IU vs Louisville Game Thread

[Beachfront Property 619]

Ok, I am going to be a fan and look past Savannah State (Christmas party for work Saturday night, so I have to record it anyhow).

 

The Louisville game is a very compelling matchup. They are one of the best rebounding teams in the country, but they are a poor shooting team (26% from three). We are obviously not a great rebounding team, but shoot the ball very well. I think the pace we play at and our depth is going to be a problem for Louisville. They have four guys that will play the vast majority of minutes.

 

What are your thoughts on this matchup?

[NOLA Hoosier 1,267]

After watching the game last night, I'd have to say if we play better than O$U did (they consistently took 3's and missed all night long, not to mention gave up lots of open shots to UofL) we are going to give them a run for their money. The scores were so low I couldn't believe it; neither is a shooting team. We are. 

 

Tighten up the defense, give Holt the opportunity to come alive again, if it's an "on night" for Blackmon, if the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter is aligned with Mars, we may just give them a game.

[hoosierinIll 335]

Yeah, if they shoot us out of our zone then we're in trouble.  Going back and looking at last night, Pitt missed how many WIDE open threes?  A bunch.  It was a risk that the coaching staff took last night because of Pitt's shooting %s and it paid off.  Hopefully UL stays cold...ice cold...so we can stay in the zone.  If not, we're going to have a really tough time guarding their behemoths.  They have some serious size (height & weight).

[Myrmidon76 614]

I refuse to believe Lousiville will settle. Pitino wants to dictate pace, style, and flow of the game. I imagine they will still insist on going after us inside. 1 game doesnt erase a stack of film showing me that the inside will open up if you attack Perea. Holt is the changer here. His interior skills are lot more polished than Perea will ever hope to be, but he is also undersized compared to big men. He can be moved. Regradless of whether or not we can stay in an active zone...only team defense can keep us in the Lousiville game. In the end, I don't think we can overcome what Louisville has on paper and on film, but it will be a good measuring stick to see how we matchup with a top 10 squad. I hope we win every game, but I also know that losses force growth...and humility. In the end, I hope its an unknown bug that gets us...I hate losing the same way twice.

[hoosierinIll 335]

I refuse to believe Lousiville will settle. Pitino wants to dictate pace, style, and flow of the game. I imagine they will still insist on going after us inside. 1 game doesnt erase a stack of film showing me that the inside will open up if you attack Perea. Holt is the changer here. His interior skills are lot more polished than Perea will ever hope to be, but he is also undersized compared to big men. He can be moved. Regradless of whether or not we can stay in an active zone...only team defense can keep us in the Lousiville game. In the end, I don't think we can overcome what Louisville has on paper and on film, but it will be a good measuring stick to see how we matchup with a top 10 squad. I hope we win every game, but I also know that losses force growth...and humility. In the end, I hope its an unknown bug that gets us...I hate losing the same way twice.

Define "settle" how you want, but I've never considered Pitino's teams to have great shot selection. They will try to carve the lane, but they will take their share of bad shots, too. Last night they chucked 30 3's. They average over 22 attempts a game and are shooting it at a 26% clip.

[Alford Bailey 12,339]

Style wise,a faster pace, we matchup ok. We have to shoot it well and hit our FT's. Louisville doesn't shoot it well from 3 but if they happen to hit at a higher % I don't think we can win. Believe me, our zone will give them good looks. I think we can at least hang in a shootout.

[ou812dude 3,326]

this will be our first game away from Assembly Hall...at Madison Square Garden, in front of a lot of un-friendlies...

I predict a cold start, much the way OSU played...

how we bounce back after that is a huge question mark.

[Alford Bailey 12,339]

IMO, this Louisville team is a little over rated. Very good but not great yet. Their guards aren't on the level of Smith and Siva of recent years yet. Yea, Harrell is a beast and will get his. The key I think is Blackshear. If he goes off we are done, keep him in check we have a shot.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

I'm predicting an Indiana VICTORY!!!!

 

 

or

 

 

 

a Louisville BLOWOUT win.  

[Beachfront Property 619]

IMO, this Louisville team is a little over rated. Very good but not great yet. Their guards aren't on the level of Smith and Siva of recent years yet. Yea, Harrell is a beast and will get his. The key I think is Blackshear. If he goes off we are done, keep him in check we have a shot.

Who guards Blackshear? RJ?

[Hovadipo 54,693]

Troy loves the bright lights. That could mean one of two things...

1) He owns the baseline like he has been, with a minimum of 5 nasty dunks. Knocks down a couple jumpers as well, but keeps turnovers down and dishes to teammates while piling up a quiet 15 points and 8 rebounds.

Or....

2) Tries going coast to coast on every defensive board, driving for a dunk on most perimeter catches, and taking questionable jumpers. All this while having a similar stat line, but much less efficient and hampering the team.

Stop trying to get paid, Troy. Run with option 1. Please.

[Alford Bailey 12,339]

this will be our first game away from Assembly Hall...at Madison Square Garden, in front of a lot of un-friendlies...

I predict a cold start, much the way OSU played...

how we bounce back after that is a huge question mark.

This is how it should be. If you are gonna get punched in the mouth let it happen early in the non. con. then maybe we have our guard up by the time the B1G season starts.

[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

I'm predicting an Indiana VICTORY!!!!

 

 

or

 

 

 

a Louisville BLOWOUT win.  

I'm with you. Either we hold it together and scrape by like UConn last year but... winning. Or Vile successfully exploits our weaknesses, we don't counter it, and they destroy us. I don't see much middle ground here. If the D can handle their B then we're solid as Iraq. If not then the game will have more twists and turns than Lombard street. 

[NOLA Hoosier 1,267]

this will be our first game away from Assembly Hall...at Madison Square Garden, in front of a lot of un-friendlies...

I predict a cold start, much the way OSU played...

how we bounce back after that is a huge question mark.

 

I think there's gonna be way more of an IU contingent there. NYC has one of the biggest IU alumni chapters in the country.

[ou812dude 3,326]

I think there's gonna be way more of an IU contingent there. NYC has one of the biggest IU alumni chapters in the country.

true, but UofL travels well also...should be a great atmosphere.

[IUfan_Charlie 3,867]

We can put the Cards on the line all night long because they can't shoot a free throw to save their lives....Cards never have.  Except when Terry Howard was there many years a go.

Yeah, but it's not like we have a lot of bodies to throw at them, we only have 2 bigs that are decent. If Harrell and Blackshear get our starting forwards in foul trouble it will be very bad. We have to make them play out on the perimeter, force their guards to make plays. 

[sddowning 146]

I'm afraid of what Montrezl Harrell could do inside. Not sure how we keep him of the glass. Hanner and Holt have a big job on their hands. He can really play.

[CR3AMnCR1MS0N 1,867]

I know it'll never happen because of the worry over foul trouble, but I'd love to see Emmitt and Hanner in together. Tell Emmitt to do the main inside defending and tell Hanner to go for the block every time.

[Crimson and Cream 5,765]

sddowning beat me to it. Harrell scares the mess out of me. He could have a field day with our lack of size down low. We certainly are capable of hanging with and upsetting these guys, but with this being our first game away from home I'm worried. The good news is, Ohio St. is about as young as us, and they came back from being down quite a bit. I'm looking for a big game from JBJ in this one.

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

this will be our first game away from Assembly Hall...at Madison Square Garden, in front of a lot of un-friendlies...
I predict a cold start, much the way OSU played...
how we bounce back after that is a huge question mark.

I'll be there with a squad of at least 20 friendlies. There are a ton of Hoosiers here.