under contract through the 2025 -- 26 season. The University of Louisville self - imposed a postseason ban for the 2015 -- 16 season amid an ongoing NCAA investigation over an escort sex scandal involving recruits between 2010 and 2014. The ban included both the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. On June 15, 2017, the NCAA charged Rick Pitino for failure to monitor his basketball program who was involved in a sex - for - pay scandal. He was suspended for the first five games of the ACC season in 2017 -- 18. The NCAA is also on the verge of possibly making Louisville the first team in NCAA history vacate their National Championship over Michigan and possible vacating wins from the 2013 NCAA tournament and wins from the 2013 season and possible years before and after. On September 26, 2017 federal prosecutors in New York announced that the school was under investigation for an alleged `` pay for play '' scheme involving recruits at Louisville. The allegations state that an Adidas executive conspired to pay $100,000 to the family of a top - ranked national recruit to play at Louisville and to represent Adidas when he turned pro. The criminal complaint does not name Louisville specifically but appears to involve the recruitment of Brian Bowen, a late, surprise commit to the school. On September 27, 2017, Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich were placed on administrative leave. Chris Mack era ( 2018 - present ) On March 27, 2018, Xavier head coach Chris Mack agreed to terms on a seven - year contract worth about $4 million annually to become the next head coach at Louisville. Notable achievements As of the end of the 2015 -- 16 season, Louisville had an all - time 1778 -- 892 record in 102 seasons of intercollegiate basketball ranking 10th in all - time victories and seventh in all - time winning percentage among NCAA division I schools. From 1944 to 1990, Louisville had an NCAA - record 46 straight winning seasons, winning 20 or more games on 31 occasions during that period. Louisville has made 41 NCAA Tournament appearances ( 5th all - time ) and 14 NIT appearances. The Cardinals have reached the NCAA Tournament 32 of the last 40 years ( 12 of the last 15, 14 of the last 18 years, 20 of last 25 ). Since the NCAA began keeping Sweet Sixteen appearance records in 1975, Louisville 's 21 Sweet Sixteens are 5th all - time behind North Carolina ( 26 ), Kentucky ( 25 ), Duke ( 24 ), and Kansas ( 22 ). The Cardinals have reached the Elite Eight on 14 occasions, including five of the past nine seasons. Louisville is sixth in tournament victories ( 75 ) with a 75 -- 41 overall NCAA Tournament record, reaching the Final Four 10 times. Louisville is the only school in the nation to have claimed the championship of three major national post-season tournaments including the 1948 NAIA championship, the 1956 NIT title and the 1980 1986 and 2013 NCAA championships. Simultaneously, Louisville is the only school in NCAA history to have a Men 's Basketball National Championship vacated, along with 2 Final Four appearances. By the numbers Tradition Number National rank All - time NCAA Tournament titles 3 * t - 6th All - time NCAA Tournaments 43 * 5th All - time NCAA Tournament Wins 76 * 6th All - time NCAA Final Fours 10 * T - 6th All - time victories 1803 * 10th All - time Winning Percentage. 667 * 7th NCAA vacated all wins from 2011 to 2015 Postseason Results National championships 1948 NAIA Tournament Championship Main article : 1948 NAIA Division I Men 's Basketball Tournament 1948 NAIA Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round South Dakota State 63 -- 60 Sweet Sixteen Emporia State 82 -- 66 Elite Eight Beloit 85 -- 76 Final Four Xavier 56 -- 49 Championship Indiana State 82 -- 70 1956 NIT Championship Main article : 1956 National Invitation Tournament 1956 NIT Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round Bye Elite Eight Duquesne 84 -- 72 Final Four Saint Joseph 's 89 -- 79 Championship Dayton 93 -- 80 1980 NCAA Tournament Championship Main article : 1979 -- 80 Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball team 1980 NCAA Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round Bye -- Second Round Kansas State 71 -- 69 OT Sweet Sixteen Texas A&M 66 -- 55 OT Elite Eight LSU 86 -- 66 Final Four Iowa 80 -- 72 Championship UCLA 59 -- 54 1986 NCAA Tournament Championship Main article : 1985 -- 86 Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball team 1986 NCAA Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round Drexel 93 -- 73 Second Round Bradley 82 -- 56 Sweet Sixteen North Carolina 94 -- 79 Elite Eight Auburn 84 -- 76 Final Four LSU 88 -- 77 Championship Duke 72 -- 69 2013 NCAA Tournament Championship * Main article : 2012 -- 13 Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball team 2013 NCAA Tournament Results Round Opponent Score First Round North Carolina A&T 79 - 48 Second Round Colorado State 82 -- 56 Sweet Sixteen Oregon 77 -- 69 Elite Eight Duke 85 -- 63 Final Four Wichita State 68 -- 62 Championship Michigan 82 -- 76 NCAA Tournament Final Four history 1959 -- Fourth place 1972 -- Fourth place 1975 -- Third place 1980 -- Champion 1982 -- Semifinalist 1983 -- Semifinalist 1986 -- Champion 2005 -- Semifinalist 2012 -- Semifinalist * 2013 -- Champion * NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 1980 -- Darrell Griffith 1986 -- Pervis Ellison 2013 -- Luke Hancock NCAA Tournament seeding history The NCAA began seeding the tournament with the 1979 edition. Years → ' 79 ' 80 ' 81 ' 82 ' 83 ' 84 ' 86 ' 88 ' 89 ' 90 ' 92 ' 93 ' 94 ' 95 ' 96 ' 97 ' 99 Seeds → 5 5 8 11 6 6 7 Years → ' 00 ' 03 ' 04 ' 05 ' 07 ' 08 ' 09 ' 10 ' 11 ' 12 ' 13 ' 14 ' 15 ' 17 Seeds → 7 10 6 1 * 9 1 * * -- Overall number one seed. The committee began ranking 1 seeds in 2004. Complete NCAA Tournament Results The Cardinals have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 42 times. Their combined record is 66 -- 43. Year Seed Round Opponent Result 1951 Sweet Sixteen Kentucky L 68 -- 79 1959 First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd Place Game Eastern Kentucky Kentucky Michigan State West Virginia Cincinnati W 77 -- 63 W 76 -- 61 W 88 -- 81 L 79 -- 94 L 85 -- 98 1961 First Round Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place Game Ohio Ohio State Morehead State W 76 -- 70 L 55 -- 56 W 83 -- 61 1964 First Round Ohio L 69 -- 71 OT 1967 Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place Game SMU Kansas L 81 -- 83 L 68 -- 70 1968 Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place Game Houston Kansas State L 75 -- 91 W 93 -- 63 1972 Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd Place Game Southwest Louisiana Kansas State UCLA North Carolina W 88 -- 84 W 72 -- 65 L 77 -- 96 L 91 -- 105 Sweet Sixteen Regional 3rd Place Game Oral Roberts Creighton L 93 -- 96 L 71 -- 80 First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National 3rd Place Game Rutgers Cincinnati Maryland UCLA Syracuse W 91 -- 78 W 78 -- 