Louisville Cardinals men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball
team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino
, the Cardinals
of the University of Louisville
have been to 37 NCAA tournaments (5th all time) with 60 tournament wins (6th all time). Louisville has been to eight Final Fours (7th all time) and is one of 13 programs in the nation to have won two NCAA championships. Under Denny Crum
in the 1980s, Louisville went to four Final Fours, winning two NCAA championships, and posting the best NCAA tournament record of that decade.
, and CBS Sportsline. The Cardinals have won 18 or more games 37 of the past 40 years, including 15 years with 24 or more wins.
As of the end of the 2010-11 season, U of L had an all-time 1635–854 record in 96 seasons of intercollegiate basketball. The Cardinals are 18th among all NCAA schools in victories and 10th in winning percentage. U of L is second all-time in the NCAA with 46 consecutive winning seasons (not current). The Cards played winning basketball from 1944-45 through 1989-90, winning 20 or more games on 31 occasions during that period. Louisville is 101–0 all-time when scoring 100 or more points. Louisville has won its conference championship or finished second in its league in 22 of the last 31 years. The Cardinals have been ranked on 429 occasions in the AP poll, seventh most all-time. U of L rose to as high as No. 4 during the 2005-06 season on Dec. 12, when the Cards had won their first six games. Louisville was No. 7 in the AP preseason poll and No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today preseason poll last year.
Louisville has made 37 NCAA Tournament
appearances (5th all-time) and 14 NIT
appearances. The Cardinals have reached the NCAA Tournament 24 of the last 31 years (six of the last nine years, 12 of last 16). The Cards have reached the Sweet 16 on 23 occasions. Louisville is fifth in tournament victories (62). UofL has a 62–37 overall NCAA Tournament record, reaching the Final Four
eight times. Louisville is the only school in the nation to have claimed the championship of three major national post-season tournaments including the 1948 NAIB championship, the 1956 NIT
title and the 1980
and 1986
NCAA championships.
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 has ranked among the top 10 nationally in average home attendance each of the last 27 years, including the last 22 in the nation's top five (18,316 in '05-06, fourth in the nation). Two of the top 10 all-time crowds in Freedom Hall came during the 2005-06 season. A Freedom Hall record 20,091 fans attended the Cardinals’ Jan. 21 game against Connecticut
. 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. With sellout crowds the norm and ranking third nationally in home attendance, the Cardinals have a waiting list of more than 4,000 to purchase season tickets.
U of L has been the most profitable college basketball program in the nation for 10 straight years. Valued at $24.4 million, Louisville's basketball team is ranked third on Forbes.com's The Most Valuable College Basketball Teams list.
Louisville's rivalry with the University of Kentucky
has long been considered one of the best in college basketball
, and the basketball game is commonly known as the Dream Game by locals and Battle for the Bluegrass by those outside the Commonwealth. Louisville also maintains basketball rivalries with West Virginia
, Cincinnati
, Memphis and Marquette
.
and Earl Clark
, both of whom would be drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft
, Louisville won both the Big East regular season championship with a 16-2 conference record and the Big East Tournament
. On March 16, 2009, U of L was ranked No. 1 during the season for the first time in its 96-year history of men's basketball -- a ranking that it would carry through the final poll of the regular season. On March 14, 2009, Louisville achieved its first ever Big East Conference Tournament
Championship, defeating Syracuse
76–66. The team earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament
. On March 22, 2009, Louisville beat Siena
in a close game to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Louisville eventually lost in the Elite Eight to No. 2 seed Michigan State
, finishing the season 31-6.
. Louisville finished the season 20–13, 11–7 in Big East play. They received an at-large bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
, earning a 9 seed in the South Region where they lost to 8 seed California
in the first round.
. Louisville opened the season unranked but entered the top 25 after defeating No. 16 Butler
and No. 20 UNLV
. They experienced success since those wins, taking down No. 5 Connecticut, No. 13 Syracuse and No. 6 Pittsburgh.
