As part of The Hoops Classic in Partnership with Care Source multi-team event, Louisville men’s basketball will face three non-conference opponents, the university announced Thursday.
Louisville will start the three-game slate, taking on former Big East foe and current Big 12 member, Cincinnati, at Heritage Bank Center — a neutral site in Cincinnati, Ohio — on Friday, Nov. 21.
“Adding a neutral site game against Cincinnati was just another great piece in our scheduling puzzle,” said head coach Pat Kelsey. “There is great history between our two programs as we were rivals for many years. I sense the fan bases on both sides are excited. I grew up going to the Riverfront Coliseum which is now Heritage Bank Arena. In fact, it was the first place that I saw Coach Crum’s Louisville Cardinals play live – I’m excited to coach the 2025-26 edition of the Cards in the same venue.”
Sources confirm that Cincinnati will return the favor with a return trip to Louisville in the 2026-27 season, and the two will play at Freedom Hall. It’s set to be Louisville men’s basketball’s first game at Freedom Hall since March 2010.
UofL men’s basketball season ticket members will receive access to a presale for the Cincinnati game via email. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Ticketmaster.com on August 28.
The week after the trip to The Queen City, Louisville faces Eastern Michigan and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) at the KFC Yum! Center on Monday, Nov. 24, and Wednesday, Nov. 26.
The Cardinals’ non-conference schedule is among the toughest in the nation. They start the 2025 basketball season with a bang against Kansas in a home exhibition and then face Kentucky on November 11. The next month, Louisville, faces Indiana (Dec. 6) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, plays Memphis (Dec. 13) at the Yum! Center, and goes to Tennessee (Dec. 16) three days later. Not to mention, the Cards Valentines Day date with Baylor at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
However, Louisville’s non-conference schedule is still incomplete. They’re still in the process of filling in the gaps with mid-major opponents.
Putting together a meaty schedule has been a top priority for Kelsey entering year two of his tenure. With Louisville not involved in a Thanksgiving tournament this year, the Cards’ schedule is still nothing short of difficult.
