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No. 25 Louisville Puts Win Streak on Line vs. Pesky Wake Forest
Riding a nine-game winning streak, No. 25 Louisville returns home on Tuesday night to face Wake Forest in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown.
The Cardinals (15-5, 8-1 ACC) have been one of the hottest teams in the conference, sitting atop the ACC standings after rolling past SMU 98-73 last Tuesday. With nearly a full week of rest, Louisville will aim to keep its momentum going against a dangerous Wake Forest team looking to bounce back from a tough loss.
Senior guard Chucky Hepburn, who transferred from Wisconsin, has been a key catalyst for Louisville’s success.
“I love playing with this team,” Hepburn said. “We’re coming a long way. We still have a lot of room to grow.”
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Wake Forest Seeks Bounce-Back Win
After running into the buzzsaw that is No. 2 Duke, Wake Forest (15-5, 7-2 ACC) now faces another tough test.
The Demon Deacons saw their six-game winning streak snapped on Saturday in a 63-56 home loss to the Blue Devils. Despite a strong defensive effort, Wake Forest struggled offensively, especially late in the game when Duke switched to a zone defense.
Coach Steve Forbes remains confident in his team despite the setback.
“We got a good basketball team, and we could pretty much play with anybody,” Forbes said. “I’ve never been discouraged with this group of guys because they fight and they play so hard.”
One bright spot for Wake Forest was freshman guard Juke Harris, who scored 14 points off the bench against Duke.
“He plays without fear, good and bad sometimes,” Forbes said. “But I’d rather have to dial somebody down than dial ’em up. And he’s competitive and fearless.”
Louisville Thriving with Unselfish Offense
The Cardinals’ recent success has been fueled by a team-first mentality and high-level ball movement.
In the 98-73 win over SMU, Louisville recorded assists on all 14 of its first-half baskets. By the final buzzer, they had 26 assists as a team.
Guard Reyne Smith caught fire, knocking down a school-record 10 three-pointers in the win. Meanwhile, Hepburn set an ACC record with 16 assists, the most in a conference game since 2010.
Coach Pat Kelsey described Hepburn’s performance as “a magical game.”
This unselfish style of play has turned Louisville into a legitimate ACC contender after an up-and-down start to the season.
“One thing that I love about this team is we never gave up,” Hepburn said. “If we lost, the next day, we were practicing, and we were just getting to it.”
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Keys to the Game
- Can Wake Forest Execute Against Different Defensive Looks? – The Demon Deacons struggled when Duke switched to a zone defense. If Louisville throws a similar defensive wrinkle, Wake will need better offensive execution.
- Will Chucky Hepburn Continue His Stellar Play? – The Louisville senior has been controlling the tempo and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. His matchup against Wake Forest’s guards will be crucial.
- Can Wake Forest Start Fast? – Wake fell behind by 13 against Duke and had to fight back. Against a high-powered offense like Louisville’s, the Deacons can’t afford another slow start.
What’s at Stake?
- For Louisville – A win would keep the Cardinals atop the ACC standings and further solidify their spot in the Top 25.
- For Wake Forest – A victory would boost their NCAA Tournament resume and prove that they can beat elite competition on the road.
With two of the ACC’s best teams colliding, expect a high-energy battle as Louisville aims to stay hot and Wake Forest looks to rebound from a tough loss.
