Virginia looking to extend its dominance over Louisville in noon contest

Posted on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, 11:01 pm

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By Jerry Ratcliffe

Photo: UVA Athletics

A week ago, Virginia proved it could win on the road, pulling itself out of an 0-for-4 road slump by beating Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

Now it’s time to do it again, as the Cavaliers (14-5, 5-3, tied for fourth in the ACC) travel to Louisville (6-13, 1-7) for a noon game with the Cardinals (The CW TV). UVA owns an eight-game winning streak over Louisville and has won 17 of the last 18 meetings against the Cardinals.

While Tony Bennett’s team has won its last three contests (Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and NC State), the Cardinals are coming off a rugged stretch where they have played four-consecutive games against teams ranked among the top six in the ACC. Today will be Louisville’s fifth during that span, and thus far, Coach Kenny Payne’s team has lost them all.

The Cardinals seem to be struggling on the defensive end of the court. Louisville is doing fine offensively, having shot 45 percent or better from the field during its last six games, including 41 percent from the 3-point line.

Redshirt sophomore guard/forward Mike James has been the Cardinals’ hottest scorer during that streak, averaging 17.8 points per game, making 50.7 percent of his field-goal attempts and an amazing 59 percent of his 3-point attempts (13 of 22) over that span.

Meanwhile, Virginia is coming off an impressive win over NC State, which had clobbered the Cavaliers by 16 points earlier in the month. UVA won the rematch, 59-53, in Charlottesville on Wednesday night with five Cavaliers scoring in double figures.

Bennett’s team, which has struggled in the rebounding department for most of the season, outrebounded both Georgia Tech and NC State, pulling down an amazing season-high 54 rebounds against the Wolfpack.

With the emergence of Jordan Minor at the five spot, Minor, Ryan Dunn and Blake Buchanan off the bench have been more aggressive in the paint, with both Georgia Tech coach Damon Stoudamire and NC State coach Kevin Keatts mentioning how physical the Cavaliers are playing.

Should Virginia extend its winning streak to four games on Saturday at Louisville, it hosts Notre Dame on Wednesday in another rematch against a team it previously lost to this season.