The Big East grind rolls on Saturday as our #5 Louisville Cardinals (16-3, 4-2 Big East) travel to the nations capital to face the Georgetown Hoyas (13-4, 3-3 Big East). The Cards are hoping to end a two game losing streak and the Hoyas hope to continue their winning ways after they beat Notre Dame Monday. In that win, they held the Irish to their lowest point total since 1972.

John Thompson III’s Princeton offense has been inconsistent at times this season and the Hoyas have been an impossible team to figure out. They have had big wins and had one of their worst losses ever. The one constant for them has been their defense. Georgetown is long-armed and athletic and can really guard people. They are 11th in the nation in scoring defense at 56.3 points per game and 1st in scoring defense in the Big East at 57.7 points per game. They are 31st in the nation in field goal percentage defense holding their opponents to 38.5% a game and 5th in Big East in field goal percentage defense at 39%. They are 1st in Big East in rebounding defense at 30.7 per game. Kenpom has their Adj efficiency on defense at 86 ranked 10th. The Hoyas play a lot of man-to-man but will play some zone, largely because they have the length and athleticism to do it, and it takes away having to guard so many different actions, which helps a young team. Georgetown may not have any seniors, but the Hoyas do have talent and experience. Markel Starks and Nate Lubick, both juniors, give Thompson two returning starters. Otto Porter started eight games as a freshman and averaged 29.7 minutes per game. Jabril Trawick played in all of Georgetown’s 33 games at 11.4 minutes per game. A lot of the Hoyas success depends on Thompson’s 3 sophomores Porter, Trawick and center Mikael Hopkins.
The bad losses the Hoyas have suffered this season are because of their struggles on offense. The Hoyas rank nationally 256th with 64 points per game, 253rd with 33.2 rebounds per game, 60th with 15 assist per game and 47th in field goal percentage at 46% a game. Kenpom has the Adj efficiency on offense at 101.3 ranked 145. He has them ranked 43 overall. The Hoyas current RPI is 39 and they are currently ranked 7th in the Big East.

In-conference offense: 3pt-36.3%, 2pt-45.8%, FT-68.5%
In-conference defense: Turnovers-10pg, Steals-5.3pg, Blocks-3.3pg

Coach John Thompson III: “Without a doubt, this is a younger team,” “But if this is possible, we’re young but experienced. Our sophomores and juniors have played significant minutes in big-time games and big-time atmospheres. At times, we had four freshmen on the court at the same time. We got a lot out of our younger players in last year. We’re going to count on them even more this year.”

The Hoyas Players:

-Projected Starters

Nate Lubick JR (7.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.8 apg) 6-8 F is an excellent passer who’s also a capable rebounder at both ends of the floor. While there are more athletic and offensively gifted forwards on the Georgetown roster, Lubick remains a key factor in the frontcourt because of his toughness and work ethic. His experience as a returning starter is essential to this team. He is shooting 62% from the field and 72% from the free throw line.

Mikael Hopkins SOPH (6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 1.4 apg) 6-9 F arrived in DC last year with much recruiting hype and has all the tools to be a threat on the interior. He is just inconsistent at times. He is a decent shot blocker and ranks 10th in the Big East in that Stat. And is also a decent rebounder. He is shooting 37% from the field and 57% from the free throw line.

Markel Starks JR (11.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.8 apg) 6-1 G is very crafty for his size and is a good scorer who is also becoming a capable playmaker. He ranks 14th in the Big East at 3.5 assist per game and ranks 11th in assist/turnover ratio at 1.9. He is shooting 45% from the field, 41% from 3 point line and 84% from free throw line.

Otto Porter Jr. SOPH (14.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.6 apg) 6-8 F is one of the guys that coach Pitino will game plan for and In my opinion is the best player on the floor for the Hoyas. We won’t play against many better this season. He ranks 6th in the Big East in scoring at 16.8 ppg, 5th in rebounding at 7.7 pg, 12th in field goal at 52%, 5th in 3 point Field goal at 47%, and is 2nd in defensive rebounding behind Gorgui at 6.5 per game. He is also one of the 25 players remaining on the list for the Wooden Award with our Russ Smith.

Jabril Trawick SOPH (5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.5 apg) 6-5 G “He brings a toughness to our team,” Thompson said. “He’s willed his way through many situations. He’s got a competitive, doggedness nature.” He is shooting 46% from the field, 32% from the 3 point line, and 68% from the free throw line.

-Bench

Aaron Bowen SOPH (1.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 0.3 apg) 6-6 F only plays about 7 minutes a game. He is shooting 42% from the field and 40% from the 3 point line.

Moses Ayegba JR (1.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.6 apg) 6-9 C redshirted last season after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee in August. He provides some size off the bench and rebounding averaging 2.3 a game. He is shooting 47% from the field and 45% from the free throw line.

D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera FR (6.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.3 apg) 6-3 G is a shooting guard from Indianapolis by way of Oak Hill Academy, he turned down an impressive list of suitors (including Michigan State, Louisville, Florida, and Memphis) in order to say yes to the Hoyas. ESPN rated him a four-star recruit and the No. 10 shooting guard in the country, but he’s got a lead-guard mentality. He is a scoring guard who likes to get his team involved. He is shooting 38% from the field, 32% from the 3 point line and 72% from the free throw line.

Last year the Cards were ranked in the top 5 when the Hoyas came to the Yum Center and beat them for the third straight time. And Georgetown is the only team in the Big East that owns a winning record against Rick Pitino. The Cards will be looking to avoid losing four in a row to the Hoyas and losing their third straight game in Big East play. The trend in league play this season has been that the teams with their backs against the wall have pulled out the victory. I really hope that trend continues Saturday but the Cards are going to have to get back to doing the things they do best which includes scoring points in transition, hitting free throws and getting penetration in the lane to find guys for easy shots. Those things won’t be easy against a very good Georgetown interior defense but hopefully the Cards depth and defensive intensity will wear on them. Don’t think it’s gonna be easy to turn the losing slide on the road but I expect our guys to get it done.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 69 Georgetown 61

After a tough home loss to Cuse the Cards (16-2, 4-1 Big East) must regroup as they go back on the road in Big East play to face Villanova (11-7, 2-3 Big East). They have lost three straight after a seven-game winning streak. This game will be the first of three games that the Wildcats have scheduled to play at the Wells Fargo Center.

