Louisville basketball: Bold predictions for the season finale vs. Virginia
By Jacob Lane
Here we go again. As if we didn’t get enough of Virginia the first time, Louisville basketball will travel to Charlottesville for the season finale. Our team gives their boldest predictions.
It’s time for Louisville basketball to go to the dentist.
We mentioned on this week’s Big Red Louie podcast that playing Virginia in basketball is like going to the dentist: nobody wants to do it, but it’s mandatory twice a year. Luckily for Louisville basketball, it (metaphorically) received a clean bill of health during its last visit, and Cardinals fans aren’t as leary as they typically are heading into Saturday’s massive match-up with the Cavaliers in Charlottesville.
The narrative has changed quite a bit since these two teams last met.
A month ago, Virginia was a team on the supposed cusp of missing the NCAA tournament on the heels of a national championship season and back-to-back years with No. 1 seeds.
However, heading into Saturday’s match-up the Cavs are riding a seven-game winning streak and the two teams are vying for at least a share of the ACC regular-season title.
Tony Bennett is working his magic again, and whether it’s pure luck or sheer determination, Virginia has found its way into the top 25 and is eyeing a solid seed in the big dance.
Louisville, on the other hand, is still battling some mental and physical demons.
The Cards are clearly a title contender, but they can’t seem to get everything together at the right time. One game, they won’t be clicking on cylinders, and the next game, things are moving along but an injury sets the team back.
Center Malik Williams is doubtful to play, third-string back-up Aidan Igiehon is still battling a shoulder injury, and true freshman Josh Nickelberry is in a boot as well.
Meanwhile, Steven Enoch is battling a nagging lower extremity issue in a time where he is desperately needed, Ryan McMahon left Louisville’s last game for a stretch banged up, and the entire team is suffering the effects of a late-season push.
Thanks to fortuitous scheduling, Louisville has been able to get a little extra rest over the last couple of weeks of the season, and regardless of who is able to go, the Cardinals are going to come ready to battle for an ACC championship.
Virginia is a bold team. They boast a bold style of play. Every player has to be completely bought into Bennett’s muck ball mentality, or the system fails.
But, just as things have gone in years past, Virginia has been able to boldly stick to the gameplan and get the job done- no matter how hideous said job is.
We stick to gameplans around here, and we go at things ambitiously- or boldly, if you’d rather.
With a championship on the line, we put together the biggest, boldest bold predictions yet for the Cardinals’ trip to Charlottesville. Let’s take a look.