Louisville Faces Stanford in ACC Tournament Quarterfinal Showdown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The No. 2-seeded Louisville Cardinals are set to face the No. 7 seed Stanford Cardinal in an ACC Tournament quarterfinal matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at the Spectrum Center. Both teams come in with different trajectories; Louisville holds a strong record of 25-6, while Stanford stands at 20-12 after defeating California to reach this stage.

This contest marks a rematch of their regular-season finale, where Louisville secured a significant 68-48 victory at home. Neither team has won the ACC Tournament before, with this being Stanford’s inaugural year in the conference.

According to the latest odds from SportsLine, Louisville is favored by 10.5 points, with the over/under set at 143.5 points. The Cardinals are positioned at -602 on the money line, indicating a risk of $602 to win $100, while Stanford is at +438, allowing a risk of $100 to win $438.

Louisville enters this game on the heels of a nine-game winning streak, outscoring their opponents by an average of 14.6 points during this span. Star guard Chucky Hepburn leads the Cardinals with an average of 16.3 points and 5.9 assists per game, and he is joined by forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, who has averaged 16.8 points and 9.2 rebounds over the past five contests.

“Our guys are playing with a lot of confidence right now,” Hepburn said. “We just want to keep this momentum going and take it one game at a time.”

On the other side, Stanford is looking to continue their momentum after their latest victory over California, which showcased a balanced scoring effort with standout performances from Maxime Raynaud and Jaylen Blakes.

Raynaud has established himself as a player to watch, averaging 20.2 points and leading the ACC in rebounding with 10.8 boards per game. Having recently earned First Team All-ACC honors, Raynaud’s contributions have been pivotal to Stanford’s success this season.

“We’re excited for this opportunity,” Raynaud said. “Every game is a chance to prove ourselves, and we know we can compete with anyone in this tournament.”

Stanford’s win over California highlighted their potential, yet consistency has been elusive, particularly against strong opponents. They enter this game with a mixed record, especially away from home, holding a 4-10 mark in away games this season.

Defensively, Stanford has struggled at times; they allow significant shooting percentages from two-point range, which could be detrimental against Louisville’s aggressive attack. The Cardinal’s ability to shoot free throws has been a strong point, with a success rate of 78.7%, positioned nationally at 17th.

“Defensive intensity will be key for us,” Louisville’s coach added. “If we can pressure Stanford and control the boards, I believe we can dictate the game.”

This quarterfinal game will not only be an important step for both teams in the tournament but also features rich storyline elements as Louisville strives for its first ACC Tournament victory and Stanford looks to solidify its credentials in its debut conference tournament.

Fans can tune in to watch the game on ESPN2, featuring play-by-play commentary by Kevin Brown and analysis from Jon Crispin.