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The game started with Virginia taking control right from the beginning, going on a dominant 11-0 run to establish an early lead. Louisville head coach Kenny Payne expressed his disappointment in his team’s performance, highlighting the difficulty of facing Virginia’s pack line defense. He stated, “There are things about the way they play defensively that will stymie you. I am disappointed that we went over this two, three, four days in a row and we came out and didn’t play the way we needed to play to start this game.”

Coming off a tough loss to No. 12 Duke, the Cardinals are currently on a four-game losing streak. On the other hand, Virginia has been on a three-game winning streak, including an overtime victory over NC State in their last game.

The Cardinals’ offensive firepower was on full display, scoring the most points against an ACC opponent since February 6, 2022. Their shooting percentage was equally impressive, marking the best shooting display against an ACC opponent since February 27, 2022.

Head coach Jeff Walz has a history of quickly bouncing back after a loss. The team has a record of 87-24 under Walz following a loss, and they have an even better record of 21-3 following a loss against ACC opponents. The Cardinals have only lost two-straight ACC games three times in the past 10 seasons.

Head coach Kenny Payne acknowledged some positive aspects of the game, stating, “I thought there were segments of the game where we showed our growth. We showed that we can play with a team like Duke.” However, he highlighted two key issues that stood out: the Cardinals allowed 16 second-chance points in the second half and made poor decisions regarding time and score. Payne emphasized the need for the team to stay focused and not shoot themselves in the foot, especially when facing a top-ranked opponent like Duke.

Louisville has had a rough stretch, losing their last three games, including a 90-65 defeat at the hands of Wake Forest. This game against Duke will be their fourth consecutive road game against teams that have been undefeated at home this season. Duke, on the other hand, had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a 80-76 loss to Pitt.

UofL head coach Kenny Payne praised NC State’s performance, acknowledging that he anticipated a tough game against a formidable opponent. He highlighted the importance of defense, emphasizing that failure to defend effectively ultimately led to their defeat. Despite solid offensive statistics, shooting 47% from the field, 53% from beyond the arc, and 76% from the free-throw line, the Cardinals couldn’t overcome their defensive shortcomings.

In their previous game, Louisville held the Panthers to just 44 points, marking the second consecutive game in which they kept their opponent below 50 points. The Cardinals’ strong defensive efforts have been paying off, as they have held their opponents to less than 60 points in three of their last four games. Their road win against Pitt was their second conference victory on the road after snapping Miami’s 17-game home winning streak on New Year’s Eve.

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.

Louisville head coach Kenny Payne acknowledged Pitt’s strong performance, saying, “They shoot the ball well. They play with swagger. They are tough. They are a great rebounding team.” Payne pointed out that the Cardinals started the game on the backfoot, allowing Pitt to dominate the boards. He emphasized the importance of mental focus and consistency in order to achieve victory.