KNOXVILLE, TN — The Louisville Cardinals basketball team, currently ranked No. 11 with a record of 9-1, is poised to make a significant impression today as they take on the No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers, who hold a 7-3 record. The matchup takes place at the Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, offering the Cardinals an opportunity for redemption following a challenging loss last year against the Volunteers.
Louisville arrives in Knoxville after delivering one of their strongest performances of the season, defeating rival Memphis with a commanding score of 99-73 at the KFC Yum! Center. In that game, the Cardinals showcased impressive shooting, hitting 51.4% of their three-point attempts and scoring an astonishing 44 points from their bench players.
On the other hand, Tennessee is seeking to turn things around after suffering three consecutive defeats against Kansas, Syracuse, and Illinois. The Volunteers last played on December 6, when they fell to Illinois. As of Monday, Tennessee ranks 18th on KenPom.com, boasting the highest offensive rebounding rate in the country and ranking 13th defensively.
Fans looking to catch the action will see the game tip off at 7 p.m. ET. Betting lines show that Louisville is a slight underdog, with a 2.5-point spread favoring Tennessee, and an over/under set at 157.5 points. Predictive models from KenPom and BartTorvik.com give Tennessee a slight edge, projecting a narrow victory for the Volunteers with an expected score of 80-79.
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN, with Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes providing commentary. For those without a cable subscription, the game can also be streamed through the ESPN app, ESPN.com, or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Listeners can tune in to the Cardinal Sports Network for local coverage featuring Paul Rogers and Bob Valvano. Online streaming is also available via GoCards.com.
This game not only represents a critical moment for both teams but also an opportunity for Louisville to assert their presence in the national landscape ahead of the season’s midpoint.