Louisville's Heartbreak in DC: Falling to NC State in ACC Tourney

The 2023 ACC Tournament in Washington D.C. was supposed to be a fresh start for the Louisville Cardinals, but it ended in familiar heartbreak. Despite leading by as many as 12 points early on, the Cardinals couldn’t hold off a late surge by the NC State Wolfpack, falling 94-85 in a game that was tied at 75 with just 4:30 remaining.

Louisville seemed to have everything going their way in the first half. They shot a blistering 55% from the field and an even hotter 56% from three-point range. Even more impressively, they were a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. But as the game wore on, the Cardinals’ offense went ice cold, misfiring on their last four field goal attempts and seven of their last eight shots overall.

The turning point came after NC State head coach Kevin Keatts called a timeout with the game knotted at 75. Out of the break, the Wolfpack drilled back-to-back three-pointers to seize control. From there, it was all NC State as they outscored Louisville 19-10 down the stretch.

Despite the disappointing loss, there were still some bright spots for the Cardinals. Sophomore guard Skyy Clark was sensational, pouring in a game-high 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the field, including 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. Unfortunately, Clark’s teammates struggled to provide consistent scoring support, and he didn’t even touch the ball in the final two minutes after passing it across midcourt.

The loss marked yet another early exit from the ACC Tournament for Louisville, a program that has fallen on hard times in recent years. Once a perennial powerhouse under former coach Rick Pitino, the Cardinals have been mired in mediocrity since his ignominious departure in 2017 amid a recruiting scandal.

For second-year head coach Kenny Payne, the loss is sure to sting, but it also provides a learning opportunity as he tries to rebuild Louisville into an ACC contender. With a talented core of young players like Clark, El Ellis, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, the future looks bright in the Derby City. But the Cardinals will need to find a way to string together more complete performances, especially in big games, if they hope to recapture their past glory.

As for NC State, the win keeps their NCAA Tournament hopes alive for at least another day. At 18-14 overall, the Wolfpack likely still have some work to do to solidify their case for an at-large bid. But pulling off an upset over Louisville, who was ranked 25th in the latest AP poll, is sure to bolster their resume.

With the madness of March now fully underway, every game takes on added importance. For Louisville, the focus now shifts to preparing for whatever postseason opportunity comes their way, whether it’s the NIT or a potential NCAA Tournament bid. But no matter where they end up, this latest ACC Tournament disappointment is sure to linger as a reminder of how far this once-proud program still has to go.