SUPER BOWL 2012

Lwcat
Administrator

Kentucky vs Louisville
12/31/11 (Saturday 12PM-EST/11AM-CST) CBS
UK leads the series 28-14.

Louisville Cardinals

Location: Louisville, KY
Enrollment: 24,000
Arena: 22,000

Head Coach: Rick Pitino
Career Record: 597-220 (73.1%) 25 seasons
At UL: 245-96 (71.8%) 10 seasons

2010-11 Record: 25-10
2010-11 Big East Record: 12-6
Postseason: NCAA-0-1 Lost in 2nd round

2011-12 Record: 12-1

UL 83 Tenn-Martin 48
UL 68 Lamar 48
UL 69 Butler 53
UL 54 Arkansas St. 27
UL 59 Ohio U. 54
UL 79 Long Beach St. 66
UL 62 Vandy 60 (OT)
UL 90 IUPUI 60
UL 80 Farleigh Dickinson 58
UL 95 Memphis 87
UL 69 College of Charleston 62
UL 70 Western Ky. 60
Georgetown 71 UL 68

UL Stats

PPG-73.2
FG%-44.1%
3 PT%-32.0% (5.9PG)
FT%-68.7%
RPG-41.2 (+6.8PG)
APG-14.3
TO’s-14.5
SPG-9.3
BPG-4.8

UK Stats

PPG-82.2
FG%-49.9%
3 PT%-36.7% (6.0PG)
FT%-69.2%
RPG-41.3 (+7.5PG)
APG-14.7
TO’s-12.3
SPG-7.5
BPG-9.3

Probable Starting Lineup

Kyle Kuric-F 6’4” Sr…………………….….13.3 PPG
Chane Behanan- F 6’7” Fr………………..….8.8 PPG
Gorgui Dieng-C 6’10” Soph…………………10.8 PPG
Peyton Siva-G 5’11” Jr…………………..…..9.0 PPG
Chris Smith-G 6’2” Sr……………………….10.4 PPG

Other Key Players

Russ Smith-G 6’0” Soph…………………….10.5 PPG
Rakeem Buckles-F 6’8” Jr……………………5.8 PPG
Jared Swopshire-F 6’8” Jr…………………….5.0 PPG

Is Louisville truly a top 10 team? Well, it’s difficult to say this early as all but one UL game has been played at home. However, it’s fair to say that coach Pitino has done another stellar coaching job overcoming several key injuries. UL starts two seniors and a junior and often brings two more juniors off the bench. Importantly, six UL players average at or very near double figures.

The Cards are led in scoring by senior Kyle Kuric who is shooting 50.4% from the field and 33.9% from the perimeter. UL gets great inside rebounding from both sophomore Gorgui Dieng and freshman Chane Behanan. Dieng has showed solid improvement over his freshman year both offensively and defensively. Dieng is averaging 10.2 rebounds PG and gets an equal number of rebounds off the offensive boards for put backs….and he also has 35 blocks. Behanan is a very physical player at 250lbs…..he is tough in the paint and garners 8 boards PG.

Peyton Siva leads the team in assists with 5 plus PG. His running mate at guard is Chris Smith who is the Cards leading 3 point shooter hitting 40%. Russ Smith also sees a lot of minutes at guard and shoots 38.2% from the perimeter.

Certainly, a trademark of many Pitino teams is the press and this UL team often goes to a very effective press. Thus far….they average over 9 steals PG with Russ Smith leading with 27 steals this season…..however, Kuric Chris Smith and Siva also are good at stealing the ball.

This is a gutsy UL team with experience and quickness….and they play hard for coach Pitino. This team is good at coming from behind and they seem to be able to make key baskets when needed. This is a very good UL team!

UK faces it’s 3rd rivalry game of the year….1st a big win over NC….then a heartbreaking one point loss to IU…..and now UK’s number one rival comes calling to Rupp arena.

The Cats hope that Terrence Jones is ready to bring his A game to the floor. Certainly, UK will need Jones to be strong in the paint and on the boards.

It will be extremely important for UK to handle the tough UL press. Teague must effectively run the offense and avoid costly TO’s. The Cats will need Lamb and Miller to make perimeter shots. Of course, Davis will need to play tough defense without getting into foul trouble. As always, big games come down to playing tough defense, effectively running the offense and winning the battle of the boards. Of course, making free throws is often the difference in winning and losing.

This should be a great game and I see a UK win by 7 points. GO CATS!