Louisville basketball: 3 matchups for 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge

As Louisville basketball awaits their matchup in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge we take a look at three teams we’d like to see matched up against the Cards.

Despite not knowing what the upcoming basketball season may look like just yet, we are near the final stages of Chris Mack and the Louisville basketball finalizing their schedule for the 2020-21 season.

Over the last few weeks and months, we’ve seen a number of games and opponents being announced for Louisville, including a multi-game event in Las Vegas, a season-opener against Western Kentucky at the KFC Yum! Center, a matchup with Oklahoma State in the Armed Forces Classic, amongst a few other notable matchups.

At this point, there are just a few missing pieces for the 2020-21 schedule, most notably, the opponent for the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

We probably won’t know matchups until June/July, which is traditionally when they are announced, which is why wanted to take a closer look at who could be on the docket for Louisville.

Also read: Way too early bold predictions for Louisville basketball in 2020-21

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge has been really good to Louisville, as the Cards have won four out of their six games since joining the ACC. That includes the last two where Louisville has welcomed in two top ten teams to the KFC Yum! Center, beating both, as well as wins over no. 15 Purdue in 2016-17 and no. 14 Ohio State in 2014-15.

Louisville ACC/Big Ten Challenge history –

• 2019-20 – No. 4 Michigan  (W)
• 2018-19 – No. 9 Michigan State (W)
• 2017-18 – @ Purdue (L)
• 2016-17 – No. 15 Purdue (W)
• 2015-16 – @ No. 3 Michigan State (L)
• 2014-15 – No.14 Ohio State (W)

My guess for 2020’s edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge the Cards will see a new opponent, hopefully, one they have yet to see since joining the conference. While matchups are determined randomly, typically you see the very top programs of each conference matched up, and more times than not there’s some sort of relevant matchup storyline.

I would also expect this year’s game to be one where Louisville goes on the road, considering Chris Mack’s team has played at the KFC Yum! Center in each of the last two years against Michigan and Michigan State. Traveling to a hostile environment against what will likely be a really good team, will be a big test as to the progress of a relatively young Cardinal squad.

With all of that being said, let’s take a look at three teams I believe would be great matchups for Louisville in the 2020 ACC/Big Ten Challenge.