63 W 96 -- 82 L 74 -- 75 OT W 96 -- 88 OT 1977 First Round UCLA L 79 -- 87 1978 First Round Sweet Sixteen St. John 's DePaul W 76 -- 68 L 89 -- 90 2OT 1979 # 3 Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 6 South Alabama # 2 Arkansas W 69 -- 66 L 62 -- 73 1980 # 2 Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship # 7 Kansas State # 6 Texas A&M # 1 LSU # 5 Iowa # 8 UCLA W 71 -- 69 OT W 66 -- 55 OT W 86 -- 66 W 80 -- 72 W 59 -- 54 1981 # 4 Second Round # 5 Arkansas L 73 -- 74 1982 # 3 Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four # 11 Middle Tennessee # 2 Minnesota # 4 UAB # 1 Georgetown W 81 -- 56 W 67 -- 61 W 75 -- 68 L 46 -- 50 # 1 Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four # 8 Tennessee # 4 Arkansas # 3 Kentucky # 1 Houston W 70 -- 57 W 65 -- 63 W 80 -- 68 OT L 81 -- 94 1984 # 5 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 12 Morehead State # 4 Tulsa # 1 Kentucky W 72 -- 59 W 69 -- 67 L 67 -- 72 1986 # 2 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Championship # 15 Drexel # 7 Bradley # 3 North Carolina # 8 Auburn # 11 LSU # 1 Duke W 93 -- 73 W 82 -- 68 W 94 -- 79 W 84 -- 76 W 88 -- 77 W 72 -- 69 1988 # 5 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 12 Oregon State # 4 BYU # 1 Oklahoma W 70 -- 61 W 97 -- 76 L 98 -- 108 1989 # 4 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 13 Arkansas -- Little Rock # 5 Arkansas # 1 Illinois W 76 -- 71 W 93 -- 84 L 69 -- 83 1990 # 4 First Round Second Round # 13 Idaho # 12 Ball State W 78 -- 59 L 60 -- 62 # 8 First Round Second Round # 9 Wake Forest # 1 UCLA W 81 -- 58 L 69 -- 85 1993 # 4 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 13 Delaware # 5 Oklahoma State # 1 Indiana W 76 -- 70 W 78 -- 63 L 69 -- 82 1994 # 3 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 14 Boise State # 6 Minnesota # 2 Arizona W 67 -- 58 W 60 -- 55 L 70 -- 82 1995 # 11 First Round # 6 Memphis L 56 -- 77 # 6 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen # 11 Tulsa # 3 Villanova # 2 Wake Forest W 82 -- 80 OT W 68 -- 64 L 59 -- 60 1997 # 6 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight # 11 Massachusetts # 3 New Mexico # 10 Texas # 1 North Carolina W 65 -- 57 W 64 -- 63 W 78 -- 63 L 74 -- 97 1999 # 10 First Round # 10 Creighton L 58 -- 62 2000 # 7 First Round # 10 Gonzaga L 66 -- 77 2003 # 4 First Round Second Round # 13 Austin Peay # 12 Butler W 86 -- 64 L 79 -- 71 # 10 First Round # 7 Xavier L 70 -- 80 2005 # 4 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four # 13 Louisiana -- Lafayette # 5 Georgia Tech # 1 Washington # 7 West Virginia # 1 Illinois W 68 -- 62 W 76 -- 54 W 93 -- 79 W 93 -- 85 OT L 57 -- 72 2007 # 6 First Round Second Round # 11 Stanford # 3 Texas A&M W 78 -- 58 L 69 -- 72 2008 # 3 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight # 14 Boise State # 6 Oklahoma # 2 Tennessee # 1 North Carolina W 79 -- 61 W 78 -- 48 W 79 -- 60 L 73 -- 83 2009 # 1 First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight # 16 Morehead State # 9 Siena # 12 Arizona # 2 Michigan State W 74 -- 54 W 79 -- 72 W 103 -- 64 L 52 -- 64 # 9 First Round # 8 California L 62 -- 77 2011 # 4 Second Round # 13 Morehead State L 61 -- 62 2012 # 4 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Davidson # New Mexico Michigan State Florida Kentucky W 69 - 62 W 59 - 56 W 57 - 44 W 72 - 68 L 61 - 69 2013 * # 1 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four National Tilte North Carolina A&T Colorado State Oregon Duke Wichita State Michigan W 79 - 48 W 82 - 56 W 77 - 69 W 85 - 63 W 72 - 68 W 82 - 76 2014 # 4 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen # 13 Manhattan # 5 Saint Louis # 8 Kentucky W 71 -- 64 W 66 -- 51 L 69 -- 74 2015 # 4 Second Round Third Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight # 13 UC Irvine # 5 Northern Iowa # 8 NC State # 7 Michigan State W 57 -- 55 W 66 -- 53 W 75 -- 65 L 70 -- 76 OT 2017 # 2 First Round Second Round # 15 Jacksonville State # 7 Michigan W 78 -- 63 L 69 -- 73 Complete NIT Results The Cardinals have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament ( NIT ) 15 times. Their combined record is 16 -- 15. Year Round Opponent Result 1951 First Round WKU L 59 -- 62 1953 First Round Quarterfinals Georgetown Manhattan W 92 -- 79 L 66 -- 79 1954 First Round St. Francis ( NY ) L 55 -- 60 1955 First Round Quarterfinals Manhattan Duquesne W 91 -- 86 L 66 -- 74 1956 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals Duquesne Saint Joseph 's Dayton W 84 -- 72 W 89 -- 79 W 93 -- 80 1966 First Round Boston College L 90 -- 96 1969 First Round Quarterfinals Fordham Boston College W 73 -- 70 L 83 -- 88 1970 First Round Oklahoma L 73 -- 74 1971 First Round Providence L 58 -- 64 1973 First Round Quarterfinals American Notre Dame W 97 -- 84 L 71 -- 79 1976 Quarterfinals Providence L 67 -- 73 1985 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game Alcorn State South Florida Chattanooga UCLA Tennessee W 77 -- 75 W 68 -- 61 W 71 -- 66 L 66 -- 75 L 84 -- 100 2002 First Round Second Round Princeton Temple W 66 -- 65 L 62 -- 65 2006 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Delaware State Clemson Missouri State South Carolina W 71 -- 54 W 74 -- 68 W 74 -- 56 L 63 -- 78 2018 First Round Second Round Quarterfinals Northern Kentucky Middle Tennessee Mississippi State W 66 -- 58 W 84 -- 68 L 56 -- 79 Regular season Conference championships The Cardinals have won 23 conference regular season championships. Since the 2014 -- 15 season they have played in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Before that, they belonged to the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from the 1925 -- 26 to 1947 -- 48 seasons, the Ohio Valley Conference for the 1948 -- 49 season, the Missouri Valley Conference from 1964 -- 65 to 1974 -- 75, the Metro Conference from 1975 -- 76 to 1994 -- 95, Conference USA from 1995 -- 96 to 2004 -- 05, the Big East Conference from 2005 -- 06 to 2012 -- 13, and the American Athletic Conference in 2013 -- 14. They played as an independent school from 1911 -- 12 to 1924 -- 25 and from 1949 -- 50 to 1963 -- 64 ( 29 total seasons ). Missouri Valley Conference ( 7 ) 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975 Metro Conference ( 12 ) 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994 Conference USA ( 1 ) 2005 Big East Conference ( 2 ) 2009, 2013 American Athletic Conference ( 1 ) 2014 Conference Tournament championships The Cardinal have won 19 conference tournament championships. Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament ( 2 ) 1928, 1929 Metro Conference Tournament ( 11 ) 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 Conference USA Tournament ( 2 ) 2003, 2005. Big East Conference Tournament ( 3 ) 2009, 2012, 2013 American Athletic Tournament ( 1 ) 2014 Season by season Results Men 's basketball team, 1914, CN Caldwell, captain U of L winning percentage by year U of L all - time wins / losses graph The following is according to Louisville 's 2011 -- 12 media guide plus the results from the Louisville Athletics web site as of 01 -- 28 -- 12. Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason 1911 -- 12 Craig Sand 0 -- 3 -- -- -- 1912 -- 13 Captains 2 -- 3 -- -- -- 1913 -- 14 Captains 2 -- 6 -- -- -- 1914 -- 15 Captains 4 -- 5 -- -- -- 1915 -- 16 Ed Bowman 8 -- 3 -- -- -- 1916 -- 17 No Formal Team Season cancelled -- -- -- 1917 -- 18 Ed Bowman 3 -- 4 -- -- -- 1918 -- 19 Earl Ford 7 -- 4 -- -- -- 1919 -- 20 Tuley Brucker 6 -- 5 -- -- -- 1920 -- 21 Jimmie Powers 3 -- 8 -- -- -- 1921 -- 22 John T. O'Rouke 1 -- 13 -- -- -- 1922 -- 23 No Formal Team Season cancelled -- -- -- Fred Enke ( KIAC & SIAA ) ( 1923 -- 1925 ) 1923 -- 24 Fred Enke 4 -- 13 -- -- -- 1924 -- 25 Fred Enke 10 -- 7 -- -- -- Fred Enke : 14 -- 20 Tom King ( KIAC & SIAA ) ( 1925 -- 1930 ) 1925 -- 26 Tom King 4 -- 8 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1926 -- 27 Tom King 7 -- 5 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1927 -- 28 Tom King 12 -- 4 -- -- KIAC Tournament Champion 1928 -- 29 Tom King 12 -- 8 -- -- KIAC Tournament Champion 1929 -- 30 Tom King 9 -- 6 -- -- KIAC and SIAA Tournament Participant Tom King : 44 -- 21 Edward Weber ( KIAC & SIAA ) ( 1930 -- 1932 ) 1930 -- 31 Edward Weber 5 -- 11 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1931 -- 32 Edward Weber 15 -- 7 -- -- KIAC and SIAA Tournament Participant Edward Weber : 20 -- 18 C.V. Money ( KIAC & SIAA ) ( 1932 -- 1936 ) 1932 -- 33 C.V. Money 11 -- 11 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1933 -- 34 C.V. Money 16 -- 9 -- -- KIAC and SIAA Tournament Participant 1934 -- 35 C.V. Money 5 -- 9 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1935 -- 36 C.V. Money 14 -- 11 -- -- KIAC and SIAA Tournament Participant C.V. Money : 46 -- 40 Lawrence Apitz ( KIAC & SIAA ) ( 1936 -- 1940 ) 1936 -- 37 Lawrence Apitz 4 -- 8 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1937 -- 38 Lawrence Apitz 4 -- 11 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1938 -- 39 Lawrence Apitz 1 -- 15 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1939 -- 40 Lawrence Apitz 1 -- 18 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant Lawrence Apitz : 10 -- 52 John C. Heldman, Jr. ( KIAC & SIAA ) ( 1940 -- 1942 ) 1940 -- 41 John C. Heldman, Jr. 2 -- 14 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1941 -- 42 John C. Heldman, Jr. 7 -- 10 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant John C. Heldman, Jr. : 9 -- 24 No Team ( World War II ) ( 1942 -- 1943 ) 1942 -- 43 No Formal Team Season cancelled -- -- -- Harold Church and Walter Casey ( KIAC ) ( 1943 -- 1944 ) 1943 -- 44 Harold Church and Walter Casey 10 -- 10 -- -- -- Harold Church and Walter Casey : 10 -- 10 Bernard Hickman ( KIAC ) ( 1944 -- 1948 ) 1944 -- 45 Bernard Hickman 16 -- 3 -- -- -- 1945 -- 46 Bernard Hickman 22 -- 6 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1946 -- 47 Bernard Hickman 17 -- 6 -- -- KIAC Tournament Participant 1947 -- 48 Bernard Hickman 29 -- 6 -- -- NAIB Champion Bernard Hickman ( Ohio Valley Conference ) ( 1948 -- 1949 ) 1948 -- 49 Bernard Hickman 23 -- 10 -- -- -- Bernard Hickman ( Independent ) ( 1949 -- 1964 ) 1949 -- 50 Bernard Hickman 21 -- 11 -- -- -- 1950 -- 51 Bernard Hickman 19 -- 7 -- -- NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1951 -- 52 Bernard Hickman 20 -- 6 -- -- NIT 1952 -- 53 Bernard Hickman 22 -- 6 -- -- NIT 1953 -- 54 Bernard Hickman 22 -- 7 -- -- NIT 1954 -- 55 Bernard Hickman 19 -- 8 -- -- NIT 1955 -- 56 Bernard Hickman 26 -- 3 -- -- NIT Champion 1956 -- 57 Bernard Hickman 21 -- 5 -- -- -- 1957 -- 58 Bernard Hickman 13 -- 12 -- -- -- 1958 -- 59 Bernard Hickman 19 -- 12 -- -- NCAA Final Four 1959 -- 60 Bernard Hickman 15 -- 11 -- -- -- 1960 -- 61 Bernard Hickman 21 -- 8 -- -- NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1961 -- 62 Bernard Hickman 15 -- 10 -- -- -- 1962 -- 63 Bernard Hickman 14 -- 11 -- -- -- 1963 -- 64 Bernard Hickman 15 -- 10 -- -- NCAA First Round Bernard Hickman ( Missouri Valley Conference ) ( 1964 -- 1967 ) 1964 -- 65 Bernard Hickman 15 -- 10 -- -- -- 1965 -- 66 Bernard Hickman 16 -- 10 8 -- 6 4th NIT 1966 -- 67 Bernard Hickman 23 -- 5 12 -- 2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen Bernard Hickman : 443 -- 183 20 -- 8 John Dromo -- Missouri Valley Conference ( 1967 -- 1971 ) 1967 -- 68 John Dromo 21 -- 7 14 -- 2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1968 -- 69 John Dromo 21 -- 6 13 -- 3 2nd NIT 1969 -- 70 John Dromo 18 -- 9 11 -- 5 3rd NIT 1970 -- 71 John Dromo and Howard Stacey 20 -- 9 9 -- 5 T - 1st NIT John Dromo : 68 -- 23 38 -- 10 Howard Stacey : 12 -- 8 9 -- 5 Denny Crum -- Missouri Valley Conference ( 1971 -- 1975 ) 1971 -- 72 Denny Crum 26 -- 5 12 -- 2 T - 1st NCAA Final Four 1972 -- 73 Denny Crum 23 -- 7 11 -- 3 2nd NIT 1973 -- 74 Denny Crum 21 -- 7 11 -- 1 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1974 -- 75 Denny Crum 28 -- 3 12 -- 2 1st NCAA Final Four Denny Crum -- Metro Conference ( 1975 -- 1996 ) 1975 -- 76 Denny Crum 20 -- 8 2 -- 2 2nd NIT 1976 -- 77 Denny Crum 21 -- 7 6 -- 1 1st NCAA First Round 1977 -- 78 Denny Crum 23 -- 7 9 -- 3 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1978 -- 79 Denny Crum 24 -- 8 9 -- 1 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1979 -- 80 Denny Crum 33 -- 3 12 -- 0 1st NCAA Champion 1980 -- 81 Denny Crum 21 -- 9 11 -- 1 1st NCAA Second Round 1981 -- 82 Denny Crum 23 -- 10 8 -- 4 2nd NCAA Final Four 1982 -- 83 Denny Crum 32 -- 4 12 -- 0 1st NCAA Final Four 1983 -- 84 Denny Crum 24 -- 11 11 -- 3 T - 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1984 -- 85 Denny Crum 19 -- 18 6 -- 8 T - 4th NIT 1985 -- 86 Denny Crum 32 -- 7 10 -- 2 1st NCAA Champion 1986 -- 87 Denny Crum 18 -- 14 9 -- 3 1st -- 1987 -- 88 Denny Crum 24 -- 11 9 -- 3 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1988 -- 89 Denny Crum 24 -- 9 8 -- 4 T - 2nd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1989 -- 90 Denny Crum 27 -- 8 12 -- 2 1st NCAA Second Round 1990 -- 91 Denny Crum 14 -- 16 4 -- 10 8th -- 1991 -- 92 Denny Crum 19 -- 11 7 -- 5 T - 2nd NCAA Second Round 1992 -- 93 Denny Crum 22 -- 9 11 -- 1 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1993 -- 94 Denny Crum 28 -- 6 10 -- 2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1994 -- 95 Denny Crum 19 -- 14 7 -- 5 T - 2nd NCAA First Round Denny Crum -- Conference USA ( 1996 -- 2001 ) 1995 -- 96 Denny Crum 22 -- 12 10 -- 4 T - 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen 1996 -- 97 Denny Crum 26 -- 9 9 -- 5 T - 5th NCAA Elite Eight 1997 -- 98 Denny Crum 12 -- 20 5 -- 11 5th ( American Division ) -- 1998 -- 99 Denny Crum 19 -- 11 11 -- 5 2nd ( American ) NCAA First Round 1999 -- 00 Denny Crum 19 -- 12 10 -- 6 2nd ( American ) NCAA First Round 2000 -- 01 Denny Crum 12 -- 19 8 -- 8 T - 5 ( American ) -- Denny Crum : 675 -- 295 272 -- 107 Rick Pitino -- Conference USA ( 2001 -- 2005 ) 2001 -- 02 Rick Pitino 19 -- 13 8 -- 8 5th ( American ) NIT 2002 -- 03 Rick Pitino 25 -- 