Louisville Cardinals vs Ole Miss Rebels Picks and Predictions December 3rd 2024

Banged-Up Louisville Tries to Fend Off No. 23 Ole Miss

Injuries Challenge Louisville in Key SEC/ACC Matchup

Louisville returns to its home court Tuesday to host No. 23 Ole Miss in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Cardinals face the difficult task of competing against a ranked opponent while managing significant injury challenges.

Louisville (5-2) comes off a 69-64 loss to Oklahoma in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship, following impressive wins over then-No. 14 Indiana and West Virginia. Despite not cracking last week’s AP poll, Louisville gained attention on Monday, receiving votes just outside the Top 25.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss (6-1) narrowly missed a statement win of its own, falling 80-78 to then-No. 13 Purdue in the Rady Children’s Invitational final in San Diego. The Rebels also overcame BYU in overtime, 96-85, the day before.

Louisville Faces Depth Issues

The Cardinals’ promising start hit a setback with the loss of forward Kasean Pryor, who sustained a season-ending ACL injury in Friday’s game. Pryor, averaging 12 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, had been pivotal to Louisville’s early success.

Coach Pat Kelsey expressed concern about his team’s physical and mental readiness after a grueling stretch in the Bahamas.

“They played three rock fights, as I like to call them,” Kelsey said. “The last three games were extremely physical and hotly contested … Our guys sure are physically and mentally fatigued.”

Louisville will also remain without Aboubacar Traore (broken arm) and Koren Johnson (shoulder), further testing its depth.

Rebels Look to Build on Early Momentum

Ole Miss showed resilience in nearly overcoming a 17-point deficit against Purdue, even holding a late lead before falling in the final moments. Rebels coach Chris Beard sees these tight contests as growth opportunities.

“We had some pivotal mistakes late, but this is November,” Beard said. “These are learning opportunities. … We’re going to be in a lot of games like this. The team that makes the fewest mistakes and the more aggressive team is going to win.”

The Rebels are led by Jaylen Murray, who is averaging 14.6 points per game. Five Ole Miss players are averaging double-digit points, contributing to a balanced offensive approach.

A Familiar Face Returns to Louisville

Tuesday’s matchup will mark a homecoming for Rebels guard Dre Davis, who played for Louisville from 2020-22 before transferring to Seton Hall and eventually Ole Miss. Davis, averaging 11 points per game this season, adds another layer of intrigue to the contest.

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Balanced Scoring Key for Both Teams

Both Louisville and Ole Miss rely on balanced offensive attacks. The Cardinals have four players averaging double figures, led by Chucky Hepburn (14.6 points per game). The Rebels counter with five players in double digits, showcasing their depth and versatility.

As Louisville fights to manage injuries and Ole Miss looks to build on its promising start, Tuesday’s clash promises to deliver a high-stakes showdown between two competitive squads.