The Pinkie Previews: East Tenn St. (1-2) @ Louisville (1-0)

Game: Louisville Cardinals vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers
Venue: Freedom Hall Louisville, KY
Time: 4:00 pm EST
T.V. WHAS 11 (Insight Channel 4)
Radio: WKRD 790 AM

The University of Louisville men’s basketball team will host it’s home opener tomorrow afternoon against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in the Hall of Fame Showcase.  The Cardinals are coming off a blow out win against Arkansas this past Tuesday 96-66 in St. Louis.  The Bucs have struggled thus far, sporting a 1-2 record with losses to Morgan State and Chattanooga.  East Tenn St. finished last season with a 23-11 record and earned an NCAA Tournament birth as the Atlantic Sun Conference Champions.  The Bucs lost in the first round to fellow Big East member Pittsburgh.  This will be the first meeting between the Cards and Buccaneers. 

Meet the Bucs

The Bucs are a young team, starting just one senior.  They lost two all-conference performers from last years team in Courtney Pigram and Kevin Tiggs.  They also are playing without pre-season all-conference pick Mike Smith due to a knee injury.  The Bucs are struggling to find their identity right now, but they still have some key performers.

Their main scorer is forward Tommy Hubbard, a 6’4 junior.  He is averaging a double-double with 16.3 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Hubbard is coming off a 19 point 10 rebound performance in a loss to Morgan State this past Thursday. 

The other key player to keep an eye on is junior guard Justin Tubbs.  Tubbs is averaging 11.3 points and 2.7 boards per game.  He is their best shooter and can stroke it from long range. 

As a team, East Tenn St. is struggling on the offensive end.  They are shooting just 38% from the field and 55% from the free throw line.  Against Louisville’s pressure defense, they could have a hard time.  If the Bucs are going to keep up with the Cards, they will have to do it on the defensive end and keep this a low scoring game.

Starters
Louisville

F 21 Jarred Swopshire   6’8  205lb   So   10.0ppg   11.0rpg
C 15 Samardo Samuels 6’9 260lb So 17.0ppg 4.0rpg
G 2 Preston Knowles 6’1 190lb Jr 11.0ppg 3.0rpg
G 10 Edgar Sosa 6’2 175lb Sr 12.0ppg 4.0rpg
G 34 Jerry Smith 6’2 190lb Sr 14.0ppg 4.0rpg

East Tennessee State

F 41 Isiah Brown 6’8 210lb So 7.3ppg 6.0rpg
F 44 J.C. Ward 6’6 230lb Fr 3.3ppg 3.3rpg
G 3 Justin Tubbs 6’3 195lb Jr 11.3ppg 2.7rpg
G 11 Jocolby Davis 6’1 185lb Sr 5.3ppg 0.7rpg
F 13 Tommy Hubbard 6’4 210lb Jr 16.3ppg 10.0rpg

Key’s to Victory

Louisville should have an easy time in this one.  They have the depth, talent, experience, and athleticism in their favor.  They have to come out and jump on the Bucs early.  Take them out of the game right off the tip and don’t look back.  If they let the Bucs hang around, then they could be in for a fight.  If the Cards apply their signature pressure defense and force East Tenn St. to shoot a low percentage they should win easy.  The Cards should have no problem controlling the glass and getting easy buckets inside.  Sosa and Siva need to run the offense efficiently and not make stupid turnovers.  If the Cards protect the ball they will win easily.  I expect this game to be a blow out, but in sports anything can happen.