LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Rick Pitino and Louisville aren’t ready to give up their Big East title without a fight.

The Cardinals (9-3) open Big East Conference play Wednesday against improved South Florida (10-2). Despite a couple of early season stumbles, Pitino says his team is making strides and can be a factor in the conference race.

Louisville won both the Big East regular season and tournament titles last spring but has struggled to fill the holes left by the departure of Terrence Williams and Earl Clark to the NBA.

The Cardinals enter the game having won four straight by an average of 25 points, and Pitino said he’s positive his team isn’t looking ahead to a showdown with rival Kentucky on Saturday.