“It’s clear now, we go into the bear pit,” said legendary anchorman Ron Burgundy (a character based on Mort Crim, a former WHAS newsman), before leaping into a sleuth (yeah, that’s the word for a group) of Kodiak bears in an effort to save Veronica Corningstone, a woman he “used to have familiar relations with.”
The 6th ranked and defending national champion Louisville Cardinals (9-1), fresh off their 79-63 victory over in-state foe Western Kentucky will have a bear fight of their own on their hands tonight as they battle the Bears of Missouri State (8-1). The game will feature a later than usual tipoff as the KFC Yum! Center plays host to the 9 pm contest, televised on ESPN 2. The Cards received encouraging news yesterday in that starting point guard Chris Jones will return from injury, well ahead of his three game self-reported absence. Jones, the team leader in minutes per game at 25.8, ranks second in points scored as well as assists, in addition to his outstanding 42% shooting from long range. Filling in at the point vs. WKU was Terry Rozier. The freshman from Cleveland had an up and down game as he chipped in only 4 points on 2-9 shooting from the field, including 0-4 from behind the arc, along with no assists, but did manage a team high 10 rebounds, all on the defensive glass.
The Bears recently welcomed key cogs back into their own lineup. Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and pre-season all-conference selection, Marcus Marshall returned to action along with senior forward Keith Pickens in the team’s most recent contest, a 70-67 win vs. Oral Roberts. Marshall, a prolific combo-guard, scored 20 points against the Eagles and has reassumed full control of the offensive attack. Averaging 13.4 points and an even 40% shooting from 3, Marshall is a threat to score every time he possesses the ball. What is perhaps more impressive is the team’s 73-67 win over Texas A&M on a neutral floor in Corpus Christi with Marshall sidelined by a knee injury sustained in a home contest vs. Hampton. This is in large part because Marshall has several options to distribute the ball with as the Bears lineup features three other contributors that shoot stronger than 40% from downtown. Small forward Jarmar Gulley, the team leader in minutes (26.3), scoring (13.7) and rebounding (5.7) hits on nearly 48% of his attempts from the field; while freshman shooting guard Austin Ruder will put up shots early and often, tallying 19 3’s, or nearly 1/3 of the team’s season output.
Physically, Missouri State will not be outmatched by the Cards. Power forward Christian Kirk measures in at 6-8 while center Tyler McCullough stands 6-11. The two big men combine to average a block a piece, as well as 5 and 3 rebounds respectfully. The team also is extremely well disciplined, having turned the ball over just 89 times in 9 games. In comparison, the Cards have the same number of turnovers in only one additional game. The primary issue with the Bears however is scoring depth. Though they are extremely deep in that they will roll out typically nine or even ten different players, many of which contribute valuable minutes, especially in the low post, only seven can be relied upon to contribute extensively on the score sheet, and only four of those pitch in more than 8 points a contest.
In all, expect a game similar to Saturday’s matchup with WKU where it’ll be tightly contested at the half, but the Cards pull away and win comfortably by the final buzzer.
Side Notes:
- The Cards are 1-0 all time vs. MSU. The win came in the 2006 NIT quarterfinals in which the Cards prevailed 74-56 on the strength of 26 points by Taquan Dean.
- Kyle’s Corner Toy Drive takes place tonight at the Yum! Center. Check the video from The King himself to learn more.
- This happened at the JT concert:
Classic photobomb, Coach P!
- The overall record of MSU opponents is 41-42; the Cards’ is 43-55.
- For those who weren’t there for it, this was last game’s halftime entertainment:
Though not the Firecrackers or even the old guy that put on a 3 point shooting exhibition at Freedom Hall, it definitely beats watching somewhat intoxicated people take 25 seconds to make a layup…even though the dogs must’ve dropped half of the frisbees or refused to let go of the ones they did snag.
- The Cards enter tonight 23 point favorites.
- Hendo, just because.
- Does Will Ferrell have an obsession with fighting bears in his movies?
Go Cards, Beat Missouri State!
Louisville Cardinals Season Statistics:
|
Player |
|||||||||||
|
10 |
26.4 |
17.2 |
3.3 |
4.9 |
1.8 |
0.1 |
2.2 |
.456 |
.778 |
.323 |
|
|
9 |
25.8 |
14.9 |
2.8 |
2.6 |
2.0 |
0.0 |
1.6 |
.481 |
.760 |
.417 |
|
|
10 |
24.4 |
12.3 |
8.7 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
.627 |
.563 |
1.000 |
|
|
10 |
21.7 |
9.9 |
2.9 |
0.6 |
1.7 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
.386 |
.871 |
.450 |
|
|
9 |
17.1 |
8.6 |
2.0 |
1.2 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
0.8 |
.315 |
.919 |
.250 |
|
|
9 |
18.7 |
8.2 |
6.3 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
1.1 |
.659 |
.410 |
.000 |
|
|
10 |
16.7 |
5.0 |
3.2 |
1.9 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
.339 |
.500 |
.296 |
|
|
10 |
16.7 |
4.6 |
4.0 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
1.2 |
0.6 |
.583 |
.563 |
.000 |
|
|
10 |
18.5 |
3.1 |
4.5 |
0.3 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.4 |
.722 |
.714 |
.000 |
|
|
9 |
6.1 |
2.0 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.375 |
.000 |
.400 |
|
|
9 |
5.4 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
.333 |
.500 |
.100 |
|
|
8 |
6.0 |
1.4 |
0.6 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
0.8 |
.308 |
.500 |
.000 |
|
|
7 |
2.9 |
1.1 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
.400 |
.500 |
.500 |
|
|
6 |
5.0 |
0.3 |
1.2 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
1.000 |
.000 |
.000 |
|
|
Totals |
10 |
— |
86 |
41 |
15 |
10 |
5 |
9 |
.471 |
.673 |
.343 |
Missouri State Bears Season Statistics:
|
Player |
|||||||||||
|
9 |
26.3 |
13.7 |
5.7 |
2.0 |
2.3 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
.475 |
.676 |
.316 |
|
|
5 |
24.0 |
13.4 |
2.6 |
1.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.2 |
.419 |
.862 |
.400 |
|
|
9 |
20.7 |
8.7 |
4.9 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.2 |
.627 |
.609 |
.000 |
|
|
9 |
27.2 |
8.0 |
1.8 |
1.2 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
.397 |
.700 |
.442 |
|
|
9 |
13.6 |
6.8 |
2.9 |
1.4 |
0.4 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
.462 |
.563 |
.412 |
|
|
9 |
22.9 |
6.8 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
.395 |
.690 |
.333 |
|
|
9 |
12.3 |
6.7 |
2.1 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
.500 |
.909 |
.444 |
|
|
5 |
17.8 |
5.0 |
4.2 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
.471 |
.563 |
.000 |
|
|
9 |
11.8 |
4.8 |
2.1 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
.310 |
1.000 |
.360 |
|
|
9 |
16.4 |
4.2 |
2.9 |
0.7 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
.556 |
.667 |
.000 |
|
|
8 |
14.6 |
3.3 |
0.9 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.9 |
.333 |
.769 |
.000 |
|
|
8 |
11.5 |
2.8 |
1.6 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
.353 |
1.000 |
.250 |
|
|
5 |
5.4 |
2.0 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
.375 |
1.000 |
.333 |
|
|
5 |
3.8 |
1.6 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
.500 |
.000 |
.500 |
|
|
Totals |
9 |
— |
77 |
35 |
12 |
6 |
3 |
10 |
.449 |
.722 |
.369 |
Erich Kline
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