TV info, story lines for U of L-Ohio State
OHIO STATE AT U OF L
Game time: 9:30 p.m. Site: KFC Yum! Center. Line: Louisville by nine points. Series: Tied, 4-4. Louisville won the last meeting 72-64 in Columbus in 2003. Television: ESPN. Radio: WHAS-840.
Ohio State (5-0)
Pos. Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.
G-Shannon Scott 6-1 Sr. 3.4 9.2
G-D'Angelo Russell 6-5 Fr. 4.0 18.0
F-Sam Thompson 6-7 Sr. 4.6 12.0
F-Marc Loving 6-7 So. 1.4 12.0
C-Amir Williams 6-11 Sr. 5.3 8.3
Key reserves - Kam Williams, G, 6-2, Fr., 6.8 pts.; Anthony Lee, F, 6-9, Grad, 6.6; Jae'Sean Tate, F, 6-4, Fr., 6.2; Trey McDonald, C, 6-8, Sr., 5.2; Keita Bates-Diop, F, 6-7, Fr., 4.6.
Louisville (5-0)
Pos. Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.
G-Chris Jones 5-10 Sr. 4.6 12.2
G-Terry Rozier 6-1 So. 5.8 13.6
F-Wayne Blackshear 6-5 Sr. 5.8 11.2
F-Montrezl Harrell 6-8 Jr. 8.8 17.4
C-Chinanu Onuaku 6-10 Fr. 8.4 6.8
Key reserves - Mangok Mathiang, C, 6-10, R-So., 4.5 pts.; Anton Gill, G, 6-3, So., 4.0; Quentin Snider, G, 6-1, Fr., 1.8; David Levitch, G, 6-3, So., 2.2; Jaylen Johnson, F, 6-9, Fr., 2.3; Anas Mahmoud, F, 7-0, Fr., 0.5; Matz Stockman, C, 7-0, Fr., 2.0; Akoy Agau, F, 6-8, So., 0.0.
Story lines
This is the first true taste of life in the Atlantic Coast Conference for Louisville as the Cardinals participate in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Ohio State is one of three Big Ten opponents U of L will play this winter. The Cards already beat Minnesota and take on Indiana in New York City next Tuesday. Oddly enough, for two teams that've had significant success in recent seasons, Louisville and Ohio State haven't played each other since 2003, when the Cards beat the Buckeyes 72-64 in overtime in Columbus.
U of L coach Rick Pitino hasn't been thrilled so far by his team's ball movement and shot selection. The Cards took, by Pitino's count, 15 contested jump shots against Cleveland State last week. Louisville's coaching staff wants five to be the maximum contested-shots number for the team in a game. As a result, U of L is shooting 43.7 percent as a team and just 24 percent from 3-point range. The Cards have 59 assists on 131 field goals, and they have more turnovers than assists.
Pitino praised Ohio State's offense on Monday in previewing Tuesday's game, but the Buckeyes' defense is one of the best in the country so far this season. Ohio State opponents turn the ball over on 27.7 percent of their possessions, the fourth-highest rate in the nation through November. Also, with its zone defense, Ohio State's forced opponents to shoot 111 3-pointers in five games, and they're making just 31 percent of them. That makes Tuesday's matchup of defenses a key to the game. Louisville's defense is currently the most efficient in the nation, and the Cards' opponents have high turnover rates and strikingly low field-goal percentages through five games.