The South Florida Bulls men’s basketball saw their March Madness run come to an end with an 83–79 loss to the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament on March 19 in Buffalo.

A poor shooting performance early proved costly for the Bulls, who shot just 1-for-17 from the field to open the game and trailed 37–27 at halftime. Despite facing a Louisville team without projected lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr., USF struggled to find rhythm offensively in the first half.

Senior guard Joseph Pinion led the Bulls with 27 points, igniting a second-half surge that trimmed a 23-point deficit to as little as five.

American Player of the Year Izayiah Nelson added 22 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, anchoring the Bulls on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, USF forced 22 turnovers and recorded 15 steals, converting that pressure into 24 points off turnovers while disrupting Louisville’s offensive rhythm throughout the game. The Bulls also held an advantage in fast-break points, using their defense to generate key scoring opportunities.

Senior guard Isaac McKneely led Louisville from beyond the arc, shooting 7-of-10 from 3-point range and finishing with 23 points to match his season high.

“Their attack is extremely dangerous, and you can’t take plays off,” Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey said. “They’re an elite rebounding team, and our guys were extremely attentive to the keys to the game, and that’s what got us off to a great start.”

Despite erasing a 23-point deficit, the Bulls’ season comes to an end at 25–8, capping a historic run that included the program’s first American Athletic Conference title and a return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012.