7 11 -- 5 2nd ( American ) NCAA Second Round 2003 -- 04 Rick Pitino 20 -- 10 9 -- 7 T - 6th NCAA First Round 2004 -- 05 Rick Pitino 33 -- 5 14 -- 2 1st NCAA Final Four Rick Pitino -- Big East ( 2005 -- 2013 ) 2005 -- 06 Rick Pitino 21 -- 13 6 -- 10 11th NIT 2006 -- 07 Rick Pitino 24 -- 10 12 -- 4 2nd NCAA Second Round 2007 -- 08 Rick Pitino 27 -- 9 14 -- 4 2nd NCAA Elite Eight 2008 -- 09 Rick Pitino 31 -- 6 16 -- 2 1st NCAA Elite Eight 2009 -- 10 Rick Pitino 20 -- 13 11 -- 7 2nd NCAA First Round 2010 -- 11 Rick Pitino 25 -- 10 12 -- 6 4th NCAA Second Round 2011 -- 12 Rick Pitino 0 -- 10 ( 30 wins vacated ) 0 -- 8 ( 10 wins vacated ) 7th Final Four * 2012 -- 13 Rick Pitino 0 -- 5 ( 35 wins vacated ) 0 -- 4 ( 14 wins vacated ) 1st Championship Rick Pitino -- American Athletic Conference ( 2013 -- 2014 ) 2013 -- 14 Rick Pitino 0 -- 6 ( 31 wins vacated ) 0 -- 3 ( 15 wins vacated ) T - 1st Sweet 16 * Rick Pitino -- Atlantic Coast Conference ( 2014 -- 2017 ) 2014 -- 15 Rick Pitino 0 -- 9 ( 27 wins vacated ) 0 -- 6 ( 12 wins vacated ) 4th Elite Eight * 2015 -- 16 Rick Pitino 23 -- 8 12 -- 6 4th Self - imposed post-season ban due to pending NCAA investigation 2016 -- 17 Rick Pitino 25 -- 9 12 -- 6 2nd NCAA Round of 32 Rick Pitino : 420 -- 143 189 -- 88 David Padgett -- Atlantic Coast Conference ( 2017 -- 2018 ) 2017 -- 18 David Padgett 22 -- 14 9 -- 9 T - 8th NIT Quarterfinals David Padgett : 22 -- 14 9 -- 9 Chris Mack -- Atlantic Coast Conference ( 2018 -- present ) 2018 -- 19 Chris Mack 0 -- 0 0 -- 0 Chris Mack : 0 -- 0 0 -- 0 Total : 1825 -- 915 National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion * Vacated, Louisville forfeited 123 wins during 2011 - 2014, its NCAA tournament appearances, and its 2013 National Championship title. KIAC -- Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference SIAA -- Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association NAIB -- National Association for Intercollegiate Basketball NAIA -- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics was NAIB until 1952 when they picked up other sports. NIT -- National Invitation Tournament NCAA -- National Collegiate Athletic Association Rivalries Kentucky wildcats The Kentucky -- Louisville rivalry has been ranked the 2nd best rivalry in college basketball by Bleacher Report and 3rd best rivalry in all of college sports by Basketball Hall of Fame contributor Dick Vitale. Kentucky and Louisville first played against each other in 1913 but stopped playing each other in the 1920s, playing only twelve times between 1913 and 1983. The rivalry was generally dormant with only occasional matchups until the teams met in the 1983 NCAA Tournament. Since then, the two teams have met each year in late December or early January. Much like the Iron Bowl, the Kentucky -- Louisville rivalry is all the more intense because the two schools have consistently been among the nation 's elite men 's basketball teams for most of the last 50 years. Both schools are also two of the most victorious programs in NCAA men 's basketball history ; Kentucky is # 1 on the list of all - time winningest programs in Division I Men 's Basketball and Louisville # 11. Kentucky has eight national championships while Louisville has two ( official ) national championships. Cincinnati bearcats While predominantly a football rivalry, the proximity and long - standing conference affiliation of Cincinnati and Louisville made this into a key rivalry, particularly in the days of the Metro and Big East conferences. This rivalry went on hiatus in 2014 when Louisville left the American Athletic Conference for the ACC. Virginia cavaliers Following conference realignment, the Cardinals moved from the Big East to the ACC. While the two schools have little previous history, having met only 8 times prior to becoming conference rivals, the series has been characterized by tight games and blowouts since 2014. The rivalry has taken on a similar feel to the old Maryland series, as both teams have acted as spoilers to the other with a Cardinal win in 2015 and a 2017 Cavalier win delaying or preventing an ACC regular season title, while an injury to star player Justin Anderson during the 2015 matchup derailed UVA 's national championship aspirations. Virginia leads the all - time series 10 - 4. Notable Cardinals See also : List of University of Louisville people Retired numbers Retired numbers Number Player Years 8 Charlie Tyra 1954 -- 57 31 Wes Unseld 1966 -- 68 35 Darrell Griffith 1977 -- 80 42 Pervis Ellison 1986 -- 89 Louisville basketball has honored four former players by retiring their numbers. These are the last players to wear these numbers for a Louisville men 's squad : Charlie Tyra # 8 -- A consensus All - American during the 1956 and 1957 seasons, Charlie Tyra led the University of Louisville to its first NIT title in 1956 and was named the tournament 's MVP for his performance. Tyra was named Helms Athletic Foundation All - American in his junior and senior years. One of only five Cardinals to record over 1,000 rebounds in his career, Tyra ranks as the all - time rebounder in U of L history with 1,617. During the 1955 -- 56 season, Tyra pulled down 645 rebounds, a mark that has been bettered by only three other players in NCAA history. He set the Louisville record for most rebounds in a game when he pulled down 38 against Canisius during the 1955 -- 56 season. In his four seasons with Louisville, he helped his teams to a combined record of 88 -- 23 and three straight NIT appearances. Tyra ranks third in career free throws made ( 448 ), second in career rebounding average ( 17.0 ), fourth in career scoring average ( 18.2 ), eighth in career scorers ( 1,728 points ) and eighth in field goals made ( 640 ). Tyra is one of only four players in UofL history to score 40 points or more in a game ( achieved against Notre Dame when he hit 12 of 16 field goals and all 16 of his free throw attempts ). Tyra died on December 29, 2006, at the age of 71. He was drafted # 2 by in the Detroit Pistons in the 1957 NBA draft. Wes Unseld # 31 -- When Wes Unseld ended his career with the University of Louisville following the 1967 -- 68 season, he left as the Cardinals ' all - time leading scorer for a three - year player. Today, Unseld ranks 10th on the all - time scoring list, but his career point total of 1,686 is still tops for a three - year player. A consensus All - American during his junior and senior years, Unseld is one of only five other Cardinal players to pull down over 1,000 rebounds in his career. His 1,551 career rebounds ranks second behind Tyra 's 1,617. Unseld began his senior season with a 45 - point effort against Georgetown College, a UofL record that still stands today. Unseld, chosen as second player overall in the NBA draft by Baltimore, was honored on the All - Missouri Valley Conference team all three years at UofL and the Cardinals were 60 -- 22 during his three seasons. During his junior year, Unseld led the Cardinals to a final No. 2 ranking in both wire service