Saturday’s College Basketball Showdown: Rivals Look to Rewrite the Script Following Upsets
On a day filled with tons of other ranked matchups and better players, the Indiana vs. Louisville game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday is going to be the game of the week. While Duke may be playing Michigan State, where we’ll see Cam Boozer play against that loaded Spartan squad led by Jeremy Fears and Jaxon Kohler, we’ll also be getting Purdue vs. Iowa State at the same time, and it’ll be the Hoosiers and Cards battling it out. Both Indiana and Louisville are coming off brutal losses at their own hands. Indiana, while somehow having fewer turnovers than Minnesota, couldn't seem to find the right guy to stop Cade Tyson for the Gophers. As for Louisville, it wasn’t that heartbreaking of a loss. The Cards' standout freshman Mikel Brown Jr. had 25 points and looked comfortable all night; however, they couldn’t put a stop to former Mizzou Tiger, Trevon Brazil. The two five-star freshmen for John Calipari have been unbelievable so far. Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas have been sensational on both ends of the floor for the Razorbacks. Both the Hoosiers and the Cards got out-rebounded, and that seemed to be the story for both teams. Ryan Conwell was struggling to find his rhythm from three, attempting 12 and only making three for the Cards.
Both Indiana and Louisville will look to bounce back from these losses, so what would a second loss in a week mean for each team? While Indiana still has to play Kentucky later this week, I think a second loss could set the Hoosiers back less than it will for Louisville. Darian DeVries has done a sensational job so far handling this new IU squad. Now, if the Hoosiers were to lose to Minnesota, Louisville, and Kentucky all in the same week, then I’d have some questions regarding this IU team, but for now, a second loss on the record and a loss against a top ten opponent wouldn’t harm their March Madness chances too much. The Hoosiers will need key performances from their big three of Lamar Wilkerson, Tucker DeVries, and Tayton Conerway if they want to run Louisville out of the gym.
As for Louisville, a second loss would set them back far in the ACC and in the national rankings. The Cardinals are struggling to hit from beyond the arc right now, and that’s going to be their Achilles heel all season. Inconsistent shooting, along with getting outrebounded by double digits, can’t be appealing to see if you’re head coach, Pat Kelsey. Before the Cards even start ACC play, they still have to take on a tough Tennessee team, which won’t be an easy matchup on the interior with star freshman Nate Ament.
I think this game is winnable for both teams if they can clean up their mistakes from their losses. Indiana needs to convert their easy baskets inside the paint and at the free-throw line, and it also has to clean up its defensive rebounding. They’re giving up far too many easy baskets inside after shots go up, and nobody boxes out. For Louisville, they need Mikel Brown Jr. to get his jumpshot going early. Once he’s comfortable and established, it'll be hard for Conor Enright for Indiana to try and stay in front of Brown. If I were to give a prediction, I would say it’ll be tough to slow down Mikel Brown, and if the rest of Louisville is knocking down shots, it will be difficult, so I like Louisville in a close win, 81-72.