Louisville drew a 4 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament only to be faced against Morehead State for the second time in three years. In the second round match up Morehead State defeated Louisville 62-61 to end Louisville's 2010-11 season.
by one for most all time. Forwards Juan Palacios
and Terrence Williams
both reached the 1000 point mark in the 2007-08 season.
The Cardinals have had 59 players taken in the NBA Draft
, the most recent being Earl Clark
and Terrence Williams
, who were chosen in the first round in the 2009 NBA Draft
. As of December 2010, at least 15 former Cardinal players are playing professional basketball, with four of those ( Earl Clark
, Francisco García
, Samardo Samuels
, and Terrence Williams
) currently playing in the NBA. Reece Gaines and Dwayne Morton have previously played in the NBA, but are now playing in international leagues.
* – player has been drafted by the listed team but has not yet played professionally.
Several other former players have played in the NBA, including:
Nineteen Louisville players have earned All-America
status, the most recent being Terrence Williams
in 2009.
Louisville has two 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, and former coach Denny Crum
, who was inducted in 1994.
The following is according to Louisville's 2008-10 media guide.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
, the Cardinals
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
of the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
have been to 37 NCAA tournaments (5th all time) with 60 tournament wins (6th all time). Louisville has been to eight Final Fours (7th all time) and is one of 13 programs in the nation to have won two NCAA championships. Under Denny Crum
Denny Crum
Denzil E. "Denny" Crum is a former American men's college basketball coach at the University of Louisville from 1971 to 2001, compiling a 675–295 record. He guided the Cardinals to two NCAA championships and six Final Fours...
in the 1980s, Louisville went to four Final Fours, winning two NCAA championships, and posting the best NCAA tournament record of that decade.
History
U of L basketball has been named the seventh best all-time basketball program by Street and Smith's, The Sporting NewsThe Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, and CBS Sportsline. The Cardinals have won 18 or more games 37 of the past 40 years, including 15 years with 24 or more wins.
| Tradition | Number | National Rank |
|---|---|---|
| All-time NCAA Tournaments NCAA Men's Division I Tournament bids by school This is a list of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament bids by school, as of 2011. Schools whose names are italicized are no longer in Division I, and can no longer be included in the tournament.... |
37 | 5th |
| All-time NCAA Tournament Wins NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament all-time team records This is a list of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament all-time records, as of 2010. Schools whose names are italicized are no longer in Division I, and can no longer be included in the tournament... |
62 | 6th |
| All-time NCAA Final Fours NCAA Men's Division I Final Four appearances by school This is a list of NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Final Four appearances by school. Schools whose names are italicized are no longer in Division I and can no longer be included in the tournament. Several teams have vacated Final Four appearances and are marked with an * with... |
8 | T-7th |
| All-time Winning Percentage | .656 | 10th |
As of the end of the 2010-11 season, U of L had an all-time 1635–854 record in 96 seasons of intercollegiate basketball. The Cardinals are 18th among all NCAA schools in victories and 10th in winning percentage. U of L is second all-time in the NCAA with 46 consecutive winning seasons (not current). The Cards played winning basketball from 1944-45 through 1989-90, winning 20 or more games on 31 occasions during that period. Louisville is 101–0 all-time when scoring 100 or more points. Louisville has won its conference championship or finished second in its league in 22 of the last 31 years. The Cardinals have been ranked on 429 occasions in the AP poll, seventh most all-time. U of L rose to as high as No. 4 during the 2005-06 season on Dec. 12, when the Cards had won their first six games. Louisville was No. 7 in the AP preseason poll and No. 8 in the ESPN/USA Today preseason poll last year.
