Louisville men’s basketball is set to resume ACC play in the new year with a challenging matchup against Virginia on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN2. The Cardinals, coming off a 12-day break, are eager to bounce back after a home rivalry loss to Kentucky on Dec. 21. Meanwhile, Virginia has played twice during the holiday break, securing a dominant win against Morgan State but falling short against Notre Dame.
Key details for the upcoming clash:
- Game Details:
- Louisville (5-7, 0-1 ACC) at Virginia (10-3, 1-1 ACC)
- Date and Time: January 3, 2024 | 7 p.m. CT
- Venue: John Paul Jones Arena | Charlottesville, Va.
- Media Information:
- Listen: Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 FM & WGTK 970 AM flagship); Streaming (Paul Rogers, pxp | Bob Valvano, analysis)
- Watch: ESPN2 (Doug Sherman, pxp | Cory Alexander, analysis)
- Live Stats: Virginia Stats
Top Storylines:
- Huntley-Hatfield’s Dominance:
- Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield has been a force, averaging 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds over the last three games. His impressive performance includes a shooting accuracy of 69% from the field and 80% from the free-throw line. Notably, he is the first Cardinal to secure three consecutive double-doubles since 2019.
- Coaching Prowess:
- UofL’s Kenny Payne and Virginia’s Tony Bennett, both NBA Draft picks, stand out as two of the 29 Division I head coaches in the country with such a distinction. Payne, drafted 19th by the 76ers in 1989, and Bennett, the Hornets’ second-round pick in 1992, bring a wealth of experience to their coaching roles.
- Defensive Resurgence:
- After early struggles defending the three-pointer, allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to shoot 45.5%, the Cardinals have tightened up defensively. In the last 10 games, opponents have been held to 26.5% from beyond the arc.
- Free-Throw Prowess:
- Louisville has been aggressive in drawing fouls, ranking 14th in the country in free-throw attempts per game (25.8) and 11th in made free throws per game (19.0). The team’s 228 made free throws through 12 games are the second-highest since at least 2010.
- Skyy Clark’s Offensive Surge:
- Sophomore guard Skyy Clark has witnessed a remarkable offensive transformation. Over the last nine games, he is averaging 17.3 points per game, showcasing improved accuracy from both beyond the arc (32.7%) and the free-throw line (81.8%).
- Johnson’s Playmaking Impact:
- Freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has emerged as a playmaking force. In the last nine games, he has accumulated 37 assists against just 20 turnovers, showcasing remarkable growth since the early season.
Historical Context:
- Louisville faces a historical challenge against Virginia, trailing 5-22 in their head-to-head encounters. The Cardinals aim to overcome historical odds and secure a pivotal victory on the road, aiming to shift the tide in this ACC matchup.
Stay tuned as the Cardinals gear up for this critical ACC clash against Virginia, and follow their journey on Cardinal Sports Network for live updates and analysis.
