TV info, storylines for U of L-WKU

U OF L AT WESTERN KENTUCKY

Game time: 12:05 p.m. Site: E.A. Diddle Arena, Bowling Green. Line: TBD. Series: WKU leads 39-38, though U of L won the last meeting 79-63 on Dec. 14, 2013, at the KFC Yum! Center. Television: Fox Sports 1. Radio: WKRD-790.

FOLLOW THE GAME HERE:On the new Cards HQ app from The Courier-Journal

WKU (5-4)

Pos.-Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.

G-Chris Harrison-Docks 6-0 So. 1.6 12.0

G-Trency Jackson 6-2 Sr. 2.8 9.9

G-T.J. Price 6-4 Sr. 5.9 17.1

F-George Fant 6-6 Sr. 7.1 11.2

F-Aleksej Rostov 6-10 Jr. 2.4 2.3

Key reserves - Justin Johnson, F, 6-7, Fr., 5.8 pts.; Ben Lawson, C, 7-1, So., 4.4; DJ Clayton, F, 6-6, Fr., 1.6; Nigel Snipes, F, 6-6, Jr., 2.3; Rob Marberry, F, 6-8, Fr., 1.7.

Louisville (9-0)

Pos.-Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.

G-Chris Jones 5-10 Sr. 4.7 12.9

G-Terry Rozier 6-1 So. 5.6 15.1

F-Wayne Blackshear 6-5 Sr. 6.2 12.8

F-Montrezl Harrell 6-8 Jr. 10.4 17.0

C-Chinanu Onuaku 6-10 Fr. 6.0 5.0

Key reserves – Mangok Mathiang, C, 6-10, R-So., 3.4 pts.; Anton Gill, G, 6-3, So., 3.9; Quentin Snider, G, 6-1, Fr., 2.8; David Levitch, G, 6-3, So., 1.6; Jaylen Johnson, F, 6-9, Fr., 2.0; Anas Mahmoud, F, 7-0, Fr., 1.0; Matz Stockman, C, 7-0, Fr., 1.3.

STORYLINES

Two stats don't particularly give Western Kentucky the best profile of a team that could beat Louisville. The Hilltoppers turn the ball over on 21.9 percent of their possessions and their opponents grab 32.9 percent of their own misses. Both numbers are high, and both of them play right into U of L's strengths. The Cards haven't shot well at all this season, but they've made up for their misses with second-chance points and turnover creation.

Louisville won 11 nonconference games last season, and the WKU win was the hardest to come by. U of L won 79-63, but the Cards only led by three at halftime and WKU pulled within six with 11:24 in the second half. How'd that happen? The biggest stat was WKU's turnovers -- the 'Toppers only had 11 turnovers, which helped them limit Louisville's runouts and transition baskets.

Both teams come into Saturday's game searching for answers on different sides of the floor. Louisville's offense has stuttered several times this season, with shooting woes and ball movement serving as the primary causes of inconsistency. For WKU, defense has been the issue. In addition to the limited turnover creation and lower-end defensive rebounding, the Hilltoppers don't defend the 3-point line well and ran 162nd in the nation in defensive efficiency.