Louisville has made 37 NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances (5th all-time) and 14 NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
appearances. The Cardinals have reached the NCAA Tournament 24 of the last 31 years (six of the last nine years, 12 of last 16). The Cards have reached the Sweet 16 on 23 occasions. Louisville is fifth in tournament victories (62). UofL has a 62–37 overall NCAA Tournament record, reaching the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
eight times. Louisville is the only school in the nation to have claimed the championship of three major national post-season tournaments including the 1948 NAIB championship, the 1956 NIT
1956 National Invitation Tournament
The 1956 National Invitation Tournament was the 1956 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 12 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
title and the 1980
1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 6, 1980, and ended with the championship game on March 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
and 1986
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
NCAA championships.
From 1956 to the completion of the KFC Yum! Center
KFC Yum! Center
The KFC Yum! Center is a US $238 million, 22,000-seat basketball and multipurpose arena that opened on October 10, 2010, on the Ohio River waterfront in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on Main Street between Second and Third Streets. The project is part of a $450 million project that includes...
in 2010, the Cardinals played their home games at Freedom Hall
Freedom Hall
Freedom Hall is a multipurpose arena in Louisville, Kentucky, on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center, which is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
. 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
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
College Basketball magazine once named Freedom Hall as the nation’s "Best Playing Floor."
Louisville has ranked among the top 10 nationally in average home attendance each of the last 27 years, including the last 22 in the nation's top five (18,316 in '05-06, fourth in the nation). Two of the top 10 all-time crowds in Freedom Hall came during the 2005-06 season. A Freedom Hall record 20,091 fans attended the Cardinals’ Jan. 21 game against Connecticut
Connecticut Huskies men's basketball
The Connecticut Huskies is the name of the men's college basketball team representing the University of Connecticut, in Storrs, Connecticut, USA. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Big East Conference...
. 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. With sellout crowds the norm and ranking third nationally in home attendance, the Cardinals have a waiting list of more than 4,000 to purchase season tickets.
U of L has been the most profitable college basketball program in the nation for 10 straight years. Valued at $24.4 million, Louisville's basketball team is ranked third on Forbes.com's The Most Valuable College Basketball Teams list.
Louisville's rivalry with the University of Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
has long been considered one of the best in college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, and the basketball game is commonly known as the Dream Game by locals and Battle for the Bluegrass by those outside the Commonwealth. Louisville also maintains basketball rivalries with West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball
The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. They currently compete in the Big East Conference and are coached by Mick Cronin. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in...
, Memphis and Marquette
Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball
The Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's 1977 team, coached by Al McGuire, won the NCAA championship. Currently the team competes in the Big East Conference. It last played in the NCAA Division I...
.
2008-2009 season
In the 2008-09 season, Louisville received a pre-season AP rank of No. 3. Led by Terrence WilliamsTerrence Williams
Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals...
and Earl Clark
Earl Clark
Earl Rashad Clark is an American professional basketball player. Clark played collegiate basketball for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft....
, both of whom would be drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
, Louisville won both the Big East regular season championship with a 16-2 conference record and the Big East Tournament
2009 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
- Championship Game :- Syracuse vs. Connecticut :The quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12 between Syracuse and Connecticut lasted for six overtime periods, the second-longest game in NCAA Division I Men's Basketball history...
. On March 16, 2009, U of L was ranked No. 1 during the season for the first time in its 96-year history of men's basketball -- a ranking that it would carry through the final poll of the regular season. On March 14, 2009, Louisville achieved its first ever Big East Conference Tournament
Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The Big East Men's Basketball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in men's basketball for the Big East Conference. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Since 1983, the tournament has been held in Madison Square...
Championship, defeating Syracuse
2008-09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team
The 2008–09 Syracuse Orange men's basketball team represented Syracuse University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Head Coach is Jim Boeheim, serving for his 33rd year. The team played its home games at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York...
76–66. The team earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament
2009 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:First and Second Rounds: Thursday and Saturday, March 19 and 21, 2009-Qualifying teams:-Brackets:Results to date * – Denotes overtime periodAll times in U.S. EDT....
