Final Four History  

The Louisville athletic program has accomplished a major feat, bringing both the men’s and the women’s basketball teams to the Final Four in the same season. This makes them only the eighth program all time to achieve this sweep.

This year’s Cardinals join the 2004, 2009 and 2011 Connecticut Huskies teams as well as the 1983 Georgia Bulldogs, the 1999 Duke Blue Devils, the 2002 Oklahoma Sooners, the 2003 Texas Longhorns, the 2005 Michigan State Spartans and the 2006 LSU Tigers in this achievement.

Louisville fans have taken notice, and realize what kind of rich history the teams are joining into.

“It’s great for the city and the university because it has only happened a few times (that both teams make the final four),” junior Logan Price said.

Kevin Ware

“I think the injury is extra motivation for the team to win,” Price said. “Ware is from Atlanta and they want to win it for him since the Final Four is in his hometown.”

Kevin Ware has sparked media attention after his gruesome injury during the Elite Eight game against Duke. For someone who only average 4.5 PPG and has started twice, this guard has brought support from everywhere around the country to the Cardinals. It’s not the points that matter or the minutes or the spotlight Louisville has received, losing any player is tragic and can affect the whole outcome of a season.

Louisville vs. Wichita State

The Cardinals have reached the Final Four for the second season in a row, but this season they want to go all the way and they have all the pieces.

“This year’s team is getting big contributions from Russ Smith and with Luke Hancock coming off the bench he gives us good defense and he hits threes,” Price said.

The Cardinals will first have to defeat Wichita State, a 9 seed out of the West region. Wichita State has taken down the top two seeds in West region and will now look to take out the overall number one team in the tournament. Will this Cinderella team keep its dreams alive? Or will Louisville walk away victorious, like almost all are predicting?

Lady Cards vs. California

The Lady Cards are one of the biggest Cinderella team’s in women’s history. If they were to knock off the two seeded California Golden Bears, they would become the highest seeded team in NCAA history to reach the championship.

Louisville will have to keep up the hot streak and spirit going for two more games to cap off their improbable run, which includes the victory over the number one seed Baylor, a recent powerhouse in women’s college basketball. Most are predicting a Louisville loss this Sunday, but with some magic anything can happen.