LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s game day for Louisville men’s basketball as they hit the road to face DePaul in their lone true road game in non-conference play. The Cardinals will take on the Blue Demons at 2 p.m. ET today in Chicago, Illinois, with the game set to air on FS1.
Louisville is coming off a tough 75-68 road loss to Virginia Tech in their ACC opener. Meanwhile, DePaul is looking to bounce back after a 89-64 defeat at the hands of Texas A&M, marking their fifth consecutive loss.
These two teams have a long history as former conference mates in Conference USA and the Big East. Louisville currently leads the all-time series 38-22 and has won 18 of the last 21 matchups. The Cardinals also boast a solid record of 17-12 against the Blue Demons in Chicago.
As both teams prepare for this highly anticipated matchup, there are several storylines to keep an eye on. DePaul head coach Tony Stubblefield previously worked with Louisville assistant coach Josh Jamieson during their time at Oregon, while DePaul Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy and UofL head coach Kenny Payne were once colleagues at Kentucky.
Defense will play a crucial role for Louisville, as they aim to improve their 3-point defense after allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to make 45.5% of their combined 3-point attempts in their first two games. However, the Cardinals have shown improvement, holding their last six opponents to just 21.4% shooting from beyond the arc.
Offensively, Louisville has also been strong at drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line. They currently rank 11th in the nation in free-throw attempts per game (27.8) and eighth in made free throws per game (20.5). The Cardinals’ ability to convert from the charity stripe has been impressive, with 164 made free throws through their first eight games.
Individual player performances will also be worth watching. Sophomore guard Skyy Clark has shown significant improvement in recent games, averaging 21.0 points per game while shooting 39% from beyond the arc and 88% from the free-throw line. Freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has also demonstrated his playmaking abilities, accumulating 21 assists in the last five games.
Looking back at their most recent meeting, DePaul emerged victorious with a 62-55 win over Louisville on December 10, 2021. David Jones led the way for the Blue Demons with a career-high 33 points, while Malik Williams had a strong performance for the Cardinals with 22 points.
With both teams looking to make their mark in this matchup, it promises to be an exciting game as Louisville seeks to extend their dominance in the series.