. On March 22, 2009, Louisville beat Siena
Siena Saints men's basketball
The Siena Saints men's basketball team represents Siena College in Loudonville, New York, United States. The Division I program competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Saints are coached by Mitch Buonaguro who just completed his first season as head coach at Siena after serving as...
in a close game to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Louisville eventually lost in the Elite Eight to No. 2 seed Michigan State
2008–09 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
The 2008–09 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Tom Izzo who was in his 14th year. The team played their home games at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, MI...
, finishing the season 31-6.
2009-2010 season
In the 2009-10 season, Louisville received a pre-season AP rank of No. 20, and reached as high as No. 16 before three early non-conference losses knocked them out of the top 25. On March 6, 2010, Louisville defeated No. 1 Syracuse in the team's final game at Freedom HallFreedom Hall
Freedom Hall is a multipurpose arena in Louisville, Kentucky, on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center, which is owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
. Louisville finished the season 20–13, 11–7 in Big East play. They received an at-large bid to the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's...
, earning a 9 seed in the South Region where they lost to 8 seed California
2009–10 California Golden Bears men's basketball team
The 2009–10 California Golden Bears men's basketball team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2009–10 college basketball season. This was head coach Mike Montgomery's 2nd season at California. The Golden Bears played their home games at Haas Pavilion and participate in the...
in the first round.
2010-11 season
2010-11 is the first season for Louisville playing in the KFC Yum! CenterKFC Yum! Center
The KFC Yum! Center is a US $238 million, 22,000-seat basketball and multipurpose arena that opened on October 10, 2010, on the Ohio River waterfront in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, on Main Street between Second and Third Streets. The project is part of a $450 million project that includes...
. Louisville opened the season unranked but entered the top 25 after defeating No. 16 Butler
2010–11 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Butler University in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Brad Stevens, serving his 4th year. The Bulldogs played their home games at the Hinkle Fieldhouse, which has a capacity of approximately 10,000...
and No. 20 UNLV
UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball
The UNLV Runnin' Rebels are a NCAA Division I men's basketball team who play at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada. Their most recent appearance in the NCAA Tournament was in 2011 when they received an at–large bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, earning an 8-seed in...
. They experienced success since those wins, taking down No. 5 Connecticut, No. 13 Syracuse and No. 6 Pittsburgh.
Louisville drew a 4 seed in the 2011 NCAA Tournament only to be faced against Morehead State for the second time in three years. In the second round match up Morehead State defeated Louisville 62-61 to end Louisville's 2010-11 season.
Notable former players
, Louisville has 59 1000-point career scorers, edging out North CarolinaNorth Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
by one for most all time. Forwards Juan Palacios
Juan Palacios
Juan Diego Tello Palacios is a Colombian professional basketball player.Born in Medellín, Colombia, Palacios attended high school at Our Savior New American in Centereach, New York, United States...
and Terrence Williams
Terrence Williams
Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals...
both reached the 1000 point mark in the 2007-08 season.
The Cardinals have had 59 players taken in the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
, the most recent being Earl Clark
Earl Clark
Earl Rashad Clark is an American professional basketball player. Clark played collegiate basketball for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft....
and Terrence Williams
Terrence Williams
Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals...
, who were chosen in the first round in the 2009 NBA Draft
2009 NBA Draft
The 2009 NBA Draft was held on June 25, 2009, the WaMu Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S...
. As of December 2010, at least 15 former Cardinal players are playing professional basketball, with four of those ( Earl Clark
Earl Clark
Earl Rashad Clark is an American professional basketball player. Clark played collegiate basketball for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft....
, Francisco García
Francisco García
Francisco García is a Dominican professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. A 6'7", 195-pound guard–forward from the University of Louisville, García was selected by the Kings in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft...
, Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels
Samardo Samuels is a Jamaican professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound power forward/center who attended college at the University of Louisville....
, and Terrence Williams
Terrence Williams
Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals...
