Louisville basketball enters its match-up with Notre Dame in a must-win situation. Let’s preview what challenges the Irish present and give some predictions.
Bounce back games do not get more important the challenge ahead of Louisville basketball on Tuesday night.
Chris Mack and the Cardinals host a pesky Notre Dame squad looking to avoid any bubble conversation ahead of a tough three-game stretch. Over an eight-day period, Louisville travels to a Duke team that is turning the corner, goes to ranked Virginia Tech, and finishes the season hosting a top-10 Virginia team.
It’s do or die for the Cards.
Hot: Louisville football lands a big-name quarterback transfer
Who: Notre Dame at Louisville
Where: KFC Yum! Center | Louisville, KY
When: Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 at 7:00 PM
How to Watch: ACC Network
Radio: WKRD (790 AM) (Sirius channel 135, XM 193, Internet 955)
Series History: UofL leads 25-15
Last Meeting: Louisville won in South Bend last season 67-64
Spread Check: Louisville -3.5
Uniform Check: Louisville is 35-0 under Chris Mack wearing โtraditionalโ white jerseys in regular-season games (36-1 overall)
How does Louisville respond with its back against the wall?
After both of Louisville basketball COVID-related layoffs, the Cardinals suffered historic defeats.
When Louisville was trounced by Wisconsin, the Cardinals responded with five consecutive wins.
Louisville’s schedule to finish the season, however, is much more difficult than it was early in conference play. That starts with a pesky Notre Dame squad that has shown improvement of late.
Most do not and should not expect Louisville to win its next four. But Notre Dame is, by far, the easiest game left on the schedule. To say this is a crucial game is an undestatement.
Can UofL’s guards get things going?
A common denominator in Louisville’s five losses is its inability to get guards David Johnson and Carlik Jones going.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Louisville will only go as its guards go. However, Louisville has to get consistency out of these two each and every game.
Against North Carolina, Jones often forced things against the Tar Heels bigs. Johnson was a relative no-show, going 3-for-13 and coughing up four turnovers.
Louisville has to get more than 19 points and 4 assists from its two best players against a Notre Dame team can be exposed at the guard position.
Predictions
Ethan Sprowles: Louisville 77, Notre Dame 71
Tanner Hickman: Louisville 78, Notre Dame 65
Alan Thomas: Louisville 67, Notre Dame 60
Matt McGavic: Louisville 74, Notre Dame 72
Spencer Brown: Louisville 64, Notre Dame 58
Brian Trent: Louisville 65, Notre Dame 61
Presley Meyer: Louisville 82, Notre Dame 74
