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 |
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