) currently playing in the NBA. Reece Gaines and Dwayne Morton have previously played in the NBA, but are now playing in international leagues.
| Player | League | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Earl Clark Earl Clark Earl Rashad Clark is an American professional basketball player. Clark played collegiate basketball for the University of Louisville men's basketball team and was drafted 14th overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2009 NBA Draft.... |
 NBANational Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada... |
Orlando Magic Orlando Magic The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy... |
| Damion Dantzler |  KorisliigaKorisliiga Korisliiga is the top league of basketball in Finland, comprising the top 12 teams of the country. In current format each team plays all other teams twice in the regular season, both at home and away... |
Tampereen Pyrintö Tampereen Pyrintö Tampereen Pyrintö is a Finnish basketball team from Tampere. It is the basketball branch of a club with the same name, which is known besides its basketball team, its successful athletics and orienteering branches... |
| Kendall Dartez |  LNB Pro ALigue Nationale de Basketball The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:... |
Chorale Roanne Basket Chorale Roanne Basket Chorale Roanne Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Roanne, France. The club plays in the Pro A. Their coach is Jean-Denys Choulet. Their home arena is Halle André Vacheresse... |
| Taquan Dean Taquan Dean Taquan Dean is an American professional basketball player.-Amateur career:He was born in Red Bank, New Jersey and attended Neptune High School in Neptune Township, New Jersey.... |
 Liga ACB |
Unicaja Málaga |
| Nouha Diakite | LNB Pro A |
ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne ASVEL Basket or ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne is a French professional basketball team located in the city of Villeurbanne, which is a suburb of Lyon, France. The club, which is the basketball section of the ASVEL multi-sport club, competes in the French Pro A league. The club's home games are played at... |
| Reece Gaines Reece Gaines Clifton Reece Gaines is an American professional basketball guard.Gaines, a 6'6", 205 lb shooting guard played high school basketball at Madison West in his hometown... |
Pro A Ligue Nationale de Basketball The Ligue National de Basket is the top men's French professional basketball league. There are two divisions: French Pro A League and French Pro B League .-Pro A:... |
JA Vichy JA Vichy Jeanne d’Arc de Vichy Val d’Allier Auvergne Basket is a basketball club based in Vichy, France that plays in the LNB. Their home games are played at Gymnase Pierre Coulon.- Former Player:* Ime Udoka* Martynas Andriukaitis* Kareem Reid* Mike Smith... |
| Francisco García Francisco García Francisco García is a Dominican professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. A 6'7", 195-pound guard–forward from the University of Louisville, García was selected by the Kings in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft... |
NBA National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada... |
Sacramento Kings Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association... |
| Otis George |  Korean Basketball LeagueKorean Basketball League The Korean Basketball League, often abbreviated to the KBL, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in South Korea. Its inaugural season was in 1997. The season starts in October and ends in April the following year. The KBL consists of 10 teams. Each team plays 54 games . Each team... |
Daegu Orions Daegu Orions The Goyang Orions is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League.-Trophies:*Champions : 1** 2001/02*Regular season titles : 2** 2001/02, 2002/03... |
| Troy Jackson Troy Jackson Troy Jackson was an American basketball player. The younger brother of former NBA player Mark Jackson, he was a member of the AND1 Mixtape Tour, known by his streetball nickname "Escalade"... |
American Streetball Streetball Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules... |
AND1 Mixtape Tour AND1 Mixtape Tour The AND1 Live Tour, formerly known as the AND1 Mixtape Tour, is a traveling basketball competition and exhibition presented by B-Ball and Company and the basketball apparel manufacturer AND1. A group of streetball players, along with Emcee Rell and B-Ball and Company CEO Linda Hill, travel from... |
| Dwayne Morton Dwayne Morton Dwayne Lamont Morton is an American professional basketball player. He played 41 games for the National Basketball Association's Golden State Warriors during the 1994–95 NBA season.... |