Jay Wright is terrific and has been that for Villanova, which is why the Wildcats’ drop in the Big East is a little surprising. They have had a rough go of it the past couple of seasons and it doesn’t look like that is gonna change this season. Their 69 points per game being a deceiving statistic. The Wildcats barely top 40 percent from the field and turn the ball over 16 times per game. They have turned the ball over more than their opponents in the past 5 games. Add in having just over 12 assists per game, and you get a team whose offense can leave a lot to be desired at times. They are a decent defensive team and when they hold opponents under 70 points they are 9-2 on the season. However if they don’t make up for their poor offense with their defense and let opponents score over 70 points they are 3-5 on the season. They have recorded fewer steals than their opponents for the past 4 games. The Wildcats have a positive rebounding margin on the season, although they have been out rebounded in their last two losses. This is a inexperienced group and Villanova’s problem offensively isn’t complicated. The Wildcats don’t have a “go-to” guy. Jay Wright’s roster is full of complimentary parts, but lacks someone you can give the ball to in big spots and expect to come through. They rank nationally 137th in points per game at 69, 84th in rebounding per game at 38, 234th in assist per game at 12 and 291st in field goal percentage per game at 40. Kenpom has their adj efficiency on offense 102.3 ranked 128th and on defense 93.4 ranked 72. He has them ranked 89 overall. Their current RPI is 69 and they are ranked 11th in the Big East.

In-conference offense: 3pt-29%, 2pt-45%, FT-73%
In-conference defense: Steals-5.8pg, Blocks-4.4pg, Turnovers-13pg

Coach Jay Wright: “I just think it’s a team that is inexperienced, has a lot to learn,” “I think they’re going to be good. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I think they’re going to be good. But we’re not good enough right now.”

The Wildcat Players:

– Projected Starters

Mouphtaou Yarou SR (7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg) 6-10 F is their most experienced player, has had a down year. The Wildcats needed him to be their best player, or at least close to it, but his scoring, rebounding and field goal numbers are all down appreciably from last season. He has scored 140 points this season, grabbed 106 rebounds and has 18 assist in 428 minutes of play.

Daniel Ochefu FR (4.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg) 6-11 F was a top 100 prospect and is touted for his shot blocking and rebounding. He has some promising offensive skills but is adjusting to the physical nature of the Big East. He has scored 76 points this season, grabbed 88 rebounds and has 16 blocked shots in 328 minutes of play.

James Bell JR (9.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg) 6-6 G has showed flashes of being a pretty reliable scorer and defender but not enough to consider him a star in the making. Also has a hard time staying out of foul trouble. He has scored 165 points this season, grabbed 79 rebounds and 27 assist in 497 minutes of play.

Darrun Hilliard SOPH (9.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg) 6-6 G has had his big moments in a few of Nova’s games this season but the problem has been his consistency to perform every night. Especially in a rugged Big East haul. He’s a pretty good defender and has 28 steals on the season. He has scored 179 points this season, grabbed 53 rebounds, and has 21 assist in 512 minutes of play.

Ryan Arcidiacono FR (11.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg) 6-3 G was a top-100 recruit as a point guard out of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and according to Coach Wright has “the opportunity to become the next great Villanova guard.” He has scored 209 points this season, grabbed 33 rebounds and has 60 assist in 591 minutes of play.

– Bench

Maurice Sutton SR (5.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg) 6-11 F/C is a fifth-year senior, will spend more time in the low post. The team’s best shot-blocker. He has scored 95 points this season, grabbed 77 rebounds and has 28 blocked shots in 267 minutes of play.

Tony Chennault JR (3.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg) 6-2 G is a Wake Forest transfer who was the Demon Deacons’ starter at point guard last season, Chennault was granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA and will be eligible immediately. He is a very solid player for Nova and gives them leadership when on the court. He has scored 63 points this season, grabbed 31 rebounds and has 29 assist in 318 minutes of play.

JayVaughn Pinkston SOPH (13.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg) 6-7 F is Nova’s best offensive player. It really isn’t close in my opinion. Pinkston is the only player on the team who can consistently get his own shot and get to the foul line. He’s attempted 50 more free throws than any other Wildcat and he’s fifth on the team in minutes played. Foul trouble and defensive lapses can lead to Pinkston sitting on the bench. And is a big reason he doesn’t start. He has scored 240 points this season, grabbed 80 rebounds and has 28 assist in 430 minutes of play.

Achraf Yacoubou SOPH (4.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg) 6-4 G is a solid player that will provide some offensive spark of the bench. He loves the 3 point shot and is making 39% of attempts. He has scored 77 points this season, grabbed 64 rebounds and has 11 assist in 273 minutes of play.

Mislav Brzoja FR (0.3 ppg, 0.4 rpg) 6-4 G spent his summer averaging 15.0 points in helping lead Croatia to victory in the under-18 European Championships. Brzoja gives the Wildcats another 3-point threat but only plays sparingly. He has only logged 26 minutes this season.

This Wildcat team seems to be in rebuild mode and that is evident by their inconsistent play so far. They find themselves staring at the possibility of a potential six or 7 game losing streak that will start with a rough game against our Cards. I really do not like the thoughts of playing a Big East team with their backs against the wall, especially on the road. However, our Cards specialize in forcing turnovers, so that could be a particularly bad matchup for them. And I really don’t think our guys are very happy either after Saturday. Don’t think they’ll want to lose focus and drop a game to a team that will probably struggle to finish .500 in the Big East. I’ll give them their due and say they are capable of putting together a great game. But this years Cardinal team just isn’t losing ones like this even if they get Nova’s best shot.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 80 Villanova 69

Our Cardinals have a quick turnaround this week after their game on Saturday and will now travel to Hartford for a Big Monday match-up on Espn with UCONN. Cards should be ranked #1 and will be looking for their 11th straight. Will also be looking to start 4-0 in Big East play. UCONN could possibly be ranked and they will be looking to keep their momentum going after a huge win on the road against #17 Notre Dame Saturday.

