Louisville men’s basketball will be hitting the road for the first time this season as they participate in the highly anticipated 2023 Saatva Empire Classic. This tournament is being held to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and is presented by Continental Tire. The Cardinals will be facing off against the No. 19/17 ranked Texas team at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Basketball fans can catch all the action on ESPN.
Leading up to this game, Louisville bounced back from a tough loss with an impressive 61-41 victory over Coppin State at home. On the other side, Texas showed their dominance as they cruised to a 80-64 win against Rice, improving their record to 3-0.
Although Louisville has won four out of the five previous matchups against Texas, the two teams have not faced each other since their meeting in the 1997 NCAA East Regional. This game will provide an opportunity for both teams to make a statement and showcase their skills.
This will be Louisville’s first game against a ranked opponent this season. The Cardinals have a strong track record against AP ranked opponents, winning 45 out of their last 108 games. Over the past 13 years, they have a 62-76 record against Top 25 teams.
Louisville’s defense has been impressive, as they allowed a mere 41 points against Coppin State, which is the fewest points they have given up since December 5, 2018. Additionally, the Cardinals have been dominant on the boards, ranking third in the ACC and 41st in the country with 44.3 rebounds per game.
The game against Texas will also be a homecoming for freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson, who is from Brooklyn, New York. This will surely add some extra motivation for him as he plays in front of his hometown crowd.
In terms of their history against Texas, the last time these two teams met was in the 1997 NCAA East Region Semifinal. Despite DeJuan Wheat’s injury, the Cardinals managed to secure an impressive 78-63 victory. Alvin Sims led the way with a career-high 25 points, while Damion Dantzler and Alex Sanders contributed 17 points each. Texas star Reggie Freeman was limited to just six points, well below his average.
Overall, the upcoming game between Louisville and Texas is expected to be a highly competitive matchup. Both teams will be looking to secure a win and continue their strong start to the season. Basketball fans can certainly expect an exciting game filled with intense action.