 Bulgarian A1 First |
Balkan Botevgrad |
| Joseph N'Sima | Nationale 1 (3rd Level), France |
USA Toulouges |
| Larry O'Bannon Larry O'Bannon Larry O'Bannon is an American professional basketball player. He currently plays with the club Boca Juniors. He stands 1.94 m tall and he plays at the shooting guard position.-Early life:... |
 Israeli Basketball Super League |
Maccabi Haifa Maccabi Haifa B.C. Maccabi Haifa Basketball Club is a professional Israeli basketball club that belongs to the Maccabi Haifa association. After a 10-year absence, the team returned to the top division in 2008–09.-History:... |
| Jason Osborne |  Liga Nacional de BásquetbolLiga Nacional de Básquetbol The Liga Nacional de Básquet is the top level of the Argentine basketball league system. The league is controlled by the Basketball Clubs' Association... |
Peñarol Mar del Plata Peñarol Mar del Plata Club Atlético Peñarol is a professional basketball team based in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Peñarol currently play in the Liga Nacional de Básquet , the top level of the Argentine league system... |
| Tick Rogers | Israel National League |
Hapoel Beer-Sheva |
| Samardo Samuels Samardo Samuels Samardo Samuels is a Jamaican professional basketball player with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. He is a 6-foot-9-inch, 265-pound power forward/center who attended college at the University of Louisville.... |
NBA National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada... |
Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team... |
| Edgar Sosa Edgar Sosa (basketball) Edgar Sosa is a Dominican basketball player. He arrived in Italy in 2010 after completing his U.S. college career with the University of Louisville Cardinals.... |
 Eurocup Serie ASerie A (basketball) Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and... |
Angelico Biella |
| Terrence Williams Terrence Williams Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals... |
NBA National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada... |
Houston Rockets Houston Rockets The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being... |
| Tony Williams | LNB Pro A |
Hyères-Toulon Var Basket Hyères-Toulon Var Basket Hyères-Toulon Var Basket is a professional basketball club based in Hyères and Toulon, France playing in the Pro A.Created by the merger of Omni Sport Hyerois and Club Sportif Toulonnais, the club shares its home games between the Espace 3000 in Hyères and the Palais des Sports in Toulon.... |
Several other former players have played in the NBA, including:
- Butch BeardButch BeardAlfred "Butch" Beard Jr. is a former National Basketball Association player and head coach. He was the head coach at Morgan State University until he stepped down in March 2006. Butch Beard played college basketball at the University of Louisville...
- Junior BridgemanJunior BridgemanUlysses Lee "Junior" Bridgeman is a retired American basketball player.Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Bridgeman was a member of the 1971 East Chicago Washington High School Senators basketball team, which went undefeated and won the Indiana state high school basketball championship...
- Jack ColemanJack Coleman (basketball)Jack L. Coleman was an American professional basketball player.A 6 ft 7 in forward/center from the University of Louisville, Coleman played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the Rochester Royals and St. Louis Hawks...
- Wesley CoxWesley CoxWesley Cox is a former NBA basketball player for the Golden State Warriors. In 1977, Wesley was drafted with the eighteenth pick by the Golden State Warriors. He played two seasons in the NBA, averaging 2.6 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game.-References:...
- "Never Nervous" Pervis EllisonPervis EllisonPervis Ellison is a former college and professional NBA basketball player.Ellison was nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" for his play with the University of Louisville. At 6 ft 9 in and 242 lb, he started all four years as the center under coach Denny Crum...
- Lancaster GordonLancaster GordonLancaster Gordon is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1st round of the 1984 NBA Draft. A 6'3" guard from the University of Louisville, Gordon played in four NBA seasons for the Clippers from 1984-1988...
- Darrell Griffith
- Rodney McCrayRodney McCray (basketball)Rodney Earl McCray is a retired American basketball player. A 6'7" small forward, he spent ten seasons in the National Basketball Association, tallying 9,014 career points and 5,087 career rebounds.Rodney McCray attended the University of Louisville and was a key member of the Cardinals team...
