Vanderbilt vs. Louisville: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

The ACC-Big Ten Challenge may get all the publicity afforded cross-conference conglomerations in college basketball, but don't overlook the SEC-Big East Invitational, especially Friday's tilt between Vanderbilt and Louisville.

The Commodores, led by the dynamic duo of Jeffery Taylor and John Jenkins, have been something of a disappointment through their first seven games. Kevin Stallings' squad started the season ranked in the Top 10 but has since tumbled on account of losses to Cleveland State and Xavier.

The Cardinals haven't exactly looked like world-beaters of late, either, due in large part to a rash of injuries. Peyton Siva, Rakeem Buckles, Stephen Van Treese and freshman Wayne Blackshear have all had their physical foibles, though none quite like the torn ACL that knocked star guard Mike Marra out for the season.

Both teams have a long way to go before reaching peak form, though this game should be a significant measuring stick for each on the road to the NCAA tournament.

Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Kentucky

When: Friday, December 2nd at 9:00 p.m. ET

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: ESPN3.com

Listen: 97.1 WRQQ, vucommodores.com (Vanderbilt); WHAS 840 AM, uoflsports.com (Louisville) 

What's at Stake

For Vanderbilt, this game is all about getting its season back on the right track and sticking around the Top 25. The Commodores have the talent and the experience to be an elite team not only in the SEC, but across the college basketball landscape as a whole. That being said, they'll need to start playing like it before they can ever hope to be so anointed.

Louisville, on the other hand, will look to defend the honor of the waning Big East without the services of Marra and Van Treese. The Cardinals have struggled to put away lesser opponents—Ohio and Long Beach State—in their last two games, thereby rendering their 6-0 record and No. 6 ranking a bit more precarious than it would appear at first glance.

What They're Saying

Legendary Louisville coach Rick Pitino is well-aware of the draining effect that injuries have had on the stamina and conditioning of the few healthy players he has on hand. As such, Pitino has been taking it easier on all of his players in practice lately, healthy ones included. As he told the Louisville Courier-Journal:

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“I can’t take injured players and run them hard,” Pitino said. “They’ve got to come along slowly.”

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Vanderbilt Player To Watch: F Jeffery Taylor

John Jenkins may be Vandy's top scorer, but Jeffery Taylor is the glue that keeps this team together. The senior forward is an uber-athletic, jack-of-all-trades-type player who can put the ball in the basket (15.4 points per game), rebound (6.3 boards) and dish (3.0 assists) with dazzling proficiency. The Commodores will need him to serve as a reliable second option behind Jenkins if they're to have any success against L'Ville's suffocating defense.

Louisville Player To Watch: G Peyton Siva

The Cardinals have enjoyed a surprising balance of scoring from players up and down their roster, though much of the credit for their success belongs to Peyton Siva. The junior point guard has missed two games this season on account of injury but done a terrific job of getting his teammates involved when he's been healthy enough to play, to the tune of 5.8 assists per game. Siva has also proven capable of taking over games in crunch time, particularly when his teammates struggle to put the ball in the basket themselves

If this game turns into an up-and-down affair, which it likely will given the preferred playing styles of both teams, look for Siva to drop quite a few dimes while throwing in 10 to 15 points of his own.

Key Matchup: Vandy's Wings vs. Louisville's Defense

The Cardinals have struggled to limit perimeter scoring in their most recent outings. That could prove to be a problem for Pitino's posse, as Jenkins and Taylor are two of the best wings in college basketball today.

Then again, handling Louisville's pressing defense will be no easy task for the Commodores' top scorers, especially if point guard Brad Tinsley runs into trouble. Ultimately, the Cards must and probably will do whatever they can to keep the ball away from Jenkins and Taylor, lest they get run out of their own building.

Prediction: Louisville 78, Vanderbilt 70

Vandy may be the better team in the long run, but for now, the edge goes to L'Ville. The Cards will benefit tremendously from the support of the home crowd along with the Commodores' seeming inability to handle the early season spotlight.