Cardinals Open ACC Play on Road at Virginia Tech

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Louisville men's basketball begins ACC play on the road at Virginia Tech at 4 p.m. ET Sunday in Blacksburg, Va. The game will air on the ACC Network.

The Cardinals have won two straight after back-to-back home victories over New Mexico State and Bellarmine. The Hokies have dropped two in a row following losses to Florida Atlantic and Auburn.

Louisville leads the all-times series against Virginia Tech 36-10. The Cardinals had won 17 in a row – and 28 of the last 30 – until faltering in the last two matchups. Kenny Payne is 0-1 against the Hokies.

GAME 8

Louisville (4-3, 0-0 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-3, 0-0 ACC)
December 3, 2023 | 4 p.m. CT
Cassell Coliseum | Blacksburg, Va.

MEDIA INFO

Listen: Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9 FM & WGTK 970 AM flagship); Streaming (Paul Rogers, pxp | Jody Demling, analysis)

Watch: ACC Network (Connor Onion, pxp | Josh Pastner, analysis)

Live Stats: Virginia Tech Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• Louisville is 12-3 in its last 15 conference openers, including 7-2 since joining the ACC.

• After allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to make 25 of 55 combined 3-pointers (45.5%) in the first two games, the Cardinals have held their last five opponents to a combined 17-for-83 from 3-point range (20.5%).

• As of Friday, Louisville ranked fifth in the country in free-throw attempts per game (29.1) and seventh in made free throws per game (21.1). UofL's 148 made free throws are the program's second-most through seven games since at least 2010, behind only the 2018-19 team. The Cards have made at least 21 free throws in four of seven games this year, shot 61 more than their opponents and have made more free throws than their opponents have even attempted (143).

• In Louisville's first three games, sophomore guard Skyy Clark averaged 11 points per game while going 0-for-8 from 3-point range and 7-for-13 from the free-throw line. In the last three games, Clark is averaging 22.3 points per game while shooting 11-for-27 from long range and 28-for-32 from the stripe.

• In the last four games, freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has totaled 21 assists against just 10 turnovers. Johnson had just five total assists and eight turnovers in the Cardinals' first three outings.

• While Louisville has been outscored by 18 points overall in the first half of its games this season, it's outscoring teams by 31 overall after halftime. UofL has scored 50-plus points after halftime three times in November for the first time ever.

HISTORY VS. VIRGINIA TECH

(Louisville leads series 36-10)

Last Meeting: Virginia Tech 71, Louisville 54
Feb. 28, 2023 | Louisville, Ky.

A scoring drought at a crucial time kept Louisville men's basketball from completing a comeback in a 71-54 loss to Virginia Tech on Senior Night at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Cardinals cut a double-digit deficit to three with 9:08 remaining, but then allowed the Hokies to go on a 14-0 run that put the game out of reach.

Virginia Tech took control in the first half with a 14-2 run that opened up a 20-10 lead.

The Cardinals' deficit was 35-27 at halftime, but it quickly reached double figures as the Hokies scored the first two baskets of the second half.

Back-to-back 3s from senior guard El Ellis and junior forward JJ Traynor – UofL's only two 3-pointers of the night – trimmed Virginia Tech's lead to 50-47.

But the Hokies answered with a 3 off multiple offensive rebounds, a common theme in the second half as they ultimately racked up 18 offensive boards and 24 second-chance points. Louisville scored seven points over the game's final nine minutes. The Cardinals committed 12 turnovers, which turned into 18 Virginia Tech points and helped the Hokies offset a 37.5% shooting night.

Grant Basile led Virginia Tech with 18 points and seven rebounds.

Ellis and redshirt freshman guard/forward Mike James had 14 points each.

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Players Mentioned

Skyy Clark

El Ellis

Mike James

Ty-Laur Johnson

JJ Traynor

University of Louisville Athletics