It was a chaotic off season in Storrs as they dealt with NCAA sanctions, players leaving for the NBA, players transferring to other schools and the biggest surprise of all coming when Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun decided to retire. UCONN now has a roster that includes only 10 scholarship players. Depth, especially along the front-line, is a concern. Shabazz Napier, Tyler Olander and Niels Giffey are the only players remaining from the national championship team. But putting all that stuff behind them new head coach Kevin Ollie has the new era of UCONN basketball heading in the right direction. He has his team playing with a lot of heart and has them at 12-3 in a 3 way tie for 4th place in the Big East at 2-1. They are coming off of a big win at #17 Notre Dame ending their 17 game win streak. In fact, ND boasts the second best home-court advantage (Kansas being #1) in terms of win percentage over the last seven years. The Fighting Irish had won 111 out of their last 118 games, good for .940 winning percentage before that loss on Saturday. The Huskies have also improved on what was their biggest weakness this season and that’s rebounding. The Huskies entered last Tuesday’s game with DePaul being out-rebounded by 5.8 rebounds per game, the worst mark among Power 6 conference schools. They had been out-rebounded in 11 of 13 games. But that has changed and they have out-rebounded the Blue Demons 46-26 and the Irish 30-22 in their last two contest. The Huskies rank nationally 76th in points per game at 72.5, 277th in rebounds per game at 32.5, 131st in assist per game at 13.6 and 42nd in field goal percentage at 47%. Kenpom has their adj. efficiency on offense at 108.4 ranked 43 and on defense at 91.8 ranked 51. He has them ranked 43 overall.

In-conference offense: 3pt/35% (3), 2pt/53% (1), FT/71% (7)
In-conference defense: Turnover% 15.7 (10), Block% 6.5 (12), Steal% 9.5 (6)

Head Coach Kevin Ollie: “We just talk about hanging in there and hanging around. Good things are going to happen to a team that sticks together and for a team that plays for each other.”

The Huskies Players:

-Projected Starters

Tyler Olander JR (5.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg) 6-9 F is the front court player with the most experience. He has improved as a rebounder and can score on the block. His efforts on the defensive glass were a big factor in the Notre Dame upset. He has 80 points this season grabbing 61 rebounds, and blocking 20 shots in 316 minutes of play.

DeAndre Daniels SOPH (11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg) 6-8 F is a very strong and good defensive wing player. He is also very solid on the offensive end of the floor. He had 9 rebounds in that big win over Notre Dame. He has scored 165 points this season and grabbed 70 rebounds with 19 blocked shots in 392 minutes of play.

Shabazz Napier JR (17.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) 6-1 G is UCONN’s leading returning scorer. He is a very smart and crafty guard who can score the ball. He shoots 45% from the field, 40% from 3 and 83% from the charity stripe. Also very good defensive player who led this team in steals last season. He has 33 this season. He has scored 262 points and has 60 assist in 554 minutes of play.

Ryan Boatright SOPH (16.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) 6-0 G came off the bench last season but has become one of the go to guys in this UCONN three guard line-up. He shoots 48% from the field, 35% from 3 and 74% from the charity stripe. He has scored 241 points this season and has 68 assist in 520 minutes of play.

Omar Calhoun FR (10.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg) 6-5 G is considered a Top 10 shooting guard. ESPN rated him a four-star prospect and the No. 7 two guard in the 2012 class. Gatorade Player of the Year and New York player of the Year are a few more of this guys accolades. He rounds out this three guard line-up. He shoots 41% from the field, 29% from 3 and 76% from the charity stripe. He has scored 151 points this season and has 18 assist in 449 minutes of play.

– Bench

R.J. Evans SR (4.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) 6-3 G is not a big scoring threat but does come off the bench and provides some good defensive play. He is averaging 1.3 steals a game. He has scored 52 points this season and grabbed 17 rebounds in 204 minutes of play.

Niels Giffey JR (3.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) 6-7 F is a smart player who makes others around him better. He has had moments of brilliance but often isn’t noticed when he’s on the floor. He is a 92% free throw shooter. He has scored 57 points this season and grabbed 48 rebounds in 292 minutes of play.

Enosch Wolf JR (3.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg) 7-1 C is UCONN’s only true center, but he remains a project and has seen very little action. But he is effective when in the line-up shooting 64% from the field. He has scored 56 points this season and grabbed 54 rebounds in 204 minutes of play.

The XL Center will be rocking and our Cards will have their work cut out for them in this one as they will be facing a team who is playing their best basketball of the season. The Huskies will be fired up to knock off a number 1 team on their floor and remember this UCONN team can’t play in the post season, so games like this are their season. The Cards are scoring over 30% of their points off turnovers and they will have to step it up defensively in this one to force the three guard line-up of UCONN into mistakes. It will be fun to watch the Napier, Boatright, Siva and Smith match-up as this will be two of the best back-courts in the nation going head to head. Rebounding will be a huge in determining the outcome. Our front court guys will have to get to the boards especially on the offensive end as this UCONN group demolished the Irish in that stat. UCONN used less than 60 possessions in their win over the Irish, and perhaps the key takeaway from the win was their ability to control the glass. Per Ken Pomeroy, opponents grab nearly 36 percent of their misses, but in the win, UCONN managed to snag 73 percent of Notre Dame’s attempts, controlling the glass and not allowing easy points.

The guard play in this game will be world class but what separates Louisville from UCONN in my opinion is depth and the huge advantage the Cards have in skill in the front-court. With that said this will be a battle to the end and will have us hanging on the edge of our seats. But our Cards will pull this one out.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 70 UCONN 64

Our Cards put a bow on a tough OOC schedule with a win Saturday over Kentucky. Now it’s time for the Big East grind. And it starts Wednesday when the Providence Friars come to town. The Cards and Cardinal Nation will have revenge on the mind as it was around this time last year when the Friars put a whooping on us at their place 90-59 in one of the worst losses of the Pitino era.

Providence head coach Ed Cooley is still in the process if rebuilding this Friar program. And they are a basketball program in transition. As a sign of the transition in his program, Cooley presided over an offseason filled with comings and goings. Some players transferred, others were helped to different schools. Some recruits battled eligibility woes right up to the start of school, others reported to campus in the fall with injuries. After all the comings and goings, Cooley does have a core of talented players heading into his second year on the job. There just aren’t enough of them. They lost Ricky Ledo to an NCAA ruling at the beginning of the season. Kris Dunn and Vincent Council just recently got into the rotation after working through injury. They’re still 8-4, despite those road blocks and Cooley has this team headed in the right direction. They are coming into this game with a bad loss to Brown 69-68 last Friday. They are ranked nationally 148th in points per game at 69.3, 71st in rebounds per game at 38.5, 89th in assist per game at 14.4 and 173rd in field goal percentage per game at .434. Kenpom has their Adj. efficiency on offense at 102.8 ranked 107th and defense at 92.3 ranked 54th. He has them ranked 69th overall.

