The Pinkie Previews: Charlotte (5-1) @ Louisville (5-1)

Louisville Cardinals vs Charlotte 49ers
Freedom Hall Louisville, KY
Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: ESPN U
Radio: WHAS 840 am 

The University of Louisville Men’s basketball team will continue it’s stretch of December home games tonight against old Conference USA rival Charlotte 49ers.  The Cards are coming off a decisive 32 point (80-48) victory against Stestson this past week.  The ‘niners are coming off a 12 point victory against East Carolina and have started the season hot.  They are 5-1 overall with their only loss coming at #8 Duke. 

This will be a though test at home for the Cards, especially being without the service of three key players.  Starting guards Jerry Smith and Preston Knowles withbothnot play because of injury, and star freshman guard Peyton Siva also will miss the game for medical reasons.  Smith will be out due to a sprained achilles suffered in practice.  Knowles will miss his second straight game due to a sprained thumb suffered against UNLV.  Siva is suffering from a sprained wrist also suffered during the UNLV contest and will miss his second straight game.  This means that the bench players such as George Good, Kyle Kuric, and Reginald Delk will need to step up and play great games in order for Louisville to be victorious. 

Meet the 49ers

The 49ers were picked in the preseason to finish 7th out of 14 in the Atlantic 10 conference.  At 5-1, Charlotte is off to their best start since the 2000-2001.    The ‘niners are very similar to Louisville in the sense that they are a very deep team.  Eight different 49er players have scored in double figures at least once this season, and nine players are averaging at least 10 minutes of action per game.  The 49ers are a very balanced team who can score and rebound exceptionally well.  In order for Louisville to walk away with a W, they will need to contain some of Charolottes key players in Shamari Spears, Dijuan Harris, and Chris Braswell.

Spears, a 6’6 junior forward, is the ‘niners leading scorer and one of the leading scorers in the nation with an average of 21.8 ppg.  He is the reigning A-10 player of the week by averaging 27 points and five rebounds while shooting 22-28 from the field.  He scored 20+ points in the first four games of the season, but was held to only 12 in the last game vs East Carolina.  For the season, Spears is shooting astounding 59% from the field and 81% from the free-throw line.  Spears is a scoring machine and the Cards will have to contain him as best as possible.  Kyle Kuric and Reginald Delk will most likely be given the assignment of stopping Spears.  They must play some hard pressure D and force him into shooting some tough shots.  If he goes for 20+ it could be a long day for the Cards.

Harris is the only other Charlotte player to average double figures in points at 10.5 ppg.  For a 5’9 guard, Harris is also an exceptional rebounder with an average of 4.5 per game.  He led Charlotte in scoring in their last win vs East Carolina with 17 points.  He is a very quick guard that can both penetrate and shoot the outside jumper.  Louisville has had trouble containing the dribble drive in their last two games, and must do a better job on Harris.  If the Cards allow him to get into the paint, he can be deadly.

Braswell is Charlotte’s beast on the inside.  The 6’8 freshman forward is not a prolific scorer but is a monster on the boards.  He leads the team with 8.3 rebounds and is one of the top freshman rebounders in the country.  He is the first freshman since Jarvis Lang in 1990 to lead the 49ers in rebounding.  Samardo Samuels, Terrance Jennings, Jared Swopshire, and the other Louisville big men need to crash the boards hard and limit Braswell.  His rebounding could lead to second chance opportunities for Charlotte which could lead to some crucial points. 

Key’s to Victory

1)  Contain the guard penetration.  This is what got Louisville beat at UNLV and why Stetson’s offense was effective at times on Wednesday night.  As I mentioned earlier, Harris is very dangerous when he gets into the lane.  If the Cards can take this away from his game, they will limit the 49er offense.

2) Shut down Shamari Spears.  The Cardinals must play pressure defense on him all game long, especially in the post.  Make him pass the ball when it’s in his hands instead of shooting it.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see some guards dropping down and double teaming Spears in order to force him into passes or bad shots.  If he gets his stroke going, it could be lights out.

3) Go inside.  With three guards, two of which are exceptional shooters, out with injuries, the Cardinals must look inside to Samardo Samuels.  This is where Louisville will have the greatest chance of success on the offensive end.  Edgar Sosa needs to run the offense and make sure Samuels touches the ball on the majority of the possessions.  The kid is a beast, let him go to work.

4) Shot selection must improve.  The Cards have been taking an increased amount of challenged shots and it has cost them.  Edgar Sosa especially needs to work on this.  We know he can shoot the ball when he’s open, but he struggles with a hand in his face.  Yet he, and other Cardinal players continue to take bad shots.  Move the ball, work from the inside out, and the three point opportunities will emerge. 

5) The new Cardinal starters must play like starters.  George Goode and Kyle Kuric will be making their first starts of the season.  They must come in and prove they belong in the starting lineup.  They are replacing some key players and must make up for what the Cards are missing.  Goode is most needed on the glass.  He needs to help contain Braswell and limit the 49ers to only one opportunity on the offensive end. 

Kuric needs to play within himself.  He is a good shooter, but can’t force the issue.  He needs to take the open shots when they are there, and occasionally drive to make something happen.  He is also labeled as one of the Cards best rebounders.  He will be needed on the glass just like Goode.  This is where Kuric will be most effective.  He has a great ability to attack the ball off the glass and create second chance opportunities.  Those opportunities could be huge for the Cards.