polls. Unseld 's 20.6 scoring average still ranks as the top scoring average in Louisville history. His 18.9 rebounding average also ranks as the top average for a Cardinal. While playing on the Cardinals ' freshmen team, Unseld averaged 35.8 points and 23.6 rebounds, and hit 68.6 percent from the field. Darrell Griffith # 35 -- The 1980 Player of the Year and consensus first team All - American led Louisville to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, winning the 1980 Championship as he had promised when he committed to his hometown Cardinals. Griffith 's career 2333 points and single - season 825 points rank first in Louisville history. He scored in double figures in 41 straight games and 111 of his 126 games with the Cardinals. His play earned him the nickname `` Dr. Dunkenstein ''. He was drafted # 2 by the Utah Jazz in the 1980 NBA draft. Pervis Ellison # 42 -- Ellison won the 1986 NCAA Tournament MOP award after leading the Cardinals to their second NCAA Tournament Championship. A consensus first team All - American in 1989, he is the only Louisville player to score 2000 points and grab 1000 rebounds in a career. His 374 career rejections rank first at Louisville and ranked Ellison third all time in the NCAA when he left in 1989. He was drafted # 1 by the Sacramento Kings in the 1989 NBA draft. Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Louisville has three representatives in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame : Cardinal All - American and former Washington Bullets All - Star Wes Unseld, who was inducted in 1988, former coach Denny Crum, who was inducted in 1994, and coach Rick Pitino, who was inducted in 2013. Darrell Griffith, a national player of the year and consensus All - American at the University of Louisville, is part of the 2014 induction class for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. National Player of the Year awards 1980 -- Darrell Griffith ( John R. Wooden Award ) All - Americans Twenty one Louisville players have earned 25 All American selections. 7 players received 8 consensus All - American selections. Consensus selections 1957 -- Charlie Tyra 1967 -- Wes Unseld 1968 -- Wes Unseld 1972 -- Jim Price 1980 -- Darrell Griffith 1989 -- Pervis Ellison 1994 -- Clifford Rozier 2014 -- Russ Smith Other selections 1956 -- Charlie Tyra 1959 -- Don Goldstein 1961 -- John Turner 1966 -- Wes Unseld 1969 -- Butch Beard 1975 -- Junior Bridgeman 1975 -- Allen Murphy 1976 -- Phil Bond 1977 -- Wesley Cox 1978 -- Rick Wilson 1979 -- Darrell Griffith 1984 -- Lancaster Gordon 1997 -- DeJuan Wheat 2003 -- Reece Gaines 2005 -- Francisco Garcia 2009 -- Terrence Williams 2013 -- Russ Smith Other major national awards 2013 -- Peyton Siva ( Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award -- top Division I senior no taller than 6 feet / 1.83 m ) 2014 -- Russ Smith ( Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award ) 2015 -- Montrezl Harrell ( Karl Malone Award ) Honored jerseys Louisville has honored the jerseys of 20 former players. Their numbers remain active. Honored Jerseys Number Player Position Years 14 Alfred `` Butch '' Beard Guard 1966 -- 69 10 Ulysses `` Junior '' Bridgeman Guard / Forward 1972 -- 75 16 Jack Coleman Forward / Center 1946 -- 49 24 Don Goldstein Forward 1956 -- 59 Lancaster Gordon Guard 1980 -- 84 13 George Hauptfuhrer Center 1944 -- 46 20 Bob Lochmueller Forward 1949 -- 52 22 Rodney McCray Forward / Center 1979 -- 83 12 Jim Morgan Guard 1953 -- 57 20 Allen Murphy Guard / Forward 1972 -- 75 16 Chuck Noble Forward / Guard 1950 -- 54 13 Bud Olsen Center 1959 -- 62 15 Jim Price Guard 1969 -- 72 13 Kenny Reeves Guard 1946 -- 50 9 Phil Rollins Guard 1952 -- 56 43 Derek Smith Guard / Forward 1978 -- 82 55 Billy Thompson Forward 1982 -- 86 22 John Turner Forward 1958 -- 61 20 Milt Wagner Guard 1981 -- 86 32 DeJuan Wheat Guard 1993 -- 97 Conference Player of the Year Key † Co-Players of the Year Player ( X ) Denotes the number of times the player has been awarded the Player of the Year award at that point k ; color : white `` Player Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Season Player Position Class 1973 -- 74 Bridgeman, Junior Junior Bridgeman Small forward 3 ! Junior 1974 -- 75 Bridgeman, Junior Junior Bridgeman ( 2 ) Small forward 4 ! Senior Metro Conference Player of the Year Season Player Position Class 1977 -- 78 Wilson, Rick Rick Wilson Shooting guard / Point guard 4 ! Senior 1979 -- 80 Griffith, Darrell Darrell Griffith Shooting guard 4 ! Senior 1980 -- 81 Smith, Derek Derek Smith Shooting guard 3 ! Junior 1982 -- 83 McCray, Rodney Rodney McCray Small forward 4 ! Senior 1986 -- 87 Crook, Herbert Herbert Crook Small forward / Shooting guard 3 ! Junior 1987 -- 88 Ellison, Pervis Pervis Ellison Center 3 ! Junior 1992 -- 93 Rozier, Clifford Clifford Rozier Center 3 ! Sophomore 1993 -- 94 Rozier, Clifford Clifford Rozier ( 2 ) Center 4 ! Junior Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player Metro Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player Season Player Position Class 1978 Rick Wilson Shooting guard / Point guard 4 ! Senior 1980 Darrell Griffith Shooting guard 4 ! Senior 1981 Rodney McCray Small forward 2 ! Sophomore Rodney McCray ( 2 ) Small forward 4 ! Senior 1986 Pervis Ellison Center 1 ! Freshman 1988 Herbert Crook Small forward 4 ! Senior 1989 Pervis Ellison ( 2 ) Center 4 ! Senior 1990 LaBradford Smith Shooting guard 3 ! Junior 1991 LaBradford Smith ( 2 ) Shooting guard 4 ! Senior 1993 Dwayne Morton Small forward 2 ! Sophomore 1994 Clifford Rozier Center 3 ! Junior 1995 DeJuan Wheat Point guard 2 ! Sophomore Conference USA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Season Player Position Class 2003 Luke Whitehead Small forward 3 ! Junior 2005 Taquan Dean Shooting guard / Point guard 3 ! Junior Big East Conference Tournament Most Outstanding Player Season Player Position Class 2012 Peyton Siva Point guard 3 ! Junior 2013 Peyton Siva Point guard 4 ! Senior American Athletic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player Season Player Position Class 2014 Russ Smith Shooting guard / Point guard 4 ! Senior 1000 - point scorers As of 2015, Louisville has 67 1000 - point career scorers, second only to North Carolina for most all time. Cardinals in the pros This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. ( January 2017 ) The Cardinals have had 65 players taken in the NBA Draft, the most recent being Donovan Mitchell, who was chosen in the 2017 NBA Draft, and Terry Rozier and Montrezl Harrell, who were chosen in the 2015 NBA Draft. 