LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) --Â Before being knocked out of the tournament, plenty of Louisville Cardinal fans who couldn't make the trip to Lexington found a way to still cheer the team on.
Ten20 Brewery in Butchertown opened earlier than usual for a Thursday to allow fans to gather in the taproom and cheer on the Cards.
"Just happy to be here and happy to get to experience another game with this team and everybody's going to remember this team for a long time," said Lance Stoops.Â
Like many fans, Stoops took the day off to relish in the first day of the NCAA Tournament, but other fans found a way to squeeze in work and fun.
Some fans at Ten20 had laptops out and work emails open just as the game started.
Over at The Granville Pub in Old Louisville, students found time in between classes to enjoy the game.
IMAGES | Louisville falls to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
Louisville players embrace in the closing seconds of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards in the closing minutes of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
A dejected Chucky Hepburn in the closing moments of Louisville’s 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville players huddle after a technical foul was called on head coach Pat Kelsey during the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey huddles with his players after being assessed a technical foul in the second half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey yells at a referee after receiving a technical foul in the second half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards follows through on a three-pointer in the second half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards fires a three-pointer in the second half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Creighton’s Jamiya Neal goes up for two of his game-high 29 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Louisville.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Creighton’s Jamiya Neal goes up for two of his game-high 29 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Louisville.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn fires a three-pointer during the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Aboubacar Traore drives in the first half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards drives in the first half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s James Scott dribbles the ball during the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s J’Vonne Hadley dribbles in the lane during the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Khani Rooths goes in for a first-half dunk in the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards scores along the baseline in the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey during the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn defends Creighton’s Jamiya Neal in the first half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey talks to his team in the huddle in the first half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
A Louisville cheerleader encourages Reyne Smith during the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Reyne Smith buries a three in the first half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville coach Pat Kelsey shouts to officials during a timeout of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner looks to distribute the ball during Louisville’s 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Terrence Edwards pulls up to shoot in the first half of the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s J’Vonne Hadley, Terrence Edwards and Pat Kelsey speak with reporters at a news conference after the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Reyne Smith, on crutches, speaks with reporters in the locker room after the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn talks with reporters in the locker room after the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Khani Rooths has an emotional reaction after the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
Louisville’s Reyne Smith goes to the training room after the Cardinals’ 89-75 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025.
- ERIC CRAWFORD
"My professors didn’t cancel classes, so I’m bouncing back and forth, so going to watch the game and try to make class later," said UofL senior Bishop Edwards.
While the time may have been inconvenient, Louisville's return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in six years was worth the juggling.
"Expectations coming in this year with a new coach were like we gotta shoot for maybe 500, but I mean we shocked the whole country, definitely shocked us," Edwards said.
Omaha, Nebraska may be far away but some Bluejays fans were spotted in Card Nation at both Louisville bars.
Sean Wilson grew up in Omaha and attended high school on Creighton's campus and happened to be in Louisville this week for a work conference.
"I went to all the Creighton games as a kid in front of hundreds, not thousands, and have always been a fan," Wilson said. "I'm gonna go over to Lexington and go watch them on Saturday."
Despite the Cards not getting past the first round, many fans said they're still satisfied with the program's improvement under first year Coach Pat Kelsey.
"It was a long season and it was a fun season and it’s something we shouldn’t forget,  we don’t want to let one game make or break what that is," Stoops said.
NCAA Tournament Coverage:
- BOZICH | Creighton offensive blitz ends Louisville's NCAA run, 89-75
- CRAWFORD | At Louisville, Kelsey and players have made March Madness new again
- Scouting Report: Creighton brings big-game experience, early-round NCAA success into Louisville matchup
- BOZICH | Ranking the 68 coaches in the NCAA men's basketball tournament
- Make your 2025 NCAA Tournament picks with our printable bracket
- Kentucky earns 3-seed, starts NCAA journey against Troy in Milwaukee
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