No. 19 Louisville Faces Final Road Test Against Virginia Tech

Louisville Aims to Lock Up ACC Tournament Double Bye

No. 19 Louisville (21-6, 14-2 ACC) has surpassed all expectations in head coach Pat Kelsey’s first season, and on Tuesday night, the Cardinals have a chance to solidify their spot as one of the ACC’s top teams.

A win over Virginia Tech (12-15, 7-9 ACC) would:

Guarantee a double bye in next month’s ACC Tournament
Extend their winning streak to six games
Keep them in the race for a higher NCAA Tournament seed

Perhaps even more significantly, a victory would allow Kelsey to tie Hall of Famer Denny Crum for the most regular-season wins in a debut season at Louisville. Crum’s 1971-72 squad won 26 games and reached the Final Four, a benchmark that once seemed impossible for this program after back-to-back 12-win seasons.

But Kelsey and his veteran roster have engineered one of the best turnarounds in college basketball.

“My staff and the belief by having them and the trust I put in them and the job that they do and the excellence with which they go about every day,” Kelsey said. “If everybody in the organization is that way, the results take care of themselves.”

That approach has worked to near perfection. Louisville has won 15 of its last 16 games, the longest active winning streak in the ACC.

Now, they’ll try to keep rolling in their final road game of the regular season.

Chucky Hepburn & Reyne Smith Leading the Charge

Louisville’s offensive resurgence has been fueled by two elite transfers, both of whom have made an instant impact.

Key Players for Louisville:

Chucky Hepburn (15.6 PPG, 6.0 APG, 2.5 SPG) – The senior leads the ACC in steals and set a team record with 17 free throws in Saturday’s win over Florida State.
Reyne Smith (12.7 PPG, 3.8 3PM per game, 39.1% 3PT in last four games) – The nation’s leader in made three-pointers (103).
Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (10.4 PPG, 7.2 RPG) – The Cardinals’ most reliable post presence.

Hepburn’s ability to control the game on both ends of the floor has been critical, while Smith’s elite three-point shooting has stretched defenses.

With both playing at a high level, Louisville has looked like a legitimate threat in the postseason.

Virginia Tech Looks to Finish Strong at Home

The Hokies have struggled offensively all season, averaging just 67.6 points per game in ACC play, the second-worst mark in the conference.

Their low point came in a brutal 54-36 loss to Boston College on February 18, their lowest-scoring game in 58 years.

However, they bounced back in a big way with an 81-68 win over Miami on Saturday, thanks to a career night from Jaydon Young.

“Nobody was happy with how we played at Boston College,” said reserve center Patrick Wessler. “It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. So we all had the mentality of, ‘That’s over with, move on.'”

Key Players for Virginia Tech:

Jaydon Young (7.8 PPG, 27 points vs. Miami) – The sophomore nearly doubled his previous career-high in their last game.
Sean Pedulla (14.1 PPG, 4.9 APG) – The Hokies’ top scoring option and primary playmaker.
Patrick Wessler (3.6 PPG, 7-foot center) – Scored 10 points in 17 minutes vs. Miami and may see extended playing time if starting center Mylyjael Poteat (knee) is out.

Head coach Mike Young’s team is capable of strong performances at home, but they’ve struggled with consistency.

Virginia Tech has won five of its last six home games, but their inability to score consistently makes them unpredictable.

What’s at Stake?

For Louisville:

Secure a double bye in the ACC Tournament.
Keep momentum heading into March Madness.
Tie Denny Crum’s record for most regular-season wins in a debut season.

For Virginia Tech:

Keep fighting for a better ACC Tournament seed.
Show progress after a difficult offensive season.
Pull off a major upset to build confidence heading into March.

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Prediction: Can Virginia Tech Keep It Close?

Louisville is on a mission and playing its best basketball of the season.

Virginia Tech has been competitive at home, but their scoring issues are a major concern against a Louisville team that thrives in high-scoring games.

If Chucky Hepburn and Reyne Smith continue to play at a high level, Louisville should take control early and cruise to its sixth straight win.

Virginia Tech Hokies vs Louisville Cardinals Picks and Predictions February 25th 2025