Louisville men’s basketball is gearing up for an exciting evening on Saturday as they host Clemson and honor the 10th anniversary of their historic 2012-13 team at the KFC Yum! Center. The 2013 squad will be recognized at halftime with video tributes throughout the first half, making it a nostalgic and memorable occasion for fans.
The 2012-13 Louisville Cardinals were a team to remember. Led by coach Rick Pitino, they won the NCAA Championship that year, the third in the program’s history. The team was stacked with talent, including future NBA players such as Russ Smith, Gorgui Dieng, and Peyton Siva. The Cardinals finished with a 35-5 record and made it all the way to the championship game, where they defeated the University of Michigan 82-76 in a thrilling contest.
Saturday’s game against Clemson promises to be just as exciting. The Cardinals are coming off a tough loss to No. 7/6 Virginia, where they nearly pulled off the upset. However, they will be looking to bounce back and defend their perfect 7-0 home record against the Tigers.
Clemson, on the other hand, broke a three-game losing streak on Wednesday with a commanding 94-54 victory over Florida State. The team will be looking to build on that momentum and secure another victory against the Cardinals.
The two teams have a relatively short history, having only played each other 13 times before Saturday’s game. However, Louisville has had the upper hand, leading the all-time series 8-5. That being said, Clemson took this year’s first matchup 83-70 in South Carolina on January 11, making this a highly anticipated rematch.
Saturday’s game is sure to be an emotional one for Louisville fans as they pay tribute to the 2012-13 team. As the players are recognized at halftime, memories of their championship run will undoubtedly flood back for those who were fortunate enough to witness it. Meanwhile, the current Louisville team will be looking to create their own memories and add another victory to their impressive home record.
Saturday’s game between Louisville and Clemson promises to be a memorable one. With the 2012-13 team being honored, emotions will be running high, but the current Cardinals team will be looking to focus on securing a victory. Meanwhile, Clemson will be looking to spoil the party and extend their own winning streak. Fans can expect an intense and exciting game at the KFC Yum! Center.
Louisville basketball fans are in for a treat this weekend as the university celebrates the 10th anniversary of the 2012-13 national championship team. While the NCAA later vacated that title, it still stands as a proud moment for Cardinals fans, and many of the players from that team are expected to be in attendance for Saturday’s game.
But while the past is certainly worth celebrating, the present is also exciting for Louisville basketball. The team is in the midst of an eight-game stretch to end the regular season, and seven of those games will be against teams in the top 70 of the NET rankings. The team faces a tough slate of opponents, including Pitt and Duke, who have an average NET ranking of 38.
Despite the challenging schedule, the Cardinals have shown promise in recent games. They’ve been able to limit their turnovers, something that has plagued them earlier in the season, and have improved their 3-point shooting. In the last seven games, the team has made an average of 8.9 3-point shots, up from just 5.9 earlier in the season.
The team has also seen strong individual performances. Senior guard El Ellis has been a standout, with an average of 18.6 points, 5.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals over the last 17 games. Meanwhile, redshirt junior forward Jae’Lyn Withers has been shooting 50% from 3-point range and averaging 14.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in the last seven games.
Freshman forward Kamari Lands has also been making an impact, with an average of 9.7 points per game in the last six games. Junior forward JJ Traynor has made more 3-pointers this season than he did in his first two full seasons combined. And sophomore forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, who returned from a foot injury in the game against Virginia, leads the team in rebounds per game.
All of this sets the stage for an exciting game on Saturday. While the past will be celebrated, the focus will be on the present as the Louisville Cardinals take on Clemson. It promises to be a tough matchup, but with recent improvements and strong individual performances, the Cardinals are poised to come out on top.
