Louisville-Clemson Preview: Cards Take The Court In First ACC Home Game

NO. 5 LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (13-1, 1-0) vs. CLEMSON TIGERS (8-5, 0-1)

Game Time: 9:06 p.m.

Location: KFC Yum Center: Louisville, Ky.

Television: ACC Network/WAVE-3

Announcers: Tim Brant (play-by-play) and Dan Bonner (analyst)

Officials: Bryan Kersey, Tim Nestor and Pat Driscoll

Favorite: Louisville by 16

All-Time Series: Louisville leads 3-0

Last Meeting: Louisville won 74-68 in the second round of the NIT at Freedom Hall on March 20, 2006

Series History:

Statistics:

Relevant Videos:

About Clemson:

The Tigers have had a bit of a bizarre season thus far, going 3-1 against the SEC (including a win over No. 18 Arkansas), but losing both of its games against teams from the Big South Conference. They opened ACC play on Saturday with a 74-50 loss to No. 19 North Carolina.

Sophomore Jaron Blossomgame, who is third in the ACC in most improved scoring average over a year ago, leads Clemson in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg). Senior guard Rod Hall (9.5 ppg, 3.3 apg) is the 12th Clemson player in program history with 750 points and 325 assists. The Tigers rank 20th nationally in blocks (5.6 bpg).

Additionally, Clemson fans are super nice. So if you see any at the game tonight, be very polite.

Notable

--This evening's game marks Louisville's first home conference tilt as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

--Louisville is looking to begin conference play 2-0 for the third straight season.

--Rick Pitino is 1-1 all-time against Clemson, and 1-0 at Louisville.

--When ranked No. 5, Louisville is 26-0 all-time when playing at home against lower-ranked teams.

--Clemson is looking for its first win over a top-five team  since Feb. 4, 2009, when the Tigers beat No. 3 Duke 74-47 at home.

--Over the last seven games, Terry Rozier has averaged 21.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals, scoring over 20 points in three.

--Rozier currently leads the ACC in steals.

--Louisville's 109 victories over the last four years are the most wins in the nation in that stretch. Louisville is the only school in the nation with three straight 30 win seasons, including a school-record 35 victories amassed by Louisville's 2012-13 NCAA Championship team (30 in 2011- 12, 31 in 2013-14).

--U of L is 156-9 over the last 14 seasons under Coach Rick Pitino when scoring 80 or more points (20-1 last season, 11-1 in 2012-13).

--Louisville is off to a 13-1 start for the 13th time in program history, and the second time in the last three years.

--Louisville is 8-5 in conference home openers under Rick Pitino.

--With eight steals in its last game vs. Wake Forest, the Cardinals are averaging 10.6 steals, ranking fifth in the nation. U of L has produced double-digit steals in 11 of its 14 games this season.

--Louisville's average of 42.1 rebounds per game is the sixth-highest in the nation.

--Montrezl Harrell needs just 38 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

--Louisville is 27-0 all-time in games in which sophomore guard David Levitch sees the court.

Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Louisville 69, Clemson 53