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Louisville basketball: Bold predictions for the season finale vs. Virginia

By Jacob Lane

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates with David Johnson #13 and Dwayne Sutton #24 after hitting a three-point shot against the Syracuse Orange in the first half of a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals celebrates with David Johnson #13 and Dwayne Sutton #24 after hitting a three-point shot against the Syracuse Orange in the first half of a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: Steven Enoch #23 of the Louisville Cardinals collides with Francisco Caffaro #22 and Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – FEBRUARY 08: Steven Enoch #23 of the Louisville Cardinals collides with Francisco Caffaro #22 and Braxton Key #2 of the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on February 08, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

The curse is no more

Jacob Lane: Louisville sweeps Virginia for the first time since joining the ACC

Before the start of the 2019-20 season, we asked each member of the staff here at Big Red Louie to give us their bold prediction, including myself and Presley Meyer. There were a lot of different ways that I could’ve gone with my prediction considering at the time, Louisville was a popular selection for not only the Final Four but to win it all.

Instead of going with something relating to the tournament I went with something that was a little bit crazy, considering Louisville’s past. I predicted that Louisville would not only beat Virginia twice but would sweep the season series for the first time since joining the ACC in 2014.

This may be a cop-out, but I’d be silly to not stick with my original prediction and go with the Cards beating Virginia on the road, to finish the season as the second-best team in the ACC. It may be a “luke-warm” prediction to you, but in my eyes, it may be the boldest prediction anyone has made about this team thus far considering what we’ve seen the last several years.

As we all know, Virginia and Tony Bennett have been Louisville’s kryptonite since joining the conference. Up until the 80-72 win over the Cavaliers last month, in which Louisville played arguably their best offensive game of the season, the Cards had beaten Virginia just one time in the previous five years while losing nine freaking games in a row.

Thankfully, the Virginia curse is broken and now with a little confidence in the team and from the fans I see the Cards pulling off the victory in Charlottesville for the first time since joining the ACC.

Last season Louisville got awfully close, as they held the lead or within striking distance for the majority of the game in Virginia before Ty Jerome sealed the deal for the Cavaliers. It was one of many games that could be added to the list of proof as to why the Cards could never win.

In the last game of the season, Louisville will play one of the nation’s hottest teams as the Cavs have won all of their seven games since facing the Cards on February 8th, including an upset win over Duke. Say what you will about Virginia’s lack of depth, lack of consistent scoring, lack of star power, etc. etc. Tony Bennett has shown once again why he’s one of the best coaches in all of the country, as he’s been able to make a lot out of a little when it comes to the overall talent on his team.

During the first matchup, Virginia showed how dangerous they can be on offense, scoring their second-highest point total of the season thanks to incredible performances from Thomas Woldentensae and Kihei Clark. While Louisville struggled to guard the perimeter (Virginia wasn’t missing much of anything that game, regardless of what Mack did defensively) they shut down the front-court trio of Mamadi Diakite, Jay Huff, and Braxton Key, holding them well under their combined season averages in points and rebounds.

This time around things will much trickier on that front as Louisville will likely be without starting center Malik Williams for the second game in a row as well as freshman Aidan Igiehon while Steven Enoch has looked to be a completely different player since suffering a lower-body injury of his own.

Jay Huff has been dominant (yes you read that right) over his last two games, combining to score 32 points, grab 18 rebounds, and block an incredible 10 shots. Enoch and Williams punished the thinner front line of Virginia during the first matchup, and if he’s healthy, I’d expect Mack to try that again.

If not, look for Louisville to go small and try and stretch the floor on Virginia. I really don’t know how that will work, considering Virginia’s defense has been great this season when it comes to limiting impact behind the line as well as cutting off dribble penetration.

Behind a big game from Jordan Nwora and Ryan McMahon, along with another great performance from David Johnson, I expect the Cards to be able to hang on and beat a very good and very hot Virginia team as they continue to pick up momentum on their way to postseason play.

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