The Wildcats head into this match after suffering a defeat to Marshall in the semifinal round of the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Tournament. On the other hand, the Musketeers secured their first-ever Big East Conference Tournament title by defeating Georgetown in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out. Both teams are hungry for success and will be looking to make a statement in this tournament.

The signing class consists of five midfielders, three attackers, two defenders, and one goalie. Coach Teeter is confident that these players, hailing from different states like California, Maryland, Ohio, and more, will bring valuable skills and a strong work ethic to the Cardinal program.

Calipari acknowledged that there were some breakdowns in the game, especially towards the end with missed free throws and shots, but he commended the team for their resilience. “A young team learns that,” he said. “But what I was proud of is they fought.”

Louisville started their home schedule with a victory over DePaul this past Sunday, winning 81-74. This win improved the Cardinals’ home opener record to 12-2 at the KFC Yum! Center and 15-2 in coach Walz’s tenure.

Kentucky will look to bounce back in their next game against Stonehill, which will take place on Friday at home as part of the Wildcat Challenge. This game will be televised on SEC Network+.

Antonio Reeves, a Chicago native, had an impressive performance for Kentucky, contributing 24 points to the team’s effort. Freshman Rob Dillingham also stood out with 18 points, while sophomore Adou Thiero recorded career highs in both points (16) and rebounds (13). Freshman Reed Sheppard added 13 points and four steals to the Cats’ stat line.

Coach Elzy also expressed disappointment over the team’s 28 missed layups, emphasizing the need for better fundamentals. She stressed the importance of finishing through contact and highlighted that layups, free throws, and good defense are key to winning games.

Running back Ray Davis understands the importance of taking the crowd out of the game early. He recognizes that the fans will be loud and supportive of their home team, but that won’t faze the Cats. Davis emphasizes the need for the team to stay composed and focused on their own performance on the field.

Stephanie Grant, director of events and basketball operations at ESPN Events, expressed excitement about bringing this signature event back to Atlanta, stating, “State Farm Arena is a world-class facility and a perfect venue for this event considering State Farm’s partnership in the Champions Classic since its inception.” Trey Feazell, Executive Vice President of Arena Programming for State Farm Arena, also emphasized the success and tradition of the participating schools and the excitement of hosting this one-day college basketball showcase.

Admission to the meet is free and fans can also stream all sessions live on SECN+ or follow along with live results via the Meet Mobile app. The meet will begin with prelims at 9:30 a.m. each day followed by finals at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, and 5 p.m. on Friday.