Louisville Basketball: What Experts Say About Cardinals' NCAA Chances

The Louisville Cardinals made headlines by winning the Big East tournament and thus being thrust into the national spotlight. Although the Cardinals won a hard-fought game against their rivals, they still have a lot of work to do if they want to go far in the tournament.

Not a lot of people were talking about this team until they won in the Garden, but now the Cards are one of the hottest teams to pick to go to New Orleans.

Here is what the experts have to say about Louisville.  

For your printable bracket for the 2012 NCAA tournament, click here 

Doug Gottlieb

Doug Gottlieb is either loved or hated, and he is going to be hated by Louisville fans for what he had to say about the Cardinals in the tournament.

He is picking the upset in the first round, putting Davidson over the Cardinals. 

This seems to be an out-there thought, but Davidson is a decent team that even defeated Kansas earlier in the season. 

Joe Lunardi

Lunardi isn't confident the Cardinals are going to get through the second round. He gives them the win against Davidson, but has them losing to New Mexico.

This seems to be the consensus among people around the country. You can check out what Lunardi had to say about the Cardinals here.  

Eamonn Brennan

Brennan thinks Louisville could be a lot to handle for MSU and could really give the Spartans a run for their money in the West.

I think this is about right on, but MSU is a great team with a lot of talent and size. It would be tough for Louisville to defeat the Spartans.  

Gary Parrish

Parrish has the Cardinals making it to the Sweet 16, but then losing to Michigan State. 

Michigan State is a great team and it would be a great matchup to see these two squads from great conferences face off.

Jeff Goodman

Goodman has Louisville winning the first game, but losing the next one to New Mexico. This seems like a popular pick as of late.

I’m not sure if New Mexico will be able to handle a Louisville team, but with Steve Alford at the helm anything can happen with this Louisville team.  

Jerry Palm

Palm is going with Davidson in the first round—not a lot of confidence in Louisville making a run.

It should be concerning that Palm has them getting out in the first round, he usually knows what he is talking about on things like this. 

Gregg Doyel

Doyel also has the Cardinals losing in the first round.

Good news for Louisville fans: Experts are rarely right. However, the number of picks for Davidson should be alarming. 

Dennis Dodd

Dodd of CBS Sports has Louisville losing to Long Beach State in the second round of the tournament.

Not sure about these CBS guys...They seem to be taking a lot of upsets when it comes to the Big East tournament champions. 

Jeff Borzello

Borzello also has Louisville losing in the second round of the tournament.

This is beginning to look like a common theme. It looks like for the first time in a long time, the Big East is getting the cold shoulder when it comes to the tournament champion, these guys must not remember UConn. 

Matt Norlander

Norlander also has Davidson upsetting the Cardinals.

Looks like the experts only really like one team from Kentucky this season. With Louisville on a run right now, it’s hard to see Davidson stopping them, but it is March and anything can happen.