March basketball is officially here. Louisville basketball received a double bye in the ACC tournament due to its extraordinary season. The team finished second in the ACC with an 18-2 conference record.
Louisville basketball is on a nine-game winning streak and 19-1 in their last 20 games. The Cardinals have been one of those most fun but shocking teams in the nation this season, with Head Coach Pat Kelsey leading the charge. Stanford basketball has been a different story this season. They have been up and down all year, just going on a three-plus game winning streak twice in conference. Their 11-9 conference record represents that.
The Cardinals took on Stanford last Saturday on their senior night. This was not your typical Louisville basketball game. They shot a shocking 22% from three-point range and only put up 68 points. Sharpshooting guard Reyne Smith missed the game due to a right ankle injury. Smith is a key factor in their offense and can stretch the floor for his teammates. That was their lowest scoring outing since they played Duke on December 8. With saying that, Louisville basketball held Stanford to only 48 points, which is a season low for them. Louisville is 3-0 against Stanford all-time in their series history.
Game Time
Thursday, March 13th, 7 p.m. local time on ESPN/ESPN2
Charlotte, NC, at the Spectrum Center
Final Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Favorite: Louisville @ -10.5
Moneyline: Louisville -630
Over/Under: 143.5
Current Predictions: ESPN gives Louisville Cardinals a commandin 80.1% chance to defeat Stanford tonight.
The nerves are out
With one of the most hyped up games Louisville will have all season, their senior night is over and put behind them. Expect Louisville and the star duo of Chucky Hepburn and Terrence Edwards Jr. to shoot the ball better. The duo shot a combined 1-13 from behind the arc that night. The Cardinals who have 12 seniors rostered should be settled in and focused on the ACC championship.
Not at home? No problem
Louisville basketball has an extraordinary 9-2 record away from the KFC Yum! Center. Stanford has faced their battles on the road this season, sitting at just 3-8.
Prediction
Louisville basketball will take down Stanford for the second time in a week. Chucky Hepburn has had an amazing season, but he still has a job to do. This will be his first game since being named First-Team All-ACC and the Defensive Player of the Year for the ACC. Even in a poor offensive showing from the Cardinals last Saturday, Hepburn still put up 16 points. He will look to shoot a better efficiency as he was 0-5 from three.
Stanford's star, Maxime Raynaud, was the only player to reach double digits in their last matchup against the Cardinals. He reached 17 points and 11 rebounds. Louisville basketball will look to take the same approach, let Raynaud get his but contain the others, which they did. Stanford only made four three-pointers and scored 31 points outside of Raynaud as a team.
Louisville basketball will continue its historic season and move on to the ACC quarterfinals.