In-conference offense: 1.04 points per possession (6th)
In-conference defense: 1.12 points allowed per possession (16th)

Vincent Council SR (4.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg) 6-2 G just had his first game back last Friday. A year ago Council led the Big East in assists and was fourth in the country. His decision making is among the elite in college basketball but is an average shooter making 41 percent on his twos, 32 percent on threes last season. He is an impact player and now that he is back in the line-up will really help this team. He scored 8 points and had 10 assist on his first game back and played 43 minutes.

Kadeem Batts JR (16.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg) 6-10 F is the big man with the most experience on this team. He is very good at knocking down the 15 footers. He does have problems with foul trouble. If he can stay in the game he is a solid contributor. He has scored 193 points this season and grabbed 90 rebounds with 23 assist in 368 minutes of play.

Bryce Cotton JR (22.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg) 6-1 G is a tireless worker who can catch fire as quickly as any shooter in the Big East. And Cards fans should remember him well as he went 5-5 from 3-point land and had 27 points in the drubbing last year of Louisville. He shoots and makes a lot of 3’s. He cranked up 203 3s and made 77 last year. He’s an excellent free-throw shooter and takes very good care of the ball. He has scored 220 points this season and grabbed 34 rebounds with 40 assist in 362 minutes of play.

Lee Goldsbrough JR (2.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) 6-9 F is the other eligible big man for this Friars team. He is another big body for them on the boards. He has scored 24 points this season and grabbed 46 rebounds in 207 minutes of play.

Ted Bancroft JR (1.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg) 6-5 G Has played sparingly and has scored 13 points this season and grabbed 29 rebounds in 173 minutes of play.

Sidiki Johnson SOPH (2.3 ppg. 6.0 rpg) 6-10 F just became eligible on December 18th. He is a strong rebounder and very good runner for his size but is still getting into game shape. The Louisville is just his 4th game back. He has scored 7 points this season and grabbed 18 rebounds in 41 minutes of play.

Brice Kofane SOPH (1.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg) 6-8 F is the front court player to keep an eye on. He can rebound and block shots at a high level. He is an excellent pressing big man who Cooley uses in creative ways. He has scored 21 points this season and grabbed 52 rebounds while having 15 blocked shots in 229 minutes of play.

LaDontae Henton SOPH (17.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) 6-6 F had as good of a freshman season as any player in the country. He is a very good 3-point shooter, rebounds better than expected and handles the ball well. He has scored 207 points this season and grabbed 95 rebounds with 19 assist in 451 minutes of play.

Kris Dunn FR (6.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) 6-3 G underwent surgery in July for a torn labrum in his right (shooting) shoulder. He is another Friar player that just returned to the line-up from his injury. ESPN rated him the No. 2 point in the class of 2012 but he is really an elite, athletic combo guard who is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He attacks the rim with abandon, and while not a knock down 3-point shooter just yet, he certainly knows how to score. He has only played in the last 3 games. He has scored 19 points this season and grabbed 19 rebounds with 21 assist in 91 minutes of play.

Josh Fortune FR (9.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg) 6-5 G is another very good shooter on a team full of them. He has scored 119 points this season and grabbed 42 rebounds with 37 assist in 460 minutes of play.

I know that this Friars team is picked by most to finish last in the Big East and also that they are coming off one of their worst losses of the season. But I’m not going to put this game in the easy win column. Our Cards are coming off a very emotional game themselves. And I’ve seen it many times over the years and think that Wednesday could be a big let down game. It is possible.

With that being said I don’t think this group of Cards will let that happen. It was a very business like attitude in the locker room after the win over Kentucky. This team is focused on achieving much bigger accomplishments than winning a rival game. With Gorgui back in the line-up and with Chane getting better every game I think the difference in this one will be the match-ups in the front court and the Friars won’t have an answer. The Cards must do a better job at guarding the 3 point shot Wednesday because this team has the shooters to hurt them from long range. And can keep it close if allowed to shoot them wide open.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 87 Providence 78

It is that time of year again Cards fans. This is the one folks in the state of Kentucky circle on their schedule every holiday season. The “Battle of the Bluegrass” rivalry started in 1913 and on Saturday, the two teams will meet for the 45th time as the #4 Cards take on the Kentucky Wildcats in the KFC Yum Center. The Cats hold the winning edge in this series 30 to 14 winning the last 7 out of 9 and 4 straight. The last time these teams met was in last years Final 4 in New Orleans. The eventual National championship Wildcats won that game 69-61.

Once again, Kentucky is starting from scratch after losing a host of players to the NBA draft. The Wildcats started this season ranked in the top five in the country despite returning only one player who contributed to their National Title last season. That says a lot about their coach John Calipari and his success in recruiting the best. As they have done since Calipari arrived on campus, the Cats once again have many blue chip athletes leading their team. This team does not compare to last year’s version so much as it does Calipari’s second team in Lexington, the one led by Brandon Knight, Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb. Like that team, this group of UK freshman has been struggling to find their mojo. So far, that has resulted in a 8-3 record and a tumultuous plunge out of the national rankings. Kentucky has suffered from defensive lapses against better teams. In their three losses, they have allowed both Duke and Notre Dame to be offensively efficient and shoot a high effective FG%. Against Baylor, they simply could not score, because they did not communicate and play solid basketball. Kentucky at the moment is a team that is still figuring out how to play the college game. UK is currently ranked nationally 25th in points per game at 78.5, 61st in rebounding at 38.8 a game, 34th in assist per game at 16.4, and 16th in field goal percentage a game at .490. Kenpom has UK’s Adj. efficiency on offense at 110.4 which ranks 26th and defense at 85.7 which ranks 8th. He has them ranked 13th overall.

In-conference offense: 1.20 points per possession (1st)
In-conference defense: 0.94 points allowed per possession (2nd)

Archie Goodwin FR (16.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg) 6-4 G reminds me of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. He’s a gifted player whose skills are matched only by his competitive spirit and commitment to team play. He was a consensus five-star recruit and ESPN rated him the No. 4 shooting guard and No. 15 player in the class of 2012. A strong wing player, good shooter, but really excels off the dribble. He has scored 176 points this season, grabbed 60 rebounds and has 46 assist in 350 minutes of play.

Nerlens Noel FR (10.7 ppg, 9.1 rpg) 6-10 F is probably the most well known freshman in the nation, He is an elite shot blocker and rebounder. He can impact a game without scoring a point and can really shut down the low post with his length and quickness of the jump. He has scored 118 points this season, grabbed 100 rebounds and has 41 blocked shots in 327 minutes of play.