- Scooter McCrayScooter McCrayCarlton Lamont "Scooter" McCray is a retired American professional basketball player. He had a career in the NBA from 1983–87. He was selected large-school player of the year in 1978 by the New York State Sportswriters Association after his senior season at Mount Veron High School...
- Greg MinorGreg MinorGreg Magado Minor is an American assistant basketball coach with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League. He is a former NBA basketball player with the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers...
- Dwayne MortonDwayne MortonDwayne Lamont Morton is an American professional basketball player. He played 41 games for the National Basketball Association's Golden State Warriors during the 1994–95 NBA season....
- Kenny PayneKenny PayneKenneth Victor Payne is a retired American professional basketball player and currently serves as an assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Kentucky. A 6'8" 195 lb small forward, Payne played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was a member of Louisville's 1986...
- Jim PriceJim Price (basketball)James E. "Jim" Price is a retired American professional basketball player. After starring at the University of Louisville, the 6' 3" Price was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 1972 NBA Draft...
- Clifford RozierClifford RozierClifford Glen Rozier is a retired American professional basketball player.He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round of the 1994 NBA Draft. Rozier played for the Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves in 4 NBA seasons...
- Derek SmithDerek Smith (basketball)Derek Ervin Smith was an American NBA player. He won a national championship with the Louisville Cardinals in 1980, and spent nine years in the NBA in a career shortened by a knee injury. He would later become an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets from 1994 until his death.-Career:Smith...
- LaBradford SmithLaBradford SmithLaBradford Corvey Smith is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1st round of the 1991 NBA Draft. Smith played in 3 NBA seasons for the Bullets and Sacramento Kings, averaging 6.7 ppg in his career...
- Felton SpencerFelton SpencerFelton LaFrance Spencer is a retired American professional basketball player who played at the center position in the National Basketball Association.-High school and college:...
- Barry SumpterBarry SumpterBarry Sumpter is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 3rd round of the 1988 NBA Draft. A 6'11" forward-center from the University of Louisville and Austin Peay State University, Sumpter played in only one career NBA game with the Los...
- Billy ThompsonBilly Thompson (basketball)William Stansbury Thompson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA...
- Charlie TyraCharlie TyraCharles E. Tyra was an American basketball player who is best known as the first Louisville Cardinal All-American....
- Wes UnseldWes UnseldWestley Sissel "Wes" Unseld is an American former basketball player. He spent his entire NBA career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life and college career:Unseld starred on a Seneca High School team...
- Milt WagnerMilt WagnerMilton "Milt" Wagner is a retired American basketball player in the NBA.Wagner played high school basketball at Camden High School....
- Samaki WalkerSamaki WalkerSamaki Ijuma Walker is an American professional basketball power forward and center. Walker played college basketball at the University of Louisville and was drafted in 1996 by the Dallas Mavericks, where he played until 1999...
- Rick Wilson
Nineteen Louisville players have earned All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
status, the most recent being Terrence Williams
Terrence Williams
Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals...
in 2009.
