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Louisville Basketball: 5 toughest games on the Cards’ 2016-2017 schedule

By Derek Snyder

Dec 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena. Kentucky won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena. Kentucky won 75-73. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Virginia Cavaliers players react from the bench against the Syracuse Orange during the first half in the championship game of the midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Virginia Cavaliers players react from the bench against the Syracuse Orange during the first half in the championship game of the midwest regional of the NCAA Tournament at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Virginia Cavaliers

Where: Charlottesville, Virginia

Time: February 6th at 7:00pm

TV: ESPN

The Cavaliers are always going to give Louisville trouble with the way they play defense. They have been able to shut down Louisville ever since the Cards joined the conference. It also won’t help that the Cardinals have to go play the Cavaliers down in Virginia in February.

Louisville, no matter the sport, somehow always struggles going to Virginia and playing well. It wouldn’t surprise me if this is a game that the Cardinals come back to the Ville’ without a victory.

Here is what Athlon Sports had to about about the Cavaliers in their season preview:

"With 89 wins and two NCAA Tournament No. 1 seeds in the last three years, Virginia is the ACC’s new model of consistency. It says a lot about how far the program has come under Bennett that an Elite Eight appearance can feel like a disappointment. This season feels like a continuation of something sustainable. There’s an intriguing combination of old and new — a core of upperclassmen and a wave of young talent."

With that being said, Virginia did lose so major pieces from last year’s squad, but I know that Tony Bennett will have his new players defending the playing their usual high-level basketball.

Again, we never know how these Cardinals will respond on the road, but this is easily one of their four toughest games of the 2016-2017 season.

Next: Number Three

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