Willie Cauley-Stein FR (7.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) 7-0 F plays above the rim. And he’s got pretty good skills. He’s been working on his post moves, and he can step out and take the 15- to 17-footer, and maybe a 3 every now and then. He needs to get stronger, but it seems like he is still getting used to life as a basketball player. He was a football star in High School. He has scored 84 points this season, grabbed 58 rebounds and has 22 blocked shots in 221 minutes of play.

Alex Poythress FR (14.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg) 6-7 F has got some God-given gifts, really strong, athletic, great vertical leap and a 7-foot wingspan. He guards the wing well but has had conditioning issues this season. He has scored 159 points this season, grabbed 72 rebounds and has 8 blocked shots in 309 minutes of play.

Ryan Harrow Soph (7.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg) 6-2 G is the smallest point guard that Calipari has had. He isn’t in the Derek Rose-John Wall-Brandon Knight category. He doesn’t have the length of Tyreke Evans or the strength of Marquis Teague. But he does have more experience than these guys had. So far this season that hasn’t carried over. He has the ability to score, makes tough layups and can keep you honest with his jump shot. He has scored 49 points this season, has 20 assist in 147 minutes of play.

Sam Malone Soph (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 5-11 G has not played any significant minutes this season.

Tod Lanter Soph (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-2 G has not played any significant minutes this season.

Brian Long Soph (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 5-9 G has not played any significant minutes this season.

Kyle Wiltjer Soph (11.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg) 6-10 F is the definition of a “catch and shoot” player. So far this year, 64% of Wiltjer’s shot attempts have been three-point field goals. He has feasted on weaker competition in the early going taking and making a lot of uncontested shots. But against a tough defense like Louisville’s he will have to put the ball on the ground to be successful. He has scored 125 points this season, grabbed 55 rebounds, and has 21 assist in 273 minutes of play.

Jon Hood JR (1.8 ppg, 0.6 rpg) 6-7 G hasn’t seen any significant play during his time as a Wildcat but this season, however, with depth in short supply, He has been called upon to help in certain situations. He’s a decent shooter but he’s not gonna hurt you with his quickness. He has scored 14 points this season and grabbed 5 rebounds in 38 minutes of play.

Jarrod Polson JR (3.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg) 6-2 G was placed on scholarship last season but saw limited action in just 11 games. Surprisingly he has provided some decent minutes off the bench this season for the Wildcats. And was an important spark in their early win against Maryland. He is a good ball handler and makes smart decisions with the ball. He has scored 34 points this season, grabbed 13 rebounds and has 13 assist in 161 minutes of play.

Twany Beckham SR (0.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg) 6-4 G is a former Miss St player that is a defensive guy that can provide energy off the bench for UK. So far this season he hasn’t really played any quality minutes. But I do expect him to be used to combat some of Louisville’s depth.

Julius Mays SR (9.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg) 6-2 G started his college career at NC State, played a year at Wright State, and will finish at Kentucky. He is a strong combo guard, but not a great athlete. He has played the role of shooter coming off the bench so far this season. He shot 43 percent from three last season. I think he is one of the most important players on this team. And could be a x-factor in games like Saturday. I hope Rick accounts for this guy. He has scored 102 points this season, grabbed 32 rebounds and has 40 assist in 360 minutes of play.

Don’t know about you but I have been thinking about this one since the ride home from New Orleans. The Cats have beaten us on the hardwood 4 straight and this is our year to get back on the winning side of “The Battle of the Bluegrass.” The Cards have the experience edge in this one and this season finally has enough talent to compete with Kentucky. If Peyton plays under control, stays out of foul trouble, if Russ is Russ, and if our frontcourt players step up, and play a physical game this one should belong to the Cards. So far, this season UK has had trouble getting to the basket and has been prone to taking bad shots. Louisville without Gorgui has had issues with letting teams get into the lane to make easy baskets. With Gorgui expected back in the line-up it should make it tougher for teams to make easy shots in the lane. If they struggle with this Saturday, I think UK can and will take advantage of it. If this happens, we will see a much closer contest.

This game was named the #1 OOC game by Sports Illustrated’s Andy Glockner. Here’s what he said: “Two elite teams meet once again, rematch of the Final Four, eternal bragging rights (at least for another year), HoF coaches who can’t stand each other. It’s not always a pretty watch, but it’s compelling TV and the best soap opera in the sport at the moment.”

I am optimistic about this game on Saturday but cautiously optimistic. As we have seen through the years, it is not always the team that is expected to win who does. This game is important to our Cards and a win in my opinion is important for this rivalry. It doesn’t matter what the sport is. You cannot let your rival continue to win and expect the rivalry to stay meaningful to either side. A win by the Cards on Saturday would end a dominate UK streak and would help the rivalry live on. But the battle will not be over, as the Cats will still hold a 30 to 15 advantage.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 90 Kentucky 83

Our #5 Cards will travel to Music City on Saturday to face a in-state rival in Western Kentucky. And it will be a game between two teams going in two very different directions. The Cards are on a tear and even with the loss of Gorgui Dieng seem to be improving every game. WKU on the other hand is a banged up team that just had one of their worst losses ever Tuesday against VCU. The Rams turned over WKU 32 times in the 76-44 romp.

Coach Harper: “We’re still a young basketball team,””but I think we’ve got some talent. I’m excited about what the future holds.”

In-conference offense: 0.99 points per possession (8th)
In-conference defense: 1.01 points allowed per possession (7th)

Jamal Crook SR (14.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg) 6-3 G was scheduled for surgery Wednesday and will be out four to six weeks with a right foot fracture. Will miss game Saturday.

Teeng Akol SR (7.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg) 6-11 F/C is a very good shot blocker and will be counted on to give this team valuable minutes in the low post. He has scored 92 points this season and grabbed 50 rebounds in 214 minutes of play.

Kene Anyigbo JR (2.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg) 6-5 F has scored 24 points this season, grabbed 27 rebounds in 100 min of play.

Caden Dickerson JR (3.4 ppg, 0.7 rpg) 6-5 G separated his right shoulder and is out indefinitely. Will not play Saturday.

Brandon Harris JR (6.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg) 6-1 G is a very good player who led Otero (Colo.) Junior College to a 30-4 record last season. He has scored 72 points this season, grabbed 69 rebounds, dished out 16 assist in 319 minutes in play.

