The Louisville Cardinals are set to face off against the New Mexico State Aggies in a much-anticipated matchup on Sunday. The game will take place at the KFC Yum! Center and will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
Louisville is looking to bounce back after two tough losses in the Empire Classic in New York. They fell to No. 19/17 Texas on a last-second shot and saw a late lead slip away against Indiana. Despite these setbacks, the Cardinals have a 4-1 advantage in the series against New Mexico State and have won their last three meetings.
New Mexico State is also coming off two defeats, having lost to Fresno State and Southern Illinois in Cancun, Mexico. The Aggies will be eager to turn their fortunes around and come away with a win against Louisville.
The Cardinals have shown improvement in their defense, particularly in their ability to defend the three-point shot. After allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to make 25 of 55 combined three-pointers in their first two games, Louisville has held their last three opponents to just 6-for-45 from beyond the arc. This defensive improvement will be crucial against New Mexico State, who will surely be looking to capitalize on their perimeter shooting.
Louisville has also displayed strength on the offensive end, ranking 24th in the country in free throw attempts per game and 39th in offensive rebounds per game. Junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield has been a force on the boards, ranking 35th in rebounds per game and 50th in total rebounds.
Freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has been impressive lately, averaging 10 points and five assists in the team’s games against Texas and Indiana. Johnson now leads the Cardinals with 15 total assists this season. Another standout freshman, Kaleb Glenn, made a significant impact in limited minutes against Indiana with a plus-minus of +17. Sophomore guard Skyy Clark has also found his shooting rhythm, making six of his last 15 three-point attempts.
In terms of free throw shooting, the Cardinals have been exceptional, making 23 more free throws than their opponents this season. They have made at least 21 free throws in three of their five games, including both games in New York, where they went 48 of 60 from the line.
Looking back at the history between these two teams, the last meeting took place in 2007, with Louisville emerging victorious with a 70-65 win. In that game, Andre McGee and Earl Clark had strong performances, and Juan Palacios made crucial free throws to seal the victory for the Cardinals.
Overall, this matchup promises to be an exciting one, with Louisville looking to defend their home court and New Mexico State seeking redemption. Both teams will bring their A-game, and fans can expect a competitive and compelling basketball matchup.
