Louisville Basketball: 10 Crucial Questions Surrounding The UK Game
We take a look at ten crucial questions surrounding Louisville basketball’s game against the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday Night.
The Louisville basketball team will be taking on the Kentucky Wildcats on Wednesday night in the KFC Yum Center. The Cardinals will be looking to get their first win over Kentucky in what has seemed like forever.
If they can somehow upset the Wildcats on Wednesday night, then I promise to never doubt this basketball team ever again. If they lose, then we all can just forget that they ever actually played this game.
Sounds good?
In all seriousness, let’s take a look at the ten crucial questions going into the game against Kentucky:
Dec 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino (R) talks with guard Tony Hicks (1) during the second half against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at KFC Yum! Center. The Cardinals won 87-56. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
10. Is This The Louisville Team That Will Finally End The Losing Streak?
This is the question that every one of us are pondering going into this week. Is this going to be the team that can finally knock off Kentucky? There have been a couple of Louisville teams that have been close to beating them over the past few seasons, but they ultimately haven’t been able to get the job done.
At some point, we just have to admit that it’s just flat-out embarrassing that Rick Pitino hasn’t been able to consistently beat John Calipari. An in-state basketball game should be one that goes back-and-forth between programs that win, however Kentucky has dominated the series over the past ten years.
Who knows, maybe these guys will surprise us and pull off the unthinkable.
Nov 25, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Edrice Bam Adebayo (3) dunks the ball against the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks in the second half at Rupp Arena. Kentucky defeated Tennessee-Martin 111-76. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
9. Can Louisville Get Bam Adebayo Into Foul Trouble?
Bam Adebayo is going to be a difference-maker for Kentucky if Louisville can’t keep him out of the paint on Wednesday night. There are many different ways that the Cards can make that happen, but the best way is to get him into foul trouble early in the game.
The best way Louisville can do that is by being aggressive driving into the lane. The Cards have less to lose in this game than Kentucky, therefore they can afford to be a bit more aggressive with how they want to play.
If the Cards get into foul trouble, then it’s not a huge deal because there aren’t too many people that believe Louisville can win this game anyways.
However, if Kentucky gets a guy like Adebayo into some issues with fouls, then all of the sudden, the Cats could start playing tight and not play as aggressive.
Nov 25, 2016; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) and guard De
8. Which Team Is Going To Dictate The Pace Of Play?
This is one of the more crucial questions going into the game. Kentucky and North Carolina just played one of the most impressive offensive games of all-time. If you love watching both teams running up and down the floor, making every basket, then that was the game for you.
However, Louisville cannot afford to get into a track meet with the Wildcats this week at home.
Kentucky is going to want to push the tempo and get into transition. This is where De’Aaron Fox can get to the rim, score, and completely take the crowd out of the game.
Did I mention that Louisville is absolutely terrible at finishing in their transition offense?
Here’s a tip for the basketball team: Slow the basketball down and force Kentucky to run the shot-clock.
Nov 24, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Louisville Cardinals guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts during the second half against the Wichita State Shockers in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
7. Can Louisville Score Enough To Keep Up With Kentucky?
Louisville is currently 10th in the ACC in scoring offense per game with 78.5, whereas Kentucky is 1st in the SEC with scoring 95.2 points per game. That’s right, you read that correct, the Wildcats are almost scoring 20 more points than Louisville every time on the court this year.
I just don’t believe that this Louisville team can score anywhere near 95 points on Wednesday night, which is why slowing the game down will be very important.
Not only does Louisville not have enough scorers on their roster, but Kentucky’s entire roster can shoot the basketball. They may not all be great jump-shooters, but every one of them can find a way to get to the rim.
Let’s just hope that those Yum Center rims are overly stiff on Wednesday night.
6. Is This Going To Be The Breakout Game For Deng Adel?
Every single one of us has been waiting to see Deng Adel turn into the NBA prospect that we have been told that he is. There have been times where he couldn’t hit water if he flipped his kayak and then there have been times where he knocks down everything he shoots.
Hopefully he can have his breakout game against Kentucky.
I think we’re going to learn a lot about Adel on Wednesday night. We are going to see if he can play within himself, while also leading the Cardinals in scoring.
