For just the eighth time in program history, the Louisville Cardinals are off to a 9-0 start, making them one of only nine unbeatens remaining in Division-I. As cool as that is, none of the previous seven perfect starts resulted in any of the three NCAA Tournament championships U of L can lay claim to.
Here's a look back at the other 9-0 starts, when the perfect run ended, and how that season played out.
1947-48
First loss: Game 10, Jan. 7 at Xavier (62-34)
Final record: 29-6
Postseason result: Won NAIB Tournament, lost to Kentucky in Olympic Trials (91-57)
1960-61
First loss: Game 14, Jan. 14 at DePaul (78-70)
Final record: 21-8
Postseason result: Lost in Mideast Regional Final to Ohio State (56-55)
1966-67
First loss: Game 14, Jan. 11 at Southern Illinois (53-50)
Final record: 23-5
Postseason result: Lost to Kansas in the Sweet 16 (70-68)
1968-69
First loss: Game 10, Jan. 4 at Tulsa (85-69)
Final record: 21-6
Postseason result: Lost to Boston College in the NIT (88-83)
1974-75
First loss: Game 14, Jan. 25 at Bradley (65-59)
Final record: 28-3
Postseason result: Lost to UCLA in the Final Four (75-74)
1996-97
First loss: Game 11, Dec. 31 at Kentucky (74-54)
Final record: 26-9
Postseason result: Lost to North Carolina in the Elite 8 (97-74)
2011-12
First loss: Game 12, Dec. 28 vs. Georgetown (71-68)
Final record: 30-10
Postseason result: Lost to Kentucky in Final Four (69-61)