29 former Cardinal players are playing professional basketball, with four of those ( Gorgui Dieng, Mitchell, Harrell, and Rozier ) currently playing in the NBA. Francisco García is one of six former Cardinals playing in the NBA in 2016. Name League Team Derrick Caracter Liga Nacional de Básquet Atletico Echague Parana Earl Clark NBA Brooklyn Nets Damion Dantzler Korisliiga Tampereen Pyrintö Kendall Dartez LNB Pro A Chorale Roanne Taquan Dean Lega Basket Serie A S.S. Felice Scandone Nouha Diakite LNB Pro A ASVEL Lyon - Villeurbanne Gorgui Dieng NBA Minnesota Timberwolves Reece Gaines LNB Pro A JA Vichy Otis George Korean Basketball League Daegu Orions Montrezl Harrell NBA Los Angeles Clippers Terence Jennings Basketball League Belgium Liège Basket Preston Knowles NBA Development League Springfield Armor Kyle Kuric Liga ACB CB Gran Canaria Donovan Mitchell NBA Utah Jazz Alhaji Mohammed Liga ACB CB Valladolid Dwayne Morton Bulgarian A1 First Balkan Botevgrad Joseph N'Sima Nationale 1 ( 3rd Level ), France USA Toulouges Larry O'Bannon Israeli Basketball Super League Hapoel Eilat Jason Osborne Liga Nacional de Básquetbol Peñarol Mar del Plata Juan Palacios LKL Lietuvos rytas Tick Rogers Israel National League Hapoel Be'er Sheva Terry Rozier NBA Boston Celtics Samardo Samuels Liga ACB FC Barcelona Peyton Siva Bundesliga Alba Berlin Chris Smith Kosovo Basketball Superleague KB Peja Jerry Smith Lega Basket Serie A Pallacanestro Cantù Russ Smith CBA Fujian Sturgeons Édgar Sosa Lega Basket Serie A Dinamo Sassari * -- player has been drafted by the listed team but has not yet played professionally. Several other former players have played in the NBA, including : Butch Beard Junior Bridgeman Jack Coleman Wesley Cox Pervis Ellison Lancaster Gordon Darrell Griffith Rodney McCray Scooter McCray Greg Minor Dwayne Morton Kenny Payne Jim Price Clifford Rozier Derek Smith LaBradford Smith Felton Spencer Barry Sumpter Billy Thompson Charlie Tyra Wes Unseld Milt Wagner Samaki Walker Rick Wilson Francisco García Terrence Williams Facilities Home courts The Cardinals ' home floor is Denny Crum Court at the KFC Yum ! Center. KFC Yum ! Center ( 2010 -- present ) Since the 2010 -- 11 season the Cardinals have played their home games at the KFC Yum ! Center located along the banks of the Ohio River in downtown Louisville. As of February 7, 2017, Louisville has a 114 -- 14 record (. 891 ) in 6 seasons in the KFC Yum ! Center. The facility has a seating capacity of 22,090 with 71 suites and 62 loge boxes. It is the third - largest in the nation ( behind only Syracuse 's Carrier Dome, and Rupp Arena ). Louisville ranked among the top 3 in attendance in the first three seasons at the KFC Yum ! Center. The attendance record of 22,815 was set on March 9, 2013 against # 24 Notre Dame. The playing surface at the KFC Yum ! Center is named Denny Crum Court in honor of Hall of Fame coach Denny Crum. The University of Louisville first renamed its home court after Crum in January 2007. Since the opening of the KFC Yum Center, the University of Louisville has become the most valuable college basketball team in the nation. In 2012 the Cardinals were worth $36.1 million, up nearly 40 % from two years earlier, before the Yum Center opened. Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center Freedom Hall ( 1956 -- 2010 ) From 1956 to the completion of the KFC Yum ! Center in 2010, the Cardinals played their home games at Freedom Hall. Louisville had a 664 -- 136 record in 54 seasons in Freedom Hall (. 83 winning percentage ). Freedom Hall has been the site of six NCAA Final Fours, four additional NCAA events and 10 conference tournaments. ESPN College Basketball magazine once named Freedom Hall as the nation 's `` Best Playing Floor. '' Louisville ranked among the top 10 nationally in average home attendance at Freedom Hall for 31 years, including the last 28 in the nation 's top five ( 19,397 in ' 09 - 10, third in the nation ). In 2010, a new Freedom Hall attendance record was set when 20,135 fans witnessed the Cardinals defeat the # 1 ranked Syracuse Orange in the final University of Louisville game in the arena. Jefferson County Armory as it was September 5, 2007 now named the Louisville Gardens Jefferson County Armory ( 1945 -- 72 ) Jefferson County Armory was the primary home of Louisville Cardinals basketball starting in 1945 when Bernard `` Peck '' Hickman was head coach until the 1957 -- 58 season, when Freedom Hall became their primary home game site. The Cardinals played 10 of their home games in the Jefferson County Armory in 1956 -- 57 and three games in Freedom Hall. Louisville played one game at the armory in 1958 -- 59.In the 1960s the armory was renamed the Louisville Convention Center. The Cardinals played two games at the Convention Center in 1963 -- 64 and three games in the Convention Center in 1964 -- 65. The last game the Cardinals played there was November 30, 1972. Louisville was 153 -- 23 all time at the Jefferson County Armory which is now named the Louisville Gardens. Belknap Gymnasium ( 1931 -- 44 ) After playing home games at numerous venues in its early years, the Cardinals moved to the newly constructed Belknap Gymnasium in 1931. The gym housed 600 bleacher seats and the baskets were mounted directly to the wall. Louisville compiled a 56 -- 35 (. 615 winning percentage ) before moving to the Jefferson County Armory. The gym was razed in 1993 to make way for Lutz Hall. Practice facilities The Yum ! Center ( 2007 -- present ) Since 2007 the Cardinals have practiced at the $15.2 million, 60,000 square feet ( 5,600 m ) Yum ! Center on campus. The Yum ! Center houses the teams basketball offices, practice facilities, film room and training areas. Controversies and scandals 2015 sex scandal Main article : 2015 University of Louisville basketball sex scandal A former Louisville player, and then Director of Basketball Operations, Andre McGee, arranged and paid for strippers and prostitutes to perform striptease dances and sexual acts for 17 prospective and former basketball players from 2010 -- 2014. On October 3, 2015, the book publisher IBJ Custom Publishing released a book entitled `` Breaking Cardinal Rules. '' Based on revelations provided by the local self - described escort, Katina Powell, the book detailed striptease dances and acts of prostitution that Powell and McGee arranged and organized in Minardi Hall over approximately a four - year period. During the investigation of the allegations, the university self - imposed a ban on the 2016 NCAA Tournament. In June 2016, the NCAA announced that the university would lose four basketball scholarships over the course of four seasons, but there would be no further postseason ban. The NCAA suspended head coach Rick Pitino for five ACC games during the 2017 -- 18 season. The NCAA also ordered the university to vacate all wins from 2011 -- 2014 that include ineligible players. The vacated wins include a Final Four appearance in 2012 and an NCAA Tournament Championship in 2013. These sanctions have been appealed by the University of Louisville. 