CARDINALS

TV info, story lines for U of L-UVA

Jeff Greer

@jeffgreer_cj

Feb 28, 2015; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino during the game against the Florida State Seminoles at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

VIRGINIA AT U OF L

Game time: 6:30 p.m. Site: KFC Yum! Center. Line: Virginia by 2. Series: Virginia leads 6-3 and won the last meeting 52-47 on Feb. 7 in Charlottesville, Va. Television: ESPN (Dave O'Brien and Dick Vitale). Radio: WKRD-790, joined in progress by WHAