LOUISVILLE VS KENTUCKY PART 2
Louisville and Kentucky will battle for the second time this season in tonight’s sweet 16 matchup in Indianapolis. Kentucky won the previous meeting back in December 73-67. This is the second time in three years Kentucky and Louisville have played in the NCAA Tournament and only the fourth time overall. Louisville is currently a 4.5 point favorite.
UK won the rebounding battle 44-36, won second-chance points 17-6, and outscored Louisville in the paint 42-24 back in December. Julius Randle was a nonfactor in the second half against the Cardinals in the first meeting this season. Randle scored 17 points in the first half, but persistent leg cramping limited him to just four minutes in the second half. Randle needs to play the way he did in the second half against Wichita State.
Andrew Harrison notched a game high 18 points, adding four rebounds and two assists. Andrew had a great game against the Cards earlier this season, but he is playing his best basketball right now and the Cats need him to continue to play this way.
Willie Cauley-Stein is going to be a key for Kentucky tonight. If he can block and alter shots, the Cardinals are going to have a hard time scoring in the paint.
Aaron Harrison and James Young need to continue their hot shooting from the field. Against Wichita State the two combined to hit 7-12 from three point range. UK needs that kind of shooting tonight.
The officiating is going to be the biggest key in tonight’s game. If the game is called close that will be an advantage for Kentucky. In the December matchup Kentucky got to the free throw line thirty times, but only converted on 16 of those 30 attempts. Kentucky definitely needs to hit better than 53% from the charity stripe tonight. To their credit they have been hitting free throws better lately.
Defensively Kentucky needs to stop Russ Smith and Chris Jones. In the last meeting Smith had 19 points and Jones added 18. Kentucky needs to get Smith out of his comfort zone early. Luke Hancock needs to be held in check, can’t let him get open looks from three point range.
Rick Pitino is 11-0 in Sweet 16 games and John Calipari is 5-1 against Louisville as Kentucky coach.
Tonight Pitino suffers his first loss in the Sweet 16 and Calipari’s dominance of Louisville continues.
Prediction:
Prediction: Kentucky vs Louisville Kentucky 74 Louisville 68
— Chad Pugh (@ChadPugh_NOB) March 29, 2014
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