2017 corruption scandal Main article : 2017 NCAA Division I men 's basketball corruption scandal As a result of a corruption scandal implicating various schools including Louisville, on September 27, 2017, Louisville placed head coach Rick Pitino on unpaid administrative leave and athletic director Tom Jurich on paid administrative leave. Rick Pitino and Tom Jurich would then be fired with cause by the University, David Padgett would be selected to replace Rick Pitino as the Interim Head Coach of the mens team, and Vince Tyra would be selected as Interim Athletic Director. See also Louisville -- Memphis rivalry Kentucky -- Louisville rivalry Big East Conference rivalries List of college men 's basketball coaches with 600 wins References Jump up ^ `` Louisville Athletics - Louisville Sports Information ''. March 26, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2017. Jump up ^ `` 2011 NCAA Men 's Final Four Statistics '' ( PDF ). 2011 NCAA Men 's Basketball Statistics. National Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved January 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` 2015 -- 16 Louisville Basketball Guide '' ( PDF ). University of Louisville. Retrieved February 12, 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Louisville 's Pitino and Jurich placed on leave ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 27. Jump up ^ Medcalf, Myron ( September 30, 2017 ). `` David Padgett to take on acting head - coaching duties for Cardinals ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved March 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Louisville must vacate basketball title, NCAA denies appeal ''. ESPN.com. January 20, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Louisville hires Xavier 's Chris Mack as new men 's basketball coach ''. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Basketball Media Guide ''. Louisville Basketball Media Guide. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Retrieved January 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` NAIA Division I Men 's Basketball '' ( PDF ). NAIA. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on August 15, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` NIT Postseason Tournament Results ( 1950 's ) ''. NIT Postseason Tournament Results ( 1950 's ). NCAA. Retrieved December 27, 2011. Jump up ^ http://stanforddailyarchive.com/cgi-bin/stanford?a=d&d=stanford19560503-01.2.23&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN -- -- -- - Jump up ^ `` Former Hoop Coach / AD Hickman Dies ''. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Retrieved December 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Cardinal Head Coaches ''. Louisville Cardinal Head Coaches. University of Louisville. Retrieved January 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` ESPN.com -- NCB -- The Denny Crum Legacy ''. Jump up ^ `` Player Bio : Denny Crum : : Men 's Basketball ''. Archived from the original on October 26, 2006. Jump up ^ `` Official Website of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame -- Hall of Famers ''. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Hires Rick Pitino As Head Men 's Basketball Coach ''. gocards.com. March 21, 2001. Retrieved March 4, 2001. Jump up ^ `` The Enshrinement Class of 2013 ''. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 30, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013. Jump up ^ `` U of L extends Pitino 's contract ''. Courier - Journal. Courier - Journal. Retrieved June 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Louisville self - imposes postseason ban for men 's hoops in 2016 ''. ESPN. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016. Jump up ^ Jeff Greer ( February 5, 2016 ). `` U of L imposing postseason hoops ban ''. The Courier - Journal. Louisville, KY. Retrieved February 5, 2016. Jump up ^ Scooby Axson ( June 15, 2017 ). `` NCAA suspends Rick Pitino for five ACC games following sex scandal probe ''. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 16, 2017. Jump up ^ Ariana Brockington ( June 16, 2017 ). `` NCAA Suspends Louisville Basketball Coach Rick Pitino in Escort Scandal ''. NBC News. Retrieved June 16, 2017. Jump up ^ Bill Chappell ( June 15, 2017 ). `` NCAA Faults Louisville Basketball Program For Ethics And Oversight In Sex Scandal ''. NPR. Retrieved June 16, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` University of Louisville college basketball program targeted in FBI investigation ''. The Courier - Journal. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` College basketball bribery scandal exposes `` dark underbelly '' of NCAA, prosecutor says ``. NBC News. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` University of Louisville college basketball program targeted in FBI investigation ''. Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` University of Louisville scandal : Brian Bowen 's mom says she ' did n't know anything ' ''. The Courier - Journal. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Louisville basketball has an FBI investigation to worry about while still on NCAA probation ''. SBNation.com. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ `` Sources : Louisville, Mack agree to 7 - year deal ''. ESPN.com. Retrieved 28 March 2018. Jump up ^ `` Missouri Valley Conference Index College Basketball at ''. Sports-reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Metropolitan Collegiate Athletic Conference Index College Basketball at ''. Sports-reference.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Basketball Media Guide 2011 -- 12 ''. Louisville Basketball Media Guide 2011 -- 12. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Retrieved January 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Men 's Basketball Results 2011 -- 12 ''. Louisville Men 's Basketball Results 2011 -- 12. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012. Jump up ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/02/20/louisville-basketball-will-vacate-2013-national-championship-as-ncaa-upholds-ruling/ Jump up ^ `` History & Archives ''. NAIA Hoops. Archived from the original on November 21, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Dick Vitale picks the best rivalries in college sports ''. ESPN.com. Jump up ^ John Papanek. `` A Rookie Gives The Jazz Pizzazz ''. Sports Illustrated. December 8, 1980. Retrieved on February 1, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Division I Consensus All - American Selections '' ( PDF ). Division I Consensus All - American Selections. NCAA. Retrieved January 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Louisville All - Americans ''. Louisville All - Americans. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Retrieved January 15, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Basketball Media Guide 2010 -- 11 ''. Louisville Basketball Media Guide 2010 -- 11. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Jump up ^ `` NBA Development League : Vipers Roster ''. Nba.com. November 25, 2011. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` OTIS GEORGE basketball profile ''. Retrieved December 19, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Info teams ''. Ethias League. