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Louisville Rules Mikel Brown Jr. Out for NCAA Opener, Second-Round Status Unclear

A lingering back injury keeps the freshman guard out, putting the No. 6 seed up against an in‑form South Florida without its primary playmaker.

Overview

  • Louisville announced Brown will not play Thursday against No. 11 South Florida, and the school statement said he would remain out the rest of this week should the Cardinals advance.
  • Coach Pat Kelsey declined to commit beyond the opener, while Brown described a weekend return as “possible,” leaving his Round of 32 availability uncertain.
  • Brown has not played since Feb. 28 after re‑aggravating a mid‑season back injury, and he was held out of the ACC Tournament to prioritize the NCAA Tournament.
  • The freshman averages 18.2 points and a team‑best 4.7 assists; Louisville’s production and results have dipped without him, including a 7–5 record when he sits versus 16–5 when he plays.
  • No. 6 Louisville faces USF on an 11‑game win streak Thursday in Buffalo, with Adrian Wooley expected to handle point guard duties and Ryan Conwell leading the offense.