How to watch Texas basketball vs. Louisville: TV, stream for Empire Classic

The first major conference opponent of the 2023-24 regular season for No. 19 Texas basketball and head coach Rodney Terry will be in the Empire Classic on Nov. 19 against the Louisville Cardinals out of the ACC. Texas did face a mid-major team in its last game, against the Rice Owls from the American Athletic Conference on Nov. 15.

But the Empire Classic features three other big-time college hoops programs that can test the Longhorns early in the season. The four-team field for the Empire Classic includes the No. 5 ranked and defending National Champion UConn Huskies, Indiana Hoosiers, Louisville, and Texas.

Texas’ first game of the Empire Classic in New York City will be against Louisville on Nov. 19. Depending on the results of the Texas-Louisville game, the Longhorns will face the team that had the same result in the UConn-Indiana game.

Terry and the Longhorns come into the Empire Classic this weekend sporting a record of 3-0 (0-0 Big 12) following a convincing 80-64 win over Rice at the Moody Center in Austin on Nov. 15. The Longhorns have won each of its first three games this season by a margin of at least 15 points.

Texas has also defeated the Delaware State Hornets and Incarnate Word Cardinals this season.

Louisville, meanwhile, enters the Empire Classic with a record of 2-1 (0-0 ACC) following a 61-41 win over the Coppin State Eagles at the KFC Yum! Center on Nov. 15. The Cardinals also have a loss to Chattanooga and a win over UMBC this season.

Here’s a look at the TV/streaming information and game time as No. 19 Texas takes on Louisville in the Empire Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Nov. 19.

How to watch Texas basketball vs. Louisville

TV/Stream: ESPN/FuboTV

Radio/Audio Stream: Longhorn Radio Network, Sirius XM 97 or 199

Game time: 2:30 p.m. CT

Live stats: Statbroadcast

For the first time this season, the Longhorns have a game broadcast live on national television on ESPN. All games during the Empire Classic will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. Texas’ second game in the Empire Classic will be broadcast live on ESPNU on Nov. 20.

Karl Ravech, Jay Williams, and Myron Medcalf will call the Texas-Louisville game for ESPN on Nov. 19.

Craig Way and Eddie Oran will call the game live on the radio broadcast on Longhorn Radio Network.

Texas vs. Louisville series history

Louisville holds the edge in the all-time series against Texas, with a record of 4-1. The last time these two teams met on the hardwood was during the 1996-97 season in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville topped Texas 78-63 in the Sweet 16.

Texas and Louisville met twice during the 1996-97 season, with the first of the two contests resulting in an overtime win for the Cardinals. The last and only time Texas beat Louisville was during the 1986-87 season when the Longhorns upset the No. 2 ranked Cardinals in a non-conference game.

Texas basketball vs. Louisville: Prediction and odds for Nov. 19

Texas is a heavy 17.5-point favorite against Louisville pre-game (per Caesars Sportbook), and the over/under is 147.5 points.

According to the ESPN matchup predictor, Texas has an 89.8 percent chance of beating Louisville. Kenpom predicts the final score of this game to be an 80-65 win for the Longhorns.

Texas has the edge on paper in this matchup against a Louisville team that has struggled on offense this season. Louisville ranks 217th in Division 1 in offensive rating, 320th in three-point field goal percentage (26.4 percent), 348th in assists per game (9.0), and 238th in field goal percentage (42.7 percent).

Louisville has some quality playmakers and scorers in its backcourt. Sophomore guards/wings Mike James, Tre White, and Skyy Clark are all scoring in the double figures this season. James and White are high-level scorers and rebounders for the Cardinals, as both averages over a dozen points per game and at least six boards. Clark is the playmaker of the group, leading the team with over two assists per game.

But the Cardinals are lacking a true identity in the frontcourt early this season and they have a tough matchup ahead against Texas’ talented backcourt unit, highlighted by senior guard Max Abmas and junior Tyrese Hunter.

Texas should also have the edge in the frontcourt, thanks to strong starts from the likes of sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell and redshirt junior center Kadin Shedrick.

In its first three games this season, Texas has shot the lights out. The Longhorns rank in the top 20 in Division 1 in field goal percentage (54.3 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (45.7).

Expect another strong shooting night from the Longhorns against a Louisville squad that is struggling to defend the perimeter. Louisville has allowed a three-point field goal percentage of 38.9 percent this season, which ranks among the bottom 50 teams in Division 1.

If the Longhorns can continue to play well on defense, this should be a rather comfortable double-digit win to start the Empire Classic.

Final score prediction: Texas-83, Louisville-72