Sunday’s tight contest at Virginia Tech slipped out of Louisville’s control before leading to a seven-point loss in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener.
The Cardinals will aim to get back on track Saturday as they take a break from league play with a visit to Chicago to face struggling DePaul.
Louisville (4-4) benefited from 10 first-half points from Mike James to take a 31-30 lead at intermission against the Hokies, but the advantage was short-lived. A pair of free throws from Brandon Huntley-Hatfield brought Louisville to within a point with 1:58 to go, but the team managed only two points the rest of the way in a 75-68 loss.
Still, there was a lot to like. Five Cardinals finished in double figures. Skyy Clark led the way with 16 points, while Huntley-Hatfield had 14 points and nine rebounds.
“I feel myself getting better, and I know what I’m capable of on the boards,” Huntley-Hatfield said. “I think I’m going to figure it out with that consistent energy.”
DePaul (1-7) enters the opener of a four-game homestand on a five-game losing streak.
Each loss during the skid other than the first, to South Carolina, has come by double digits. The Blue Demons are coming off Wednesday’s 89-64 loss at No. 21 Texas A&M, which forced DePaul into 15 turnovers while committing just four.
DePaul shot 54.8 percent from the floor and produced three scorers in double figures — led by Chico Carter Jr.’s game-high 21 points — but was unable to stay consistent and had too many lapses.
Texas A&M matched a school record with 14 3-pointers and used a 17-0 run late in the first half to take a 32-point lead into the break.
“We just got to be able to put 40 minutes together and that’s our job,” Blue Demons coach Tony Stubblefield said. “That’s my job as head coach. That’s our job as staff is to put these guys in position to put a full 40 minutes together.”
Louisville leads the all-time series with DePaul 38-22. The schools haven’t met since the Blue Demons earned a 62-55 road victory on Dec. 10, 2021.
–Field Level Media
