The Louisville Cardinals won 10 consecutive games before losing to Georgia Tech on the road last weekend. They are currently 17-6 and rank third overall in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Louisville is one of the most exciting teams in all of college basketball, thanks in large part to new head coach Pat Kelsey, who has quickly become a beloved figure in the sport.
However, the Cardinals have been battling a recurring issue throughout the season: injuries. These setbacks have sometimes forced them to play with just seven players. Despite this, Kelsey has refused to let injuries become an excuse for their struggles, and eventually, Louisville began to win despite the adversity.
On Wednesday, point guard Chucky Hepburn suffered an injury during the contest at Boston College. Hepburn, one of the best point guards in the ACC and often referred to as the heartbeat of the program, is a crucial part of Louisville’s success. Just before Saturday’s game, it was announced that Hepburn would be inactive for the matchup against Miami.
Louisville entered the game as an 18.5-point favorite over Miami. The Hurricanes had been dealing with their own challenges, including the mid-season departure of long-time head coach Jim Larranaga.
As if the injury woes weren’t enough, Louisville’s struggles continued when forward James Scott was ruled out for the remainder of the game due to an injury. The exact nature of the injury is unclear, but it is a significant blow to an already shorthanded Cardinal team. Scott exited the game after falling to the floor and slowly rising back up, before heading to the locker room with blood coming from his mouth.
As has been the case all season, Louisville will again be short-handed. The Cardinals are determined to start a new winning streak after their loss last weekend on the road.