Virginia Tech @ Louisville preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 18, 2017 ) Virginia Tech 90, Louisville 94

Louisville looks to build off its upset win at then-No. 23 Florida State as the Cardinals host Virginia Tech in a nationally televised game Saturday afternoon. The Hokies come in on a roll as well, having won back-to-back conference games, but have lost 12 straight to Louisville.

The Cardinals earned their biggest victory of the year Wednesday, using a 41-point second half for the 73-69 victory that snapped the Seminoles' 28-game home unbeaten streak. "That's as good a road win as we've had in the past couple years," Louisville coach David Padgett told reporters. Virginia Tech has won two straight over Wake Forest and Pittsburgh after dropping its conference opener to No. 3 Virginia. The Hokies had five players score in double figures in Wednesday's 83-75 road victory over the Demon Deacons.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (13-4, 2-2 ACC): The Hokies feature an efficient offense that ranked first in the NCAA in field-goal percentage at 52.2 through Thursday's games and their 85.8 points per game rank second in the ACC. They're also the top 3-point shooting team by percentage in the conference at 40.3 percent led by junior guard Ahmed Hill (team-high 15.2 points per game), who shoots an ACC-best 49 percent from beyond the arc. Virginia Tech nailed 12 3-pointers in its last outing, its most in a conference game since Feb. 25, 2017.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (12-4, 2-1): Louisville has won eight of its last 10 and is doing so with stout defense. The Cardinals ranked 10th in the NCAA in defensive field-goal percentage (38.2) and were second in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 7.7 per game. Center Anas Mahmoud averages a team-high 3.69 swats -- fourth-best nationally.

TIP-INS

1. Louisville leads the series 31-8, including a 94-90 home win last season.

2. Virginia Tech has hit at least 10 3-pointers in eight games this season.

3. The teams meet again in Blacksburg, Va., on Feb. 24.

PREDICTION: Louisville 75, Virginia Tech 70