Stat Comparison: Louisville vs. Michigan State ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Mark BlankenbakerNovember 26, 2018

The University of Louisville will square off vs. the Michigan State Spartans tomorrow night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Michigan State lost its opener of 2018-19 vs. Kansas (92-87) in Indianapolis but has gone 5-0 since including wins over #17 UCLA & Texas. Louisville on the other hand is 3-2 and has dropped its last two contest, both in the NIT Tipoff in Brookyln (Tennessee & Marquette).

The Cards have been competitive in both of its losses and it will have to be competitive again if UofL hopes to pull off the upset versus the #11 Michigan State Spartans.

Both teams score at a high rate, but Michigan State wins and wins big because of its defense. The Spartans are excellent defending the paint and manage to play a physical style without fouling. In order for the Cards to avoid dropping its 3rd game in a row it MUST find a way to defend much better.

Michigan State has depth and they have a great deal of size off the bench. Tom Izzo is a well put together group and are led by a pair of guards Cassius Winston and Joshua Langford along with their big guy Nick Ward. The Cards need to disallow the paint and force Michigan State to make jump shots. Chris Mack would also notch his 4th UofL win if he can get fewer turnovers from Jordan Nwora, a bit more production from VJ King and if Steven Enoch plays much better than he did in Brooklyn.

It will also help if made 3-point baskets are counted as 3s and not 2s.

Team Stats

	Louisville	Michigan St
Strength of Schedule (Ken Pom)	180th	121st
PPG	86.0 (15th)	89.8 (8th)
Avg Scoring Margin	11.4 (52nd)	23.0 (9th)
Field Goal %	47.4% (66th)	49.2% (29th)
Effective FG%	54.6% (61st)	57.6% (18th)
2-pt FG %	54.5% (78th)	53.4% (104th)
3-pt FG %	36.4% (95th)	42.8% (15th)
FT %	77.3% (30th)	70.1% (153rd)
FT Attempted Per Game	34.4 (2nd)	22.3 (102nd)
Opp FT Attempted Per Game	21.4 (215th)	23.5 (269th)
Rebound Rate	55.1% (41st)	58.7% (9th)
Blocks Per Game	3.4 (156th)	5.5 (16th)
Steals Per Game	5.4 (234th)	5.8 (191st)
Assists Per Game	12.8 (188th)	21.2 (1st)
Turnovers Per Game	12.0 (78th)	12.0 (78th)
Opp Turnovers Per Game	12.4 (240th)	12.2 (252nd)
Team Fouls Per Game	20.0 (221st)	19.7 (206th)
Opp Team Fouls Per Game	25.2 (5th)	21.0 (85th)
Opp Shooting %	43.8% (169th)	37.1% (15th)
Opp Effective FG%	50.5% (181st)	42.3% (13th)
Opp 2-pt FG %	47.3% (102nd)	40.1% (13th)
Opp 3-Pt FG %	37.5% (281st)	31.1% (101st)
Opp Blocks Per Game	3.0 (125th)	4.0 (247th)
Opp Steals Per Game	4.6 (37th)	8.0 (307th)

Starters

	Christen Cunningham	Cassius Winston
	6-2, 190, Sr.	6-0, 185, Jr.
Minutes	24.0	30.0
Points	7.4	18.0
FG %	35.70%	46.30%
3P %	36.40%	45.20%
FT%	81.30%	81.30%
Rebounds	1.4	3.0
Assists	2.4	7.5
Steals	0.4	1.7
Blocks	0.0	0.0
Turnovers	0.8	2.8
Fouls	1.0	2.5

	Darius Perry	Matt McQuaid
	6-2, 195, Soph	6-4, 200, Sr.
Minutes	24	26.8
Points	11.2	7.7
FG %	66.70%	39.00%
3P %	53.80%	36.40%
FT%	86.70%	85.70%
Rebounds	1.4	2.3
Assists	3.0	2.8
Steals	0.8	0.5
Blocks	0.0	0.2
Turnovers	1.2	1.3
Fouls	3.2	2.3

