Louisville, KY – In an exciting matchup, the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team will face off against the Pitt Panthers at the KFC Yum! Center on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted on The CW, giving fans across the country the opportunity to tune in.
The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing 77-53 loss to Virginia in their first game of 2024. On the other hand, the Panthers suffered a 70-57 defeat at the hands of North Carolina, extending their winless streak to three games in ACC play.
Louisville has a strong historical record against Pitt, boasting a 21-9 overall record against them, including a dominant 12-2 record at home. However, the Panthers have won the last three matchups, after previously losing 17 out of 18 games dating back to 2011.
One major storyline heading into the game is the announcement that freshman center Dennis Evans will not be medically cleared to continue playing for Louisville. The Cardinals’ coaching staff expressed their disappointment and emphasized their commitment to respecting Evans’ privacy.
Another key player to watch is junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, who has been performing at a high level in the last four games. He is averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 66% from the field and 79% from the free-throw line. Huntley-Hatfield’s consistent performance has been crucial for the Cardinals.
Coach Chris Mack has experimented with different lineups throughout the season, and the starting lineup in their last game against Virginia featured Skyy Clark, Ty-Laur Johnson, Mike James, Danilo Jovanovich, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. This lineup marked the fifth different starting lineup used by Louisville this season.
Freshman guard/forward Curtis Williams has also been making an impact for the Cardinals. He is averaging 11.7 points over the last three games and has been shooting 44.4% from beyond the arc. Williams has showcased his scoring ability, scoring more points in the last three games than he did in the first 10 games combined.
Louisville has been successful in getting to the free-throw line this season, ranking 18th in the nation in free-throw attempts per game (24.8) and 17th in made free throws per game (18.2). Their 237 made free throws are the second-most through 13 games since at least 2010, behind only the 2018-19 team.
Sophomore guard Skyy Clark has shown improvement in his scoring, averaging 16.4 points per game in the last 10 games. Clark struggled in the first three games, going 0-for-8 from 3-point range, but has improved his shooting percentages since then.
Freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has been impressive in distributing the ball, accumulating 38 assists in the last 10 games while committing only 24 turnovers. Johnson had a slow start in the Cardinals’ first three games but has since shown his playmaking ability.
Looking back at their previous matchup in 2023, the Cardinals suffered a heavy 91-57 defeat against Pitt. The Panthers shot an impressive 17-for-31 from beyond the arc and 18-for-20 from the free-throw line. Despite a strong start from Louisville’s Mike James and El Ellis, the Panthers went on a 24-3 run, seizing control of the game.
With both teams looking to bounce back from recent losses, this matchup promises to be an exciting and competitive game. Louisville will be aiming to end their losing streak against Pitt and secure a much-needed win.
