In a highly anticipated matchup, Louisville men’s basketball will host NC State at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. The game will be aired on The CW.
Louisville is coming off a crucial 80-71 road win against Miami on Wednesday, marking their first true road victory in over two calendar years. The Cardinals finished the game on a 9-0 run and held the Hurricanes scoreless for the final 3:30 of play. Meanwhile, NC State had their four-game winning streak snapped with a 67-54 home loss to top-10 North Carolina.
The Cardinals have a historical advantage against NC State, boasting a 14-12 all-time record against the Wolfpack. Furthermore, Louisville holds a dominant 7-3 home record against NC State. However, NC State, under the leadership of former UofL assistant Kevin Keatts, has won two consecutive games in the series, breaking a streak of six losses in the previous seven matchups.
Looking ahead to the game, Louisville faces a tough challenge as their next four games are against the top four teams in the ACC standings, all of whom have a combined 13-3 record in conference play. The Cardinals hope to build on their recent success, particularly their shooting prowess from beyond the arc. In their last two games, Louisville has shot an impressive 45.5% from three-point range, a significant improvement from their season average of 31%. Alongside their improved shooting, the Cardinals have also been generating more assists, averaging 14.6 per game in their last five outings.
One player who has stepped up in recent games is redshirt sophomore Mike James. In the last two games, James has been averaging 24.5 points per game while shooting an impressive 66.7% from the field, 76.9% from three-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. James scored a career-high 26 points in their win against Miami, including 16 points and four three-pointers in the game’s first seven minutes.
Another player to watch out for is junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, who has been a consistent performer for the Cardinals. Over the last six games, Huntley-Hatfield has been averaging 15.0 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting an efficient 65% from the field and 77% from the free-throw line. He became the first Cardinal since 2019 to register three consecutive double-doubles.
Freshman guard/forward Curtis Williams has also provided a spark off the bench for Louisville. Williams has been averaging 11.8 points in the last five games, shooting 40.6% from beyond the arc. After a slow start to his career, Williams has scored double figures in four of the last five games, with a career-high five assists in their win against Miami.
In their last meeting against NC State on December 22, 2022, the Cardinals suffered a 76-64 defeat. Despite starting strong with a 9-0 run and leading 21-16 at one point, Louisville faltered in the second half as NC State went on a 17-0 run that ultimately sealed the victory for the Wolfpack. Senior guard El Ellis and senior forward Sydney Curry led the Cardinals with 15 and 16 points, respectively, while Brandon Huntley-Hatfield recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. However, Louisville struggled with turnovers, committing 17 compared to NC State’s four, and had 17 fewer shot attempts than their opponents.
With both teams eager to secure a crucial conference win, Saturday’s game promises to be an exciting battle. Louisville will look to capitalize on their recent shooting success and carry their momentum from the road win against Miami. On the other hand, NC State will aim to bounce back from their loss to North Carolina and continue their recent success against the Cardinals.
