Louisville ended its season with a remarkable thud on Saturday, a 6-2 loss to Florida State that brought a once-promising regular season to a close.

As a result of the defeat, Louisville will miss out on conference tournament action for the first time under longtime coach Dan McDonnell. It’s the first conference tournament the U of L has missed since 1970 when it was still a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. And it makes it all the more likely the Cardinals will miss the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.

The 6-2 loss to the Seminoles on Saturday also gave FSU the series, ending the season with 6 consecutive conference series defeats. Louisville climbed as high as No. 2 in one poll earlier this year when it opened up 18-2.

The Cards lost 22 of their last 35 games to finish at 31-24. They went 10-20 in conference play at 5-14 away from home.

After the game, McDonnell was asked about his future with the program given that his name has been mentioned in connection with the vacant Alabama coaching job.

“We want to be here. We love it here,” he said, per WDRB’s Rick Bozich. “But, again, I want to work for people and be with people and in a group that wants to win as well. And don’t tell me you want to win. Show me you want to win. That’s all I asked for, and I think our fans asked for that. I think our players asked for that.

“I just I want to be at a place that’s committed when it’s all said and done,” he continued, per Bozich. “Because the kids were recruited to be at a place that’s committed. And, ultimately we’re trying to get to Omaha and win a national championship. And (that) ain’t gonna happen unless we make a full commitment.”

McDonnell has been vocal in the past about wanting to see improvements made to the program’s facilities.

If there’s another school that comes calling, it seems that McDonnell has set his terms for the higher-ups at Louisville.