Pat Kelsey faced an arduous challenge in his first ACC game as Louisville basketball's head coach. The Cardinals, currently with a 5-3 record, are set to commence conference play against the highly ranked No. 9 Duke team today at the KFC Yum! Center. The tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m., and it's a crucial matchup as Louisville looks to end their two-game losing streak.

Team Challenges and Roster Updates

Down to only eight scholarship players, the Cardinals are dealing with significant setbacks. Fifth-year forward Kasean Pryor (knee) and junior guard Koren Johnson (shoulder) have been ruled out for the season, and senior forward Aboubacar Traore (arm) is still recovering. This has put added pressure on the remaining players as they prepare to take on Duke.The team, led by third-year coach Jon Scheyer and the projected No. 1 pick in next year's NBA draft, Cooper Flagg, managed to secure one of the ACC's two wins in their showdown with the SEC by defeating No. 2 Auburn on Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. They were the clear favorites in the preseason poll.

Game Details and Broadcast Information

The officials for today's game are Roger Ayers, Bert Smith, and Pat Driscoll. The game between the Cards and the Blue Devils will be aired on the ACC Network, which is available on different platforms such as channel 610 on AT&T U-Verse, channel 612 on DirecTV, channel 402 on Dish, and channels 524 and 937 on Spectrum.Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Jon Crispin (analyst) will be providing the play-by-play commentary, while Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Bob Valvano (analyst) will have the call on the Cardinal Sports Network (WLCL 93.9-FM and WGTK 970-AM in Louisville). You can also listen online via GoCards.com.Betting odds show that Louisville is a 8.5-point underdog (-110) on BetMGM, with the over/under set at 145.5 points (-115, -105). The money line odds are Duke -400, and U of L +310.

Upcoming Schedule and Previous Matches

Louisville's recent exhibition games have seen some dominant performances. Against Young Harris College on Monday, Oct. 21, they scored a convincing 106-59 victory. Against Spalding on Monday, Oct. 28, they won 99-54. In their regular season games, they faced tough opponents like Tennessee (77-55 loss), Bellarmine (100-68 win), Winthrop (76-61 win), and more.Their upcoming schedule is filled with challenging matchups. They will face North Carolina on Jan. 1, Virginia on Jan. 4 and 18, Clemson on Jan. 7, and many more. Each game presents a new opportunity and challenge for the team.

Player Roster and Insights

The Louisville roster includes notable players such as Frank Anselem-Ibe (center, fifth year), Patrick Antonelli (guard, fifth year), Terrence Edwards Jr. (guard/forward, fifth year), J’Vonne Hadley (guard, fifth year), Chucky Hepburn (guard, senior), and many others. Each player brings their unique skills and contributions to the team.In conclusion, Louisville basketball is gearing up for a tough ACC season with this crucial matchup against Duke. The team's challenges and potential are on full display as they prepare to take on one of the top teams in the conference.