Cards Begin 2024 with Road Trip to Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Louisville men's basketball returns to ACC play in the new year at Virginia at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday. The game will air on ESPN2.

The Cardinals are coming off a 12-day break since taking a home rivalry loss to Kentucky on Dec. 21. Virginia has played twice since the holiday, routing Morgan State on Dec. 27 and then falling 76-54 at Notre Dame on Saturday.

Louisville is 5-22 all-time against Virginia and has won one of its last 17 meetings against the Cavaliers since 2016. The Cardinals are 1-10 against Virginia in Charlottesville, with their lone road win in the series coming on Feb. 17, 1990.

GAME 13

Louisville (5-7, 0-1 ACC) at Virginia (10-3, 1-1 ACC)
January 3, 2024 | 7 p.m. CT
John Paul Jones Arena | Charlottesville, Va.

MEDIA INFO

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

Watch:  ESPN2 (Doug Sherman, pxp | Cory Alexander, analysis)

Live Stats:  Virginia Stats

TOP STORYLINES

• Over the last three games, junior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield is averaging 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 69% from the field (18 of 26) and 80% from the free-throw line (20-25). He's the first Cardinal to register three straight double-doubles since Dwayne Sutton did it from Jan. 9-16 in 2019.

• UofL's Kenny Payne and Virginia's Tony Bennett are two of 29 Division I head coaches in the country who were NBA Draft picks. Payne was selected 19th by the 76ers in 1989, while Bennett was the Hornets' second-round pick in 1992.

• 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 10 opponents to a combined 53-for-200 from 3-point range (26.5%).

• As of Sunday, Louisville ranked 14th in the country in free-throw attempts per game (25.8) and 11th in made free throws per game (19.0). UofL's 228 made free throws are the program's second-most through 12 games since at least 2010, behind only the 2018-19 team.

• 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 nine games, Clark is averaging 17.3 points per game while shooting 17-for-52 (32.7%) from long range and 45-for-55 (81.8%) from the stripe.

• In the last nine games, freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has totaled 37 assists against just 20 turnovers. Johnson had just five total assists and eight turnovers in the Cardinals' first three outings. Since 2010, Johnson is just the third Louisville freshman to have at least four games with five-plus assists, joining NBA Draft picks David Johnson (eight times in 2019-20) and Terry Rozier (four times in 2013-14).

HISTORY VS. VIRGINIA (UofL trails 5-22)

Last Meeting: #13/12 Virginia 75, Louisville 60
March 4, 2023 | Charlottesville, Va.

Louisville men's basketball couldn't contain No. 13/12 Virginia defensively Saturday in a 75-60 road loss in the regular season finale.

The Cardinals allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 58% from the field, including 67% in the second half. Virginia recorded 25 assists on 29 made baskets.

Virginia used a 13-2 run in the first half to open a 26-10 lead at the 6:12 mark.

The Cavaliers led 36-20 at the break, holding the Cardinals to 33% shooting and scoring 12 points off UofL's eight first-half turnovers.

Virginia eventually led by as much as 19 at 42-23 with 17:24 remaining. Louisville cut its deficit to 13 multiple times, but never got any closer.

Redshirt freshman guard/forward Mike James tied his career with 24 points, including the Cardinals' last 15 of the game. Senior guard El Ellis added 14 points.

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Players Mentioned

Skyy Clark

El Ellis

Brandon Huntley-Hatfield

Mike James

Ty-Laur Johnson

University of Louisville Athletics