	VJ King	Joshua Langford
	6-6, 215, Jr.	6-5, 210, Jr.
Minutes	23.6	28.5
Points	9.6	18.5
FG %	32.40%	51.30%
3P %	25.00%	47.50%
FT%	77.80%	85.70%
Rebounds	4.6	4
Assists	1.0	1.5
Steals	0.4	0.5
Blocks	0.0	0.2
Turnovers	1.8	2.0
Fouls	2.2	2.7

	Dwayne Sutton	Kenny Goins
	6-5, 215, Jr.	6-7, 230, Sr.
Minutes	28.2	25.2
Points	6.4	6.8
FG %	40.9%	42.40%
3P %	46.2%	28.60%
FT%	72.7%	69.20%
Rebounds	5.4	9.0
Assists	1.4	2.0
Steals	1.0	0.5
Blocks	0.2	0.7
Turnovers	1.6	1.0
Fouls	3.0	2.5

	Steven Enoch	Nick Ward
	6-10, 260, Jr.	6-8, 245, Jr.
Minutes	19.6	19.7
Points	10.4	13.8
FG %	59.30%	57.10%
3P %	67%	0.00%
FT%	85.70%	62.80%
Rebounds	4.4	6.2
Assists	0.2	1.7
Steals	0.0	0.3
Blocks	1.0	1.5
Turnovers	1.6	1.5
Fouls	2.2	1.7

Bench

	Ryan McMahon	Foster Loyer
	6-0, 180, Jr.	6-0, 170, Fr.
Minutes	18.2	6.7
Points	7.2	2.7
FG %	43.50%	45.50%
3P %	35.30%	20.00%
FT%	100.00%	100.00%
Rebounds	1.0	0.5
Assists	2.2	1.2
Steals	0.8	0.0
Blocks	0.2	0.0
Turnovers	0.8	0.7
Fouls	1.2	1.0

	Khwan Fore	Kyle Ahrens
	6-0, 185, Sr.	6-6, 210, Jr.
Minutes	16.8	15.3
Points	3.4	5.7
FG %	41.70%	50.00%
3P %	40.00%	36.40%
FT%	45.55%	100.00%
Rebounds	0.8	2.3
Assists	1.0	1.0
Steals	0.4	0.7
Blocks	0.0	0.2
Turnovers	0.4	0.7
Fouls	0.8	1.0

	Jordan Nwora	Aaron Henry
	6-8, 215, Soph	6-6, 218, Fr.
Minutes	25.4	14.8
Points	18.4	5.3
FG %	50.80%	50.00%
3P %	30.80%	66.70%
FT%	85.70%	57.10%
Rebounds	7.2	3.2
Assists	0.8	1.0
Steals	1.0	0.7
Blocks	0.4	0.3
Turnovers	2.6	0.8
Fouls	2.0	1.7

	Akoy Agau	Xavier Tillman
	6-8, 235, Sr.	6-8, 260, Soph
Minutes	12.3	18
Points	8.0	5.7
FG %	63.6%	66.70%
3P %	0.0%	50.00%
FT%	83.3%	38.50%
Rebounds	4.7	6.7
Assists	0.3	2.0
Steals	0.0	0.8
Blocks	0.7	1.5
Turnovers	0.7	1.8
Fouls	2.0	2.8

	Malik Williams	Marcus Bingham
	6-11, 215, Soph	6-11, 235, Fr.
Minutes	14.6	6
Points	6.2	2.5
FG %	47.60%	36.40%
3P %	0.0%	57.10%
FT%	52.40%	75.00%
Rebounds	4.2	1.7
Assists	0.6	0.2
Steals	0.6	0.0
Blocks	1.0	1.0
Turnovers	0.6	0.5
Fouls	3.0	0.7