Kentucky has too many talented players for Adel to try and do too much.
If he doesn’t pass the basketball and tries to crash the lane out of control, then he will be sitting in foul trouble before the under-12 timeout.
Rick Pitino needs Deng Adel to have his best game of the season to beat Calipari’s Cats.
Dec 17, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Jaylen Johnson (10) battles Eastern Kentucky Colonels forward DeAndre Dishman (3) for a rebound during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Eastern Kentucky 87-56. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
5. Which Jaylen Johnson Will Show Up On Wednesday Night?
There have been so many different versions of Jaylen Johnson that Louisville fans have seen this season. He dominated the Cards’ early opponents, which he should have, but lately he hasn’t been able to have the same production as everyone was expecting.
However, what he has been consistent with this season is rebounding the basketball.
He is currently leading the entire team in rebounds with 8.1 per game, but is only fourth on the Cards in minutes played per game with 21.1.
Johnson has to stay on the floor and out of foul trouble if he wants to be a difference-maker in this huge match-up with Kentucky.
A big night from Johnson could mean that Louisville was victorious.
Nov 24, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Louisville Cardinals forward Anas Mahmoud (14) and forward V.J. King (0) react during the first half against the Wichita State Shockers in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
4. Will We Finally See More Of V.J. King?
Louisville fans have been craving to see more of VJ King this season for the Cardinals. He has proven to be one of the team’s best shooters and could be the difference in a back-and-forth game against the Wildcats this week.
However, Rick Pitino has used King sparingly throughout the first part of the season.
Were those teaching moments? Was Pitino trying to let King sit and watch, while learning to play his style of basketball?
Honestly, with Pitino, it’s always hard to tell, but what I do know is that Louisville needs more of their McDonald’s All-American if they want to beat Kentucky on Wednesday night.
Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates after the Wildcats defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 103-100 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
3. How Will Malik Monk Follow Up His 47-Point Performance Against UNC?
Malik Monk may just be one of the best players in all of college basketball this season. Yes, he and Kentucky were beaten by UCLA, but he just put up a 47-point performance against North Carolina on Saturday night.
With that being said, how will Monk follow up his huge game?
What I can tell you is that he is obviously going to have a ton of confidence against Louisville.
Kentucky fans have complained about the shooting of this current UK team, but it seems a little off base since they just put up 103 points against a very good North Carolina team last weekend.
If Monk comes out on fire early in this game, then Louisville will have a hard time even getting this thing close after tip-off.
Nov 30, 2016; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Ray Spalding (13) and forward V.J. King (0) battle Purdue Boilermakers forward Caleb Swanigan (50) during the first half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Purdue 71-64. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
2. Will Rebounding Be The Cards’ Biggest Path To Success Against UK?
If Louisville does anything better than anyone else in the ACC, it’s rebounding the basketball on the offensive boards. They are currently first in the conference in offensive rebounds per game this season.
This fact has been the main reason why the Cards have been able to be successful this season. Their forwards have done such a great job of grabbing the rebound off of a miss and converting it into points.
This specific Louisville basketball team just can’t shoot the basketball well enough to beat Kentucky without dominating the boards on Wednesday night.
However, it won’t be easy, as Bam Adebayo, Isaac Humphries, and Wenyen Gabriel will do everything in their power to make sure the Cardinals stay off the glass in this game.
Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard De
1. Is It Realistic To Even Begin To Believe Louisville Can Beat Kentucky?
There are so many things that Kentucky can do well this season. These guys can score, play defense, and have the athleticism to run with any team in college basketball. Therefore, is it even realistic to believe that this Louisville team could beat them on Wednesday?
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My initial reaction would obviously be to pump the brakes if you’re a Cardinals fan. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t shock the world and pull of the upset in front of the home crowd.
They must dictate the pace of play on Wednesday, as we previously talked about before. The Cards simply cannot score enough points in transition to keep up with the Wildcats guards.
If they can force Kentucky into a half-court game, then it at least gives them the chance to keep the scoring total down, which will give Louisville the best opportunity of forcing turnovers and upsetting the Cats.
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