The ninth-ranked Louisville Cardinals face a tough road test against No. 3 Virginia on Saturday night at John Paul Jones Arena. The ACC-leading Cavaliers will look to keep Rick Pitino's group at bay as both powerhouses gear up for a postseason run.
Louisville vs. Virginia 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Two top-10 teams will square off in a battle for ACC posturing.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Each team boasts solid guard play, which will likely be a determining factor in the game's outcome. Malcolm Brogdon and Justin Anderson are two big guards who pace the Cavaliers in scoring with averages of 13.6 and 13.9 points per game. Both can stretch the floor with the ability to exploit mismatches given their size. Louisville will need to find a way to limit both players within the framework of its stout defense.
Virginia's London Perrantes figures to match up against the Cardinals' leading scorer, Terry Rozier (18.5 ppg). If the Cavaliers can limit him on offense, they should have a chance to capitalize on the home-court advantage.
That will be easier said than done, however, because Louisville’s strength lies in its ability to get stops. It ranks among the top 25 in points allowed (58.8), rebounds (26.0), blocks (5.9) and steals (9.3) per game. Virginia ranks first in points allowed per game (50.9), but will have to overcome its deficiencies on offense, where it ranks 154th in the same metric.
With two stout defensive units squaring off, this game could have the look of an on-court chess match of sorts, with each looking for unique opportunities to capitalize on the other’s mistakes. Long scoring droughts plague both teams when they struggle.
Louisville could use this game to catapult itself to a strong run to end the season. Following the tilt at Virginia, only two of its remaining games are against ranked opponents, with both coming at the end of the season at home. Virginia could find itself in a similar position, but its final contest will feature these same Cardinals on the road in Louisville.
How to watch, listen, and stream
Time: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Where: John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, Va.
TV: ESPN
Online: WatchESPN
Further reading
Louisville fans should check out Card Chronicle, while Virginia fans can visit Streaking the Lawn.
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