LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The wise guys identified Clemson and Pittsburgh as the teams most likely to pressure Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball race this season.

Better make it a trio.

Louisville continued its grind from ACC curiosity to ACC contender by taking down Clemson, 74-64, Wednesday night at the KFC Yum! Center. The place was as loud and vibrant as it has been since the Cardinals started losing more games than they were winning the last three seasons.

Clemson coach Brad Brownell noticed -- and credited the announced crowd of 14,991 that ignored the cold, ice and dreary outdoor conditions to watch Pat Kelsey's team improve to 11-5.

"The environment, for whatever reason, bothered us a little bit," Brownell said.

At the quarter pole, the Cards sit tied for second in the league. Over a 7-day stretch, they beat North Carolina followed by Virginia followed by Clemson. That should catch the attention of the rest of the ACC.

Louisville improves to 11-5.

That’s one of the ACC’s landmark programs followed by a Virginia program that won 23 games last season followed by a Clemson team that made the Elite Eight in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Nobody was forecasting that for Kelsey's team in October.

For the record, North Carolina was picked second, Clemson fourth and Virginia fifth at ACC Basketball Media Day last October in Charlotte. Less than 30 minutes after the game, Louisville gained four spots, from No. 40 to 36, in Ken Pomeroy's computer power formula. After 5 ACC games last season, U of L was 1-4 and No. 186.

Terrence Edwards, Chucky Hepburn and Reyne Smith, the trio that usually leads Louisville in scoring, made only 4 of 28 shots, scoring 17 points. It was not a problem.

J’Vonne Hadley delivered his best game as a Card, dropping 32 points on the Tigers. By halftime, Hadley had a career high 18 points, making six of seven shots. Clemson could not keep him away from the rim.

"We gave him a little too much space," Brownell said. "He got multiple dribbles and just overpowered us ... we didn't have an answer for him."

Hadley was everywhere, doing everything. Beating Clemson off the bounce. Dazzling with his footwork, especially along the baseline. Refusing to be outmuscled in pursuit of four offensive rebounds.

Scoring with his right hand or with a left-handed hook. It was his night. He made all three shots he took from distance. Credit him with 10 rebounds.

"He's the ultimate lunch-pail, blue-collar guy," Kelsey said. "Tonight was his night ... He had a game to remember for the rest of his life."

The crowd fell in love, chanting, “HAD-Lee, HAD-Lee, HAD-Lee,” after he scored his 10th field goal with about three minutes to play.

What was that like?

"Honestly, I've been trying to describe it for awhile since the game ended," Hadley said. "It's indescribable."

James Scott was also terrific, making all five shots while grabbing 10 rebounds.

The Cards forced the Tigers into missing 39 of 65 shots (40%) while only sending the visitors to the line for five free throws.

"The last three games has been the best defense we've played all season," Kelsey said.

"Defensively they were good," Brownell said. "They were aggressive."

Mark it down as the Cards’ first 5-game winning streak since Jan. 13, 2021 as well as their first 4-game ACC winning streak since Jan. 5, 2022.

Check the ACC standings. The Cards are tied for second with Clemson, a game back of Duke. They’re a half-game ahead of Pitt — and visit the Panthers Saturday.

Win that game and … the Cards could find themselves earning a healthy stack of votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

"Keep winning," Hadley said. "They can't say anything if you keep winning."

It’s on to Pittsburgh, which lost at Duke, 76-47, Tuesday night. The Panthers are ranked No. 26 in the Associated Press poll and have wins over Ohio State, LSU and West Virginia.

"These are huge games against two of the best teams in the conference," Kelsey said.

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