Louisville Hosts Red-Hot NC State in High-Stakes ACC Clash at KFC Yum! Center
There’s no easing into the week for No. 24 Louisville.
Monday night’s matchup at the KFC Yum! Center brings the kind of energy and implications that define February basketball in the ACC.
The Cardinals (17-6, 7-4 ACC) welcome NC State (18-6, 9-2), the current conference leader and one of the hottest teams in the country, in what’s shaping up to be a pivotal showdown with postseason implications.
It’s more than just a game-it’s a White Out. Fans are encouraged to show up in white, and the first 3,000 through the doors will walk away with LED rally towels, courtesy of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. Expect a charged atmosphere from the jump.
Battle of the Bombers
If you like three-point shooting, this one’s for you. NC State enters the night ranked No. 7 nationally in three-point accuracy, connecting on a blistering 40.2% from deep.
Sophomore guard Paul McNeil Jr. is the spark plug, leading the ACC at 43.5% from beyond the arc. He’s not just a catch-and-shoot threat-he’s creating space, pulling up in transition, and forcing defenses to stretch well beyond the perimeter.
Louisville’s not far behind in the long-range game. The Cardinals lead the nation in percentage of shot attempts from three-point territory-over half (53.9%) of their shots come from deep. Isaac McKneely is shooting a strong 39.6% from downtown, good for fourth in the ACC, while Ryan Conwell adds another layer at 35.0%, ranking sixth.
This isn’t just a shootout waiting to happen-it’s a test of who can better defend the arc while still letting their own shooters fly. With both teams leaning heavily on perimeter play, expect plenty of movement, kick-outs, and high-stakes closeouts.
Streaks on the Line
Louisville is riding a three-game winning streak and looking to keep the momentum alive on home court, where they’ve historically had the edge in this series. The Cardinals are 15-14 all-time against the Wolfpack, with a 7-4 mark in Louisville.
But NC State is coming in scorching hot. Winners of six straight, the Wolfpack are on their longest ACC regular season win streak since the legendary 1973-74 squad that went undefeated in conference play. This team may not have David Thompson, but they’re finding ways to win close games-including an overtime thriller over Clemson back in December, which remains the Tigers’ only ACC loss.
Numbers That Matter
This is a Quad 1 matchup for both programs, and that carries weight in the eyes of the selection committee. Louisville is 4-6 in Quad 1 opportunities this season, while NC State sits at 3-4. Every win matters in February, but this one has the feel of a résumé-builder for both sides.
Advanced metrics paint a picture of two evenly matched teams with slightly different styles. Louisville checks in at No. 17 in the NCAA’s NET rankings and sits No. 19 in KenPom.
NC State isn’t far behind-No. 27 in NET, No. 24 in KenPom. The predictive models are split: WarrenNolan.com projects a narrow 76-72 Louisville win with a 64% win probability, while ESPN’s Basketball Power Index gives the Cards a 75.8% chance to defend their home floor.
Interior Firepower
While the three-point battle will draw the headlines, don’t sleep on the paint. Louisville has thrown down 83 dunks this season, with Sananda Fru leading the charge with 44 slams.
Khani Rooths adds another 15. That’s not just flash-it’s a sign of how this team gets downhill and finishes with authority.
In fact, 14.3% of Louisville’s shot attempts are dunks, which ranks 12th nationally. When they’re not launching from deep, they’re attacking the rim with purpose.
Big Monday Spotlight
This is Louisville’s second appearance on ESPN’s Big Monday this season, following their showdown at Duke. They’ll be back under the Monday night lights again later this month when they travel to North Carolina. With the national spotlight shining bright, this is a chance for the Cardinals to make a statement-and for NC State to show they’re not just a hot team, but a serious contender.
Broadcast Info
- Tip-Off: Monday, Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- Location: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville
- TV: ESPN (Dave O’Brien, Jay Williams & Molly McGrath)
- Radio: Louisville Radio Network (93.9 FM in Louisville)
- Crew: Paul Rogers, Bob Valvano
This one checks all the boxes-conference stakes, hot shooting, win streaks, and a packed house. Whether you're tuning in or heading downtown in white, expect a high-energy battle between two teams with March on their minds.