Louisville basketball in Battle 4 Atlantis: What to know about test for Pat Kelsey's Cards

The stakes are higher in paradise this go-around for Louisville basketball.

After romping their way through an exhibition tour of the Bahamas this summer, Pat Kelsey‘s Cardinals (3-1) are headed back to the Caribbean for three games in as many days as part of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, an eight-team tournament running Wednesday through Friday at Atlantis Paradise Island resort. They drew a cross-state rival, No. 18 Indiana, in Round 1 and will face either No. 4 Gonzaga or West Virginia in Round 2 on Thanksgiving Day.

U of L was tabbed as a Battle 4 Atlantis participant last November, not long after going 0-2 under former coach Kenny Payne in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden. Kelsey has embraced the opportunity since taking over the program; after all, if he is to revive it in Year 1, picking up some résumé-boosting nonconference wins is a must.

This will be Louisville’s third time competing in the Battle 4 Atlantis. It owns a 4-2 record in the event and reached the championship game in both of its previous appearances, in 2012 and 2016.

The Cards last went to the Bahamas for an in-season tournament in 2021, when they won the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship.

Here’s what you need to know to follow all the action at this year’s Battle 4 Atlantis:

Who’s in the Battle 4 Atlantis?

The Louisville bench celebrate late in the the second half as the Cards easily defeated Young Harris College 106-59 in the Louisville Cards' first exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, Ky. Oct. 21, 2024. — The Louisville bench celebrate late in the the second half as the Cards easily defeated Young Harris College 106-59 in the Louisville Cards’ first exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, Ky. Oct. 21, 2024.

In alphabetical order, this year’s Battle 4 Atlantis field includes:

No. 17 Arizona (2-2)
Davidson (4-0)
No. 4 Gonzaga (5-0)
No. 18 Indiana (4-0)
Louisville (3-1)
Oklahoma (4-0)
Providence (5-0)
West Virginia (3-1)

When does Louisville basketball play in the Battle 4 Atlantis?

Louisville Cardinals head coach Pat Kelsey calls out to his team during their game against the Bellarmine Knights on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville and Indiana play at noon Wednesday in Game 1 of the Battle 4 Atlantis. If the Cards advance to the winners bracket, they will play at noon again on Thanksgiving Day. If they enter the losers bracket, they will tip off at 2:30 p.m.

If U of L wins its first two games, it’ll go for a tournament championship at 5:30 p.m. Friday. If it loses its first two games, it’ll try to salvage the trip with a victory at 11 a.m. The third-place game will tip off at 3 p.m., and the fifth-place game will tip off at 8:30 p.m.

What is the Battle 4 Atlantis schedule, bracket?

Louisville Cardinals guard Terrence Edwards Jr. (5) makes his way to the basket around Bellarmine Knights defenders during their game on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Note: All game times are Eastern.

Wednesday, Nov. 27

Game 1: Louisville vs. Indiana, noon (ESPN)
Game 2: West Virginia vs. Gonzaga, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN or ESPN2)
Game 3: Oklahoma vs. Providence, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 4: Davidson vs. Arizona, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Thursday, Nov. 28

Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, noon (ESPN)
Game 6: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 7: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Friday, Nov. 29

Game 9: Game 6 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)
Game 10: Game 5 loser vs. Game 7 loser, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 5:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 12: Game 6 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Check out the complete Battle 4 Atlantis bracket below:

Battle 4 Atlantis odds: Who’s the favorite?

Louisville Cardinals guard J'Vonne Hadley (1) slams down two in the first half against Spalding University at the Cardinals second exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. — Louisville Cardinals guard J’Vonne Hadley (1) slams down two in the first half against Spalding University at the Cardinals second exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky Monday, Oct. 28, 2024.

In late August, Arizona was the favorite to win the Battle 4 Atlantis, coming in at +200 on BetMGM.

That’s changed; as of Nov. 21, Gonzaga had the best odds to win the tournament: +125.

Louisville remains the fourth choice, but Vegas has soured on its chances a bit. The Cards went from +750 in late August to sitting at +1,000 as tipoff nears in the Bahamas.

Here’s a look at the full odds as of 4:30 p.m. Nov. 21:

Gonzaga: +125
Arizona: +190
Indiana: +650
Louisville: +1,000
Oklahoma: +2,200
Providence: +2,500
West Virginia: +3,000
Davidson: +6,000

What channel is the Battle 4 Atlantis on?

Louisville’s Kasean Pryor dribbles against Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack on Saturday at KFC Yum Center.
Nov. 9, 2024 — Louisville’s Kasean Pryor dribbles against Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack on Saturday at KFC Yum Center. Nov. 9, 2024

As noted in a previous section, Louisville’s Battle 4 Atlantis games will air on either ESPN or ESPN2.

Here are those channel numbers:

How to livestream Louisville basketball’s Battle 4 Atlantis games

A UofL basketball staffer holds up a white-board tallying the number of "Kills" and "Stops" as the Louisville Cardinals play Young Harris College in an exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, Ky. Oct. 21, 2024. — A UofL basketball staffer holds up a white-board tallying the number of “Kills” and “Stops” as the Louisville Cardinals play Young Harris College in an exhibition game at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville, Ky. Oct. 21, 2024.

If you have cable, you can livestream Louisville’s Battle 4 Atlantis games via the ESPN app or ESPN.com/watch.

If you don’t have cable, you can access ESPN through streaming services such as fuboTV (FREE TRIAL) and YouTube TV (FREE TRIAL).

How to listen to Louisville basketball in the Battle 4 Atlantis

U of L radio announcers Paul Rogers, left, and Bob Valvano watch a Feb. 19, 2020, game against Syracuse at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Jody Demling (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst) will be on the call for all three of U of L’s Battle 4 Atlantis games on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville).

You can also listen online via GoCards.com.

Have a question for our Louisville basketball mailbag?

Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn talks to Courier Journal’s Brooks Holton at the Planet Fitness Kueber Center for the annual on-campus media day.
Oct. 15, 2024 — Louisville’s Chucky Hepburn talks to Courier Journal’s Brooks Holton at the Planet Fitness Kueber Center for the annual on-campus media day. Oct. 15, 2024

Follow the instructions below to submit a question to our Louisville basketball mailbag:

Questions can also be submitted via email (bholton@gannett.com) and X, formerly Twitter, to @brooksHolton.

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Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball in Battle 4 Atlantis: Schedule, TV info, odds

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Louisville basketball in Battle 4 Atlantis: What to know about test for Pat Kelsey’s Cards