O’Karo Akamune JR (3.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg) 6-7 F has scored 37 points, and grabbed 38 rebounds this season in 166 minutes of play.

Kevin Kaspar Soph (5.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg) 6-0 G is playing but has been limited by a hamstring injury. He has scored 62 points this season, grabbed 39 rebounds, dished out 23 assist in 290 minutes of play.

Spence Sheldon Soph (0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg) 5-11 G has not played this season.

Nigel Snipes Soph (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-6 F tore his right ACL, knocking him out for 2012-13.

Stephon Drane Soph (1.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg) 6-7 F played one game last season before redshirting with a knee injury. The 6-7 sophomore averaged 4.2 minutes in 18 games his freshman season. He has scored 23 points this season, and grabbed 11 rebounds in 68 minutes of action.

George Fant Soph (11.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg) 6-6 F has gotten a little bigger and a little stronger and is poised to have a big sophomore season. He has scored 121 points this season, and grabbed 79 rebounds in 313 minutes of play.

T.J. Price Soph (16.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) 6-4 G shot 35.6 percent while making 52 3-pointers last season. He has missed the past three games with a right ankle sprain and will be a game-time decision on Saturday. He has scored 152 points this season, grabbed 55 rebounds and dished out 22 assist in 295 minutes this season.

Eddie Alcantara FR (1.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg) 6-5 F averaged around 21 points and nine rebounds and shot more than 40 percent from 3-point range as a senior for Chicago-Hales Franciscan. He has scored 5 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 30 minutes of play.

Percy Blade FR (2.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg) 6-4 G is a preferred walk-on who prepped at Louisville-Eastern. He has scored 22 points this season, and grabbed 9 rebounds in 82 minutes of play.

Aleksejs Rostov FR (2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg) 6-10 C played last year for the Canarias Basketball Academy and also played on Latvia’s bronze-medal U18 team in 2010. He has scored 25 points this season and grabbed 14 rebounds in 62 minutes of play.

Despite the loss of Gorgui Dieng our Louisville Cardinals still have the #1 ranked defense in college basketball and have 131 steals on this young season with 13 a game. They are also averaging over 20 forced turnovers a game and scoring over 20 pts on those turnovers. This is not a good thing for WKU a team that in their last game had 32 turnovers and turned the ball over on 45.7 percent of their possessions.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 90 Western Kentucky 53

Our #5 Cards will bring their game back to the KFC Yum Center this Wednesday after their best win of the season in a gutsy effort against Memphis on Saturday. It will be Pitino versus Pitino for the first time ever as the Cards face Florida International University.

Coach Richard Pitino: “When you bring in so many new guys, I think you certainly are concerned,” “You have a lot of guys on your roster who don’t have a lot of D-I experience, and the rest of them are guys who didn’t play a whole lot last year.”

In-conference offense: 1.00 points per possession (4th)
In-conference defense: 1.02 points allowed per possession (8th)

Manuel Nunez SR (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-5 G has not played this season.

Cameron Bell SR (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-3 G has not played this season.

Gaby Belardo SR (8.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg) 6-2 G is not a game-changer but he handles the ball and does lead the offense. He averaged 2.6 assists and made 46 3-pointers while shooting 32.6 percent for a 5-25 Canisius team in 2011-12. He has scored 60 pts, has 23 assist in 148 min this season.

Tola Akomolafe SR (5.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg) 6-6 F is one of the key returners for FIU and is one of the more versatile players on the team. He has scored 40 pts and grabbed 32 rebounds in 192 min this season.

Steven Miro JR (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-3 G has not played this season.

Tymell Murphy JR (14.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg) 6-5 F helped South Plains (Texas) College to a 36-0 record and a JUCO national championship last season. He’s a very versatile, very athletic and very quick player. He has scored 98 pts, grabbed 40 rebounds, has 21 assist in 193 min this season.

Malik Smith JR (16.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg) 6-2 G made 84 3-pointers last season at Jacksonville College in Texas. He has adapted smoothly to Pitino’s system, which mirrors his father’s pressing, 3-point shooting, uptempo trademark. He has made 27-63 3 pointers for 43% this season. He has scored 118 pts, and played 231 min.

Ivan Jurkovic JR (2.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg) 7-0 C provides some size for this FIU team. The skilled and savvy Croatian has scored 15 pts and grabbed 12 rebounds in 51 min this season.

Deric Hill SOPH (4.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg) 5-9 G is a returner from last season. He averaged over 13 minutes in 23 games and made one start. He has scored 34 pts, grabbed 10 rebounds and has 14 assist in 113 min this season.

Marco Porcher Jimenez SOPH (1.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg) 6-4 G is a Fairleigh Dickinson transfer who prepped at Oak Hill Academy. He has scored 10 pts in 50 min of play this season.

Juan Ferrales SOPH (7.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg) 6-2 G made 38 3-pointers while shooting 36 percent behind the arc last season at Broward (Fla.) Community College. He has scored 52 pts, 7-15 3 pointer for 47% this season in 147 min.

Joey De La Rosa SOPH (3.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg) 6-11 C is another returning player from last season. He has scored 22 pts this season in 66 min of play.

Jerome Frink FR (10.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg) 6-6 F played at prep power St. Anthony’s (N.J.), which won a national title and went 65-0 his final two seasons. He has scored 71 pts, grabbed 47 rebounds in 206 min this season.

Dee Lewis FR (0.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg) 6-3 G has not play significant minutes this season.

The Cards finished strong on Saturday against Memphis but did have a very sluggish start. Will be looking for a faster start from them on Wednesday night. Chane Behanan got back to the player he was last March in that Memphis game and will be looking to see if he keeps that going with another solid performance. We are still waiting for that one big breakout game from Wayne Blackshear and waiting to see him return to the player he was in that Final Four game. Just maybe this will be his game for that return.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 87 FIU 56

Our #6 Cards (8-1) will mix it up with an old foe on Saturday when they travel to face Memphis (6-2). Its always great when these two long time rivals get together. After a six-year hoops hiatus, Memphis and Louisville renewed their longtime rivalry in the 2011. The contest Saturday will be the 87th meeting between the rivals, with the Cardinals holding a 52-34 advantage in the series. In addition to being fellow C-USA members from 1996-2005, they also competed as league foes in the Missouri Valley Conference from 1968-73 and Metro Conference from 1976-91. I’m glad we are mixing it up with these guys again.

