Armed Forces Classic 2014: Teams, Schedule, Matchups, Live Stream, TV Info

College basketball fans will be treated to an exciting matchup right off the bat as No. 8 Louisville takes on Minnesota in the Armed Forces Classic in Puerto Rico.

Minnesota comes into the year with higher expectations than usual after winning the NIT last season. With most of the key contributors from last season returning, this squad has a good opportunity to play its way back into the NCAA tournament, and a win over Louisville would go a long way.

On the other hand, expectations are always high for the Cardinals. They reached the Sweet 16 last season, but this was considered a disappointment after winning the national championship the year before.

Of course, losing to rival Kentucky only made the loss sting more.

They have the talent to make another run at a title this season, but the squad will have to come together quickly to survive a tough schedule.

This game will be important to both teams in what is arguably the best matchup of college basketball's opening night. Here is a look at what you need to know heading into this exciting game. 

When: Friday, Nov. 14

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: U.S.C.G. Air Station Borinquen, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3

Top Storyline: Pitino vs. Pitino

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Expect a lot of gamesmanship in this one as Louisville's Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino takes on his son, Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino.

When this potential matchup was initially discussed, the elder Pitino was a bit weary but understood why his son wanted the game, as he explained to C.L. Brown of ESPN.com:

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I know him. He thinks, without question, he can beat us. There's not a doubt in his mind, but he won't say that. Oh, what's his line, they're the Tampa Bay Rays and we're the Yankees. But that was before. He thought Montrezl [Harrell] was gone (for the NBA draft), so he wanted that game in the worst way. Now he's got a little trepidation because Montrezl came back, so know he knows it's a flip of a coin.

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Richard Pitino might be inexperienced, but he showed last season that he can coach. The Gophers fought hard against top opponents, earning wins against Ohio State, Wisconsin and others. With a lot of talent on the roster, do not be surprised to see another tough challenge in this matchup.

Then again, Rick Pitino is still one of the top coaches in the sport, and he knows how to get his team prepared for an important battle. Do not expect Louisville to overlook anyone to start the year.

Minnesota Player to Watch: Andre Hollins

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While Austin Hollins is now gone, Andre Hollins should be able to take over as one of the best players in the Big Ten. The guard is an excellent two-way player who can fill up the box score and contribute in a number of different ways.

The question is whether he can be more aggressive as a scorer after his points per game average dropped from 14.6 points per game as a sophomore to just 13.6 points per game as a junior. He also saw his shooting percentages decrease both inside and outside the arc.

Still, experts like Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports think the backcourt of him and point guard DeAndre Mathieu is one of the more underrated units in the country:

Hollins alone could be one of the best in the nation at his position if he can improve his consistency and become a go-to scorer on a nightly basis. If he does, Minnesota has a chance to go far this season. 

Louisville Player to Watch: Montrezl Harrell

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Not only is Montrezl Harrell the most talented player in this game, he is one of the best players in the nation and will start the year on just about everyone's preseason All-American list.

He finished last season averaging 14 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while being one of the toughest forwards to defend inside. ESPN's Jay Bilas (subscription required) had good things to say while naming Harrell one of the country's top big men:

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Simply put, Harrell is a beast. He is stepping away and hitting a face-up jumper, but who cares? He will make a fortune just running, rebounding like a maniac and dunking everything around the rim. Nobody else in college basketball can match Harrell's explosive athleticism and talent. 

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If you don't have multiple people defending him, he will throw down easy dunks all day long. If teams do decide to double-team Harrell, it will open things up for the rest of Louisville's talented players.

Stopping Harrell is priority No. 1 for any opposing coach, but it is not as easy as it sounds.

Prediction: Louisville 72, Minnesota 65

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Rick Pitino has had some great offensive players in his day, but the reason his teams have been successful is the work they put in on defense.

ESPN's Andy Katz discussed this as the game plan going into the battle against Minnesota:

KenPom.com predicts Louisville will have the most efficient defense in the country this year, mostly thanks to their high-pressure play that forces plenty of turnovers.

However, the problem is that Mathieu and Hollins represent a talented, experienced backcourt that will be able to handle the pressure in this first game. This will allow the Gophers to keep the game close and provide as much of a challenge to the Louisville defense as it will see in the early part of the year.

The problem is Minnesota still does not have an answer for Harrell. Even if Terry Rozier and Chris Jones are slowed down offensively, Harrell should have a big game against Elliott Eliason and Maurice Walker inside.

Minnesota will fight hard and keep it close, but Louisville's depth and talent will simply be too much down the stretch.

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