| Player | Hometown | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Charlie Tyra Charlie Tyra Charles E. Tyra was an American basketball player who is best known as the first Louisville Cardinal All-American.... |
Louisville, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... |
1955-57 |
| Don Goldstein | New York, New York Manhattan Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York... |
1958-59 |
| John Turner | Newport, Kentucky Newport, Kentucky Newport is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers. The population was 15,273 at the 2010 census. Historically, it was one of four county seats of Campbell County. Newport is part of the Greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metro Area which... |
1960-61 |
| Wes Unseld Wes Unseld Westley Sissel "Wes" Unseld is an American former basketball player. He spent his entire NBA career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life and college career:Unseld starred on a Seneca High School team... |
Louisville, Kentucky | 1965–1968 |
| Butch Beard Butch Beard Alfred "Butch" Beard Jr. is a former National Basketball Association player and head coach. He was the head coach at Morgan State University until he stepped down in March 2006. Butch Beard played college basketball at the University of Louisville... |
Hardinsburg, Kentucky Hardinsburg, Kentucky Hardinsburg is a city in Breckinridge County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,345 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Breckinridge County. By Kentucky state law, it is classified as a fifth class city... |
1968-69 |
| Jim Price Jim Price (basketball) James E. "Jim" Price is a retired American professional basketball player. After starring at the University of Louisville, the 6' 3" Price was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 1972 NBA Draft... |
Russellville, Kentucky Russellville, Kentucky As of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile... |
1971-72 |
| Junior Bridgeman Junior Bridgeman Ulysses Lee "Junior" Bridgeman is a retired American basketball player.Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Bridgeman was a member of the 1971 East Chicago Washington High School Senators basketball team, which went undefeated and won the Indiana state high school basketball championship... |
East Chicago, Indiana East Chicago, Indiana East Chicago is a city in Lake County, Indiana. The population was 29,698 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Chicago is located at .... |
1974-75 |
| Allen Murphy Allen Murphy Allen Murphy is a retired American professional basketball player. Murphy was a 6'4½" 190 lbs guard and at played shooting guard for the University of Louisville Cardinals of whom he was part of their 1975 Final Four team... |
Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S... |
1974-75 |
| Phil Bond | Louisville, Kentucky | 1975-76 |
| Wesley Cox | Louisville, Kentucky | 1976-77 |
| Rick Wilson | Louisville, Kentucky | 1977-78 |
| Darrell Griffith | Louisville, Kentucky | 1978-80 |
| Lancaster Gordon Lancaster Gordon Lancaster Gordon is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1st round of the 1984 NBA Draft. A 6'3" guard from the University of Louisville, Gordon played in four NBA seasons for the Clippers from 1984-1988... |
Jackson, Mississippi Jackson, Mississippi Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census... |
1983-84 |
| Pervis Ellison Pervis Ellison Pervis Ellison is a former college and professional NBA basketball player.Ellison was nicknamed "Never Nervous Pervis" for his play with the University of Louisville. At 6 ft 9 in and 242 lb, he started all four years as the center under coach Denny Crum... |
Savannah, Georgia Savannah, Georgia Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important... |
1988-89 |
| Clifford Rozier Clifford Rozier Clifford Glen Rozier is a retired American professional basketball player.He was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round of the 1994 NBA Draft. Rozier played for the Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves in 4 NBA seasons... |
Bradenton, Florida Bradenton, Florida Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833... |
1993-94 |
| DeJuan Wheat DeJuan Wheat DeJuan Shontez Wheat is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and Vancouver Grizzlies... |
Louisville, Kentucky | 1996-97 |
| Reece Gaines Reece Gaines Clifton Reece Gaines is an American professional basketball guard.Gaines, a 6'6", 205 lb shooting guard played high school basketball at Madison West in his hometown... |
Madison, Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison.... |
2002-03 |
| Francisco García Francisco García Francisco García is a Dominican professional basketball player who currently plays for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. A 6'7", 195-pound guard–forward from the University of Louisville, García was selected by the Kings in the first round of the 2005 NBA Draft... |
Bronx, New York The Bronx The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated... |
2004-05 |
| Terrence Williams Terrence Williams Terrence Deshon Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. Williams was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Nets. He was the senior co-captain for Rick Pitino's 2008-09 University of Louisville Cardinals... |
Seattle, Washington | 2008-09 |
Louisville has two representatives in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Cardinal All-American and former Washington Bullets All-Star Wes Unseld
Wes Unseld
Westley Sissel "Wes" Unseld is an American former basketball player. He spent his entire NBA career with the Baltimore/Capital/Washington Bullets, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life and college career:Unseld starred on a Seneca High School team...
, who was inducted in 1988, and former coach Denny Crum
Denny Crum
Denzil E. "Denny" Crum is a former American men's college basketball coach at the University of Louisville from 1971 to 2001, compiling a 675–295 record. He guided the Cardinals to two NCAA championships and six Final Fours...
, who was inducted in 1994.
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