Today’s game didn’t go according to the script for Louisville. The Cards didn’t live up to their No. 3 national ranking and No. 1 ACC ranking for 3-point defense against the hot-shooting Hokies. But the Cards won in a shootout, of all games by a score of 94-90.
Virginia Tech shot 65% from 3-point range, scored 44 points in the 1st half (the most allowed at home since 2013), and seemed to make everything they threw at the basket; however, it wasn’t enough to beat the Cards. Louisville would extend its lead and seem like they’d run away with the game then the Hokies would answer, but VTech fell a few answers short as Louisville pulled away enough late to keep their ACC title hopes alive.
Donovan Mitchell led the way with 26 points on 8-13 shooting, Quentin Snider proved he’s back to 100% with 19 points, Jaylen Johnson added 16 points and 8 rebounds, while Deng Adel and Ryan McMahon each scored 9 points in the winning effort.
With the win today, Louisville sets themselves up with a chance to put a stronghold on the ACC title if the Cards can win at North Carolina when the they travel to Chapel Hill on Wednesday for 9pm game on ESPN. Louisville is in a great position after today’s win, but if the Cards play as slouchy defense against the Tar Heels as they did today, a win at Chapel Hill will be hard to fathom. Nonetheless, the Cards took care of business today, doesn’t matter how, it’s still a W on the schedule.
Go Cards!