Josh Pastner is entering his fourth season as Memphis head coach and is 75-29 over three seasons. And even though the Tigers haven’t been able to win a NCAA game during that time they have been solid in the regular season. Pastner will get some key minutes from some talented youngsters, but his roster is heavy with proven veterans. The Tigers were in the Bahamas with the Cards and they had a rough go of it losing 2 out of the 3 games they played. After struggling early Pastner decided to make a lineup swap and moved Joe Jackson to shooting guard with Chris Crawford playing point. Since he made this switch they have been dominating their opponents. But none the caliber of Louisville. The Tigers are currently ranked 69th in points per game, 103rd in rebounding per game, 47th in assist per game and 35th in field goal percentage per game.

Ferrakohn Hall SR (2.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg) 6-8 F doesn’t pile up lofty statistics, but he does provide energy and contributes a lot of the little things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He has scored 20 pts this season grabbed 21 rebounds in 61 min of PT this season.

Charles Holt SR (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 5-10 G Has not played this season.

D.J. Stephens SR (5.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg) 6-5 G/F is one of the more athletic players on this Memphis team and has impressive leaping ability. He doesn’t have to score points to make an impact. He has helped the Tigers win a lot if games. He has scored 45 pts this season, grabbed 42 rebounds in 144 min of PT this season.

Stan Simpson SR (2.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg) 6-10 F The junior college transfer, who began his college career at Illinois, had a disappointing first year with the Tigers. And he hasn’t been that productive this season either. He has scored 16 pts, grabbed 9 rebounds in 59 min of PT this season.

Joe Jackson JR (10.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg) 6-1 G is ultra-quick and naturally talented. But some think he hasn’t lived up to his full potential. He has struggled with consistency and there have been times over the last two seasons that Jackson has been a special player. At other times, though, he’s not played up to his ability. The recent move back to SG has got him going though. He has scored 85 pts, grabbed 21 rebounds, has 31 assist in 219 min of PT this season.

Antonio Barton JR (7.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg) 6-2 G is a under the radar guy who has been really good for Memphis. He’s a tough hard-nosed guy who does his job. Shares PG spot with Crawford. He has scored 63 pts, grabbed 17 rebounds, has 12 assist in 203 min if PT this season.

Chris Crawford JR (9.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg) 6-4 G is a very good perimeter defender and although he’s inconsistent, he’s one of the team’s best 3-point shooters. Since being moved to PG he has a very impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of nearly 3 to 1. He has scored 73 pts this season, grabbed 37 rebounds, has 25 assist in 233 min of PT this season.

Tarik Black JR (10.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg) 6-9 F is money when he gets the ball around the basket. He converted a school record 68.9 percent of his shots last season. He is also an excellent offensive rebounder but does struggle on the defensive glass. He has scored 73 pts this season and grabbed 34 rebounds in 153 min of PT.

Trey Draper JR (0.7 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 5-10 G has only played 2 min this season.

Geron Johnson JR (11.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg) 6-3 G is an explosive athlete who landed with the Tigers officially in late August, after finishing up some schoolwork and being admitted into the university. He is a dynamic combo guard and is an all-around talent who has fit into this Memphis rotation quickly. He has scored 55 pts this season, grabbed 21 rebounds, has 17 assist in 115 min of PT this season.

Adonis Thomas SOPH (10.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) 6-7 G/F would probably be in the NBA had he not had to sit for most of last season with an ankle injury. The former McDonald’s All-American is a great shooter and rebounder. He has scored 87 pts, grabbed 30 rebounds, has 12 assist in 216 min of PT.

Hippolyte Tsafack SOPH (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-8 F has not played this season.

Shaq Goodwin FR (8.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg) 6-9 F is the most decorated player in the Memphis’ signing class and probably the most talented C-USA newcomer. ESPN rated him a four-star recruit, the No. 8 power forward in the class of 2012 and the No. 31 player overall. He is still adjusting to the college game but is a very good player. He has scored 69 pts, grabbed 49 rebounds, has 14 assist in 172 min of PT this season.

Damien Wilson FR (1.7 ppg, 0.2 rpg) 6-6 G was part of an Oak Hill team that was 44-0 and won the FAB 50 national championship last season. He is a winner. He is a slasher and is very aggressive at getting to the rim. He has played limited min this season scoring only 10 pts.

Anthony Cole FR (0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg) 6-0 G has only played 2 min this season.

This game was named the #5 OOC game of the season by Sports Illustrated’s Andy Glockner. Here’s what he said: ”The Tigers know CUSA isn’t that strong this season, and their non-conference schedule is providing them with numerous chances to impress. This is probably the choicest of the bunch, though, getting a top-5 team and a regional rival to come to them. We’ll know a ton about Memphis’ maturity after this one.”

The Tigers have been a team that don’t handle pressure well, don’t guard the three well and they haven’t rebounded well. They will be facing a Louisville team that is out-scoring opponents by 21 points per contest, and holding them to only 54 ppg. They force 22 turnovers per game, and out-rebound the opposition by 8 per outing. I do think this is a good match-up for our Cards but this Memphis team is very talented and very capable of pulling of the upset in this early season game. They are very good at sharing the basketball and are one of the best assist teams in the nation. They do get out in transition very well. So our defense will be tested as they were against Duke. They will have a great home crowd behind them and will play the best game of their season.

This will be one of the toughest games of the season for the Cards. In probably one of the most hostile environments they will face all season. We will find out a lot about our team in this one. I like the Cards in this up and down the floor slug-fest. “IN RUSS I TRUST”.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 89 Memphis 83

Our #5 Cards (7-1) return home this Saturday for a 2pm showdown with the Summit Leagues UMKC Kangaroos (4-4). The Cards are coming into this one after a very impressive win on Tuesday night. The Kangaroos are also coming into this game after a win against North Dakota.

In-conference offense: 1.00 points per possession (9th)
In-conference defense: 1.10 points allowed per possession (6th)

Coach Matt Brown: “We played a lot of the kids early last year,” “We’re really relying heavily upon that junior class. Hopefully, the sophomores that became juniors will be a lot better.”

The Kangaroo players:

Thomas Staton SR (9.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg) 6-6 G/F has been the ‘Roos hottest player, averaging 12.2 points per game in his last five games. He has scored 74 pts this season and played 142 min.

Brad Reid SR (2.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg) 6-11 C doesn’t see much playing time averaging just 12 minutes this season. He has scored 19 pts this season and played 96 min.