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` NBA Development League : 2011 -- 2012 Armor Regular Season Statistics ''. Nba.com. January 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` 2015 -- 16 Louisville Basketball Media Guide '' ( PDF ). University of Louisville. Retrieved February 12, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Men 's Basketball Schedule and Results ''. gocards.com. University of Louisville. Retrieved February 12, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Men 's Basketball Information Guide ''. Men 's Basketball Information Guide. University of Louisville Athletic Department. Retrieved January 14, 2012. Jump up ^ `` NCAA Division I Men 's Basketball Attendance Leaders Year - by - Year ( 1970 -- 2011 ) '' ( PDF ). NCAA Division I Men 's Basketball Attendance Leaders Year - by - Year ( 1970 -- 2012 ). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on August 18, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Court at KFC Yum ! Center still honors Crum ''. The Courier - Journal. Retrieved September 18, 2015. Jump up ^ Smith, Chris. `` College Basketball 's Most Valuable Teams 2014 : Louisville Cardinals On Top Again ''. Retrieved September 18, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Louisville Surprises No. 1 Syracuse ''. New Tork Times. March 6, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Louisville basketball has had many homes before the KFC Yum ! Center The Courier - Journal ''. courier-journal.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012. Jump up ^ pg. 145 Jump up ^ `` University of Louisville Library Digital Collections ''. University of Louisville Library Digital Collections. University of Louisville. Retrieved January 27, 2012. Jump up ^ Forde, Pat ( 2015 - 10 - 02 ). `` Louisville investigating new book 's damaging sexual allegations involving basketball team ''. Yahoo. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Former Louisville operations director acted unethically, head coach failed to monitor ''. NCAA. 2017 - 06 - 15. Retrieved 2017 - 06 - 15. Jump up ^ Schlabach, Mark ( 2017 - 09 - 27 ). `` The step - by - step process of how the words ' corruption ' and ' fraud ' came to college basketball ''. ESPN. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 28. Jump up ^ Winter, Tom ; Connor, Tracy ( 2017 - 09 - 26 ). `` 4 NCAA Basketball Coaches, Adidas Executive Charged in Bribe Scheme ''. NBC News. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 28. Jump up ^ Lyles, Jr., Harry ( 2017 - 09 - 27 ). `` The FBI 's investigation of college basketball corruption, explained ''. SB Nation. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Louisville 's Rick Pitino and Tom Jurich placed on administrative leave ''. ESPN. 2017 - 09 - 27. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 28. External links Official website Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball Venues Jefferson County Armory ( 1945 -- 1956 ) Freedom Hall ( 1956 -- 2010 ) KFC Yum ! Center ( 2010 -- present ) Rivalries Cincinnati Kentucky Memphis Culture & lore History Billy Minardi Classic Cardinal Bird The Rivalry : Red v. Blue 2015 sex scandal 2017 corruption scandal People Head coaches Notable players Seasons 1911 -- 12 1912 -- 13 1913 -- 14 1914 -- 15 1915 -- 16 1916 -- 17 1917 -- 18 1918 -- 19 1919 -- 20 1920 -- 21 1921 -- 22 1922 -- 23 1923 -- 24 1924 -- 25 1925 -- 26 1926 -- 27 1927 -- 28 1928 -- 29 1929 -- 30 1930 -- 31 1931 -- 32 1932 -- 33 1933 -- 34 1934 -- 35 1935 -- 36 1936 -- 37 1937 -- 38 1938 -- 39 1939 -- 40 1940 -- 41 1941 -- 42 1942 -- 43 1943 -- 44 1944 -- 45 1945 -- 46 1946 -- 47 1947 -- 48 1948 -- 49 1949 -- 50 1950 -- 51 1951 -- 52 1952 -- 53 1953 -- 54 1954 -- 55 1955 -- 56 1956 -- 57 1957 -- 58 1958 -- 59 1959 -- 60 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 1970 -- 71 1971 -- 72 1972 -- 73 1973 -- 74 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1988 -- 89 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 NAIA and NCAA national championships in bold ; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics University of Louisville Located in : Louisville, Kentucky Schools Engineering Law Medicine Campus Campuses William F. Ekstrom Library McConnell Center Moore Observatory Residence Halls Speed Art Museum Athletics Baseball ( Baseball -- Jim Patterson Stadium ) Basketball ( Men 's -- Women 's -- Freedom Hall -- KFC Yum ! Center ) Football ( Football -- Papa John 's Cardinal Stadium -- Cardinal Stadium ) Soccer ( Men 's -- Women 's -- Lynn Stadium ) Kentucky -- Louisville rivalry University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band People Alumni Faculty Athletes University Presidents Student life The Louisville Cardinal Founded : 1798 Students : 22,298 Endowment : $876.82 million Atlantic Coast Conference men 's basketball Teams Boston College Eagles Clemson Tigers Duke Blue Devils Florida State Seminoles Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Louisville Cardinals Miami Hurricanes NC State Wolfpack North Carolina Tar Heels Notre Dame Fighting Irish Pittsburgh Panthers Syracuse Orange Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Tech Hokies Wake Forest Demon Deacons Championships & awards Regular season champions ACC Men 's Basketball Tournament Coach of the Year Player of the Year Rookie of the Year 50th Anniversary Team Seasons 1953 -- 54 1954 -- 55 1955 -- 56 1956 -- 57 1957 -- 58 1958 -- 59 1959 -- 60 1960 -- 61 1961 -- 62 1962 -- 63 1963 -- 64 1964 -- 65 1965 -- 66 1966 -- 67 1967 -- 68 1968 -- 69 1969 -- 70 1970 -- 71 1971 -- 72 1972 -- 73 1973 -- 74 1974 -- 75 1975 -- 76 1976 -- 77 1977 -- 78 1978 -- 79 1979 -- 80 1980 -- 81 1981 -- 82 1982 -- 83 1983 -- 84 1984 -- 85 1985 -- 86 1986 -- 87 1987 -- 88 1988 -- 89 1989 -- 90 1990 -- 91 1991 -- 92 1992 -- 93 1993 -- 94 1994 -- 95 1995 -- 96 1996 -- 97 1997 -- 98 1998 -- 99 1999 -- 00 2000 -- 01 2001 -- 02 2002 -- 03 2003 -- 04 2004 -- 05 2005 -- 06 2006 -- 07 2007 -- 08 2008 -- 09 2009 -- 10 2010 -- 11 2011 -- 12 2012 -- 13 2013 -- 14 2014 -- 15 2015 -- 16 2016 -- 17 2017 -- 18 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louisville_Cardinals_men%27s_basketball&oldid=838442180 '' Categories : Louisville Cardinals men 's basketball 1911 establishments in Kentucky Basketball teams established in 1911 Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from February 2017 Articles needing additional references from January 2017 All articles needing additional references Articles with hCards Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2015 All articles containing potentially dated statements Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2017 All Wikipedia articles in need of updating Articles containing potentially dated statements from February 2017 All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from February 2017 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Português Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 27 April 2018, at 01 : 40. 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Question: how many basketball national championships does louisville have
Answer: two