Go Cards.
No. 19 Louisville Cardinals (3-0) vs. Saint Francis Red Flash (2-2)
Game Time: 7:02 p.m.
Location: KFC Yum Center: Louisville, KY
Television: ACC Network Extra/Watch ESPN
Announcers: Kent Taylor (play-by-play) and Jody Demling (analyst)
Officials: Lee Cassell, Tim Clougherty, Jemel Spearman
After opening its season with three games on the road, Saint Francis drilled Franciscan University on Tuesday to even its record at 2-2. The Red Flash shot 50.7 percent from the field and recorded 18 steals in the game.
After making a run to the Northeast Conference championship game last year, the Red Flash -- which returns four starters from that team — were the preseason pick to win the league in 2017-18. Two Saint Francis players were named preseason First Team All-NEC: Junior guard Isaiah Blackmon (14.3 ppg) and 6’4 sophomore guard Keith Braxton 13.0 ppg/6.8 rpg), the 2017 NEC Rookie of the Year.
The 17 games Saint Francis won last season were the most for the program in 19 years.
Notable:
—Louisville has won 45 consecutive home games in November, a streak which dates all the way back to a loss to Vanderbilt on November 30, 1972. The Cards are 32-0 in November games played inside the Yum Center.
—Louisville enters Friday’s game leading the nation in blocked shots per game at 9.7.
—Saint Francis last defeated a top 25 opponent on Jan. 25, 1959 vs. St. Bonaventure.
—Louisville has not lost a non-conference game to a non-Power 5 conference opponent since its NCAA tournament loss to Morehead State in 2011.
—Louisville is one of just four schools which have won 20 or more games in each of the last 15 seasons (also Kansas, Duke and Gonzaga).
—Louisville has won 21 straight and 57 of its last 58 non-conference games played inside the Yum Center.
Ken Pomeroy Prediction: Louisville 84, Saint Francis 64
