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Louisville Basketball: Biggest keys to upsetting Virginia in ACC battle

By Brian Rauf

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 26: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a dunk against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 26: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a dunk against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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BLACKSBURG, VA – FEBRUARY 04: Kerry Blackshear Jr. #24 of the Virginia Tech Hokies blocks a shot attempt by Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half at Cassell Coliseum on February 04, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images)
BLACKSBURG, VA – FEBRUARY 04: Kerry Blackshear Jr. #24 of the Virginia Tech Hokies blocks a shot attempt by Dwayne Sutton #24 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half at Cassell Coliseum on February 04, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images) /

Louisville needs a win to stop their late-season slide. Can they get a big one this weekend against Virginia? Here’s what they need to do to make it happen.

The Louisville Cardinals have overachieved in head coach Chris Mack’s first season and have been ranked as high as No. 15 in the country.

However, the Cards have hit a major bump in the road as they’ve lost four of their last six games. It has been a murderer’s row with all six being ranked in the KenPom top 40 and four being ranked in the top 16, but Louisville could use a win to get things turned around.

Unfortunately for them, they have another extremely tough test on Saturday when the No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers come to town.

UVA is tied for first in the ACC and has beaten everyone other than Duke on their schedule. These two programs will play twice before the end of the regular season, rekindling a series that was highlighted last year by De’Andre Hunter’s buzzer-beater in Louisville.

That loss was obviously very disappointing for the Cardinals, yet it helped prove to them that they can compete with the top teams in the country, specifically Virginia.

The Cavaliers use a very distinct style of play that suffocates almost all of their opponents, yet there are some cracks in the armor that can be exploited. Here are three things Louisville needs to do to beat Virginia on Saturday:

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