Nate Rogers JR (7.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) 6-1 G is a DePaul transfer who started 9 games last year. He led all scorers in the last game with a career-best 16 points on a career-best four threes made. He has scored 59 pts this season and played 175 min.

Nelson Kirksey JR (5.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) 6-3 G/F is a junior college transfers who made his first start for the Roos in their last game. He has scored 42 pts this season and played 124 min.

Alton Tanner JR (3.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg) 6-8 F adds athleticism and rebounding to this team. He has scored 25 pts and played 88 min.

Fred Chatmon JR (7.9 ppg, 7.1 rpg) 6-9 F/C has had career best in his last 3 games. And had a double-double his last time out. He has scored 63 pts, grabbed 57 rebounds and played 181 min.

Trinity Hall JR (5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg) 6-7 F is the leading returning scorer. He’s consider to be one of the best wing players in the Summit League. Has performed at a high level at times, but over the course of the season he’s been susceptible to committing lots of turnovers and poor shot selection. He has scored 40 pts this season and played 175 min.

Kirk Korver JR (9.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg) 6-7 F/C is the last in line of the famous Korver family. He’s a good rebounder and a very good shooter. He hit 32 percent of his 3-point tries last season. He has scored 74 pts this season and played 187 min.

Estan Tyler SOPH (9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) 6-1 G is the fourth returning starter. He is a very aggressive scorer and one of the best point guards in the summit league. He has scored 76 pts this season and played 228 min.

John Burke FR (1.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg) 6-3 G has not seen that much PT. Has scored 6 pts this season and played 36 min.

Mason Wedel FR (2.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg) 6-1 G has been the most productive freshman. He has scored 21 pts, has 10 assist, and 7 rebounds this season. Has played 100 min.

Trevor Franklin FR (2.7 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-6 F has scored 8 pts this season and played 26 min.

The Cards came out Tuesday and took care of business. The defense continues to adjust without Gorgui but it looked very good. The Cards are holding opponents to only 53.9 ppg and are forcing 21.9 turnovers per game. But it seems like every season we have that one game where we play down to the level of competition. And even in the last home game these guys sleep walked through the first half. I’d like to see them come out Saturday and have the same intensity and sense of purpose they played with Tuesday. We’ll see if they can match that.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 90 UMKC 43

The (6-1) Cards take their #5 ranking on the road Tuesday night to face a (5-2) College of Charleston team on their home floor. This will be the first true road test for the Cards.

Coach Doug Wojcik: “Coach Cremins and his staff did a very good job,” “They got kids with high character. It’s a very attractive job and allows me personally to get back to the East Coast.”

In-conference offense: 0.98 points per possession (10th)
In-conference defense: 0.95 points allowed per possession (2nd)

Andrew Lawrence SR (14 ppg, 4.0 rpg) 6-1 G had a strong first season as COC starting point guard, leading the league in steals per game and owning an assist rate in the national top 75. Lawrence competed for Great Britain in the Olympics over the summer. He’s a heady floor general with a nice scoring touch and a knack for getting his teammates the ball in scoring positions. He has scored 84 pts this season with 26 assist and played 167 min.

Matt Sundberg SR (3.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg) 6-8 F will also look to expand his role after seeing action as a reserve last season. The senior appeared in 29 games. He has scored 20 pts this season and played 53 min.

Bart Benton SR (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-1 G has not played this season.

Anthony Thomas JR (8.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg) 6-7 F is a junior college transfer who figures to play the small forward position. He led Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College with his averages of 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds last season. He has scored 59 pts this season and played 216 min.

Nori Johnson JR (5.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg) 6-5 G/F after starting on a limited basis a year ago. He showed flashes of his scoring potential while logging just under 18 minutes a game. He has scored 37 pts this season and played 153 min.

Trent Wiedeman JR (11.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) 6-8 F ranked in the top 75 nationally in defensive board rate and made
the media’s all-league third team last season. He provides the Cougars with a physical presence in the paint. He has scored 35 pts this season and played 85 min.

Willis Hall JR (8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg) 6-6 F redshirted last year but has been a big boost to this team playing a major role in the Baylor upset. He scored 12 points, including six in a row at the end to help COC seal the deal. He has scored 58 pts this season and played 147 min.

Adjehi Baru SOPH (7.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg) 6-9 F/C an all-freshman team pick, grabbed more than 10 percent of available offensive boards last season. He brings great range and athleticism to the mix. He has scored 53 pts this season and grabbed an impressive 62 rebounds. He’s played 234 min.

Pat Branin SOPH (1.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-1 G Has only played 1 min this season.

Anthony Stitt SOPH (10.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) 6-1 G made the most of his time on the floor as a freshman, displaying efficiency on the offensive end by knocking down 45 percent of his shot attempts. He has scored 74 pts this season and played 227 min.

Trevonte Dixon SOPH (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-4 G has not played much this season.

Judson Hall SOPH (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-6 F has not played much this season.

Theo Johnson FR (2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg) 6-6 G/F sports length, athleticism and plenty of potential. He has scored 18 pts this season and played 104 min.

Chad Cooke FR (0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-0 G has not played much this season.

Harrison Bowne FR (2.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg) 6-6 F has played limited minutes this season.

This COC team gave our Cards everything they could handle last year in the KFC YUM Center. They are gonna pack that 5000 seat gym down there to the rafters as this will be the biggest game on their schedule this season. And with the upset over 24th ranked Baylor the Cougars could guarantee themselves a NCAA bid with a win over the 5th ranked Cards. There has been much build up leading to this one and most have circled it on their calendar as a great early season ballgame. This game was named the #20 OOC game by Sports Illustrated’s Andy Glockner. Here’s what he said: ”C of C actually hosts two Big East teams this season — St. John’s is the opponent in the first round of the Charleston Classic but this is the headliner, even with Bobby Cremins no longer on the Charleston sideline. The Cougars gave the Cards everything they wanted last season at the KFC Yum! Center.”

Our Cards played hard at the end of their game Saturday but did look less than impressive as they were almost upset by Illinois St. They got great performances out of the big three of Smith, Siva and Behanan. But Ware, Blackshear and Hancock were non-factors. To win a tough road game like this one of those guys will have to be a part of it. And with a few more days of practice without Gorgui it will be interesting to see if the defense can do a better job of keeping players out of the lane and their big guy from getting easy baskets.

The Beak Prediction:
Louisville 83 College of Charleston 79