This clash between the Wildcats and the Cardinals is expected to be a fierce competition, as both the Louisville women’s team and the men’s team are highly ranked in the latest CSCAA polls. The Louisville women’s team is currently ranked No. 8, while the men’s team holds the No. 15 spot.

Louisville, with a record of 3-0, will face LSU in their first match-up on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET. The winner of this match will go on to play the winner of South Carolina vs. Clemson on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The consolation match will take place at 10 a.m. on the same day.

A preview of this weekends Kentucky/Arkansas game.

First up for Louisville will be Kennesaw State at 11 a.m. This will be the first time these two teams face off in program history. The Cardinals are coming off a strong start to their season with a 6-1 win over in-state rival Eastern Kentucky. Louisville dominated the match, winning all three doubles courts to secure the doubles point. Elena Noguero, Lika Peresypkina, Germany Davis, Allie Gretkowski, and Lillian Mould all came out victorious on their respective singles courts, with Davis’s win clinching the match for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are coming off a dominant performance in their last home meet on January 5, where they swept Missouri with the men winning 205-89 and the women winning 203-96. The team was led by multiple first-place finishes, with standout performances from Christiana Regenauer and Kim Herkle on the women’s side and Denis Petrashov and Guy Brooks on the men’s side.

This game marked Russell’s second consecutive game with 20 points, following her stellar performance against Missouri earlier in the week. Amiya Jenkins also contributed with 11 points for the Cats, while Ajae Petty had a solid game on the boards, grabbing a total of 16 rebounds despite only scoring six points.

The Cardinals’ offensive firepower was on full display, scoring the most points against an ACC opponent since February 6, 2022. Their shooting percentage was equally impressive, marking the best shooting display against an ACC opponent since February 27, 2022.

Elif Istanbulluoglu also had a breakout game, recording a career-high 11 points and four rebounds on an efficient 5-for-8 shooting. Olivia Cochran contributed with 10 points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a block. Nina Rickards and Nyla Harris showcased their versatility, making meaningful contributions in multiple areas of the game.

This is the second All-Star nod for Gilgeous-Alexander, who is currently averaging 31.1 points, 6.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game this season. His scoring average places him fourth in the league, while he leads the NBA in steals. These numbers are all career-high marks for the talented guard.

Following their game against Charlotte, the Wildcats will compete in the Carolina Regional on Saturday. They will face either UNC or Oregon, depending on the outcome of Friday’s games. This will be the first time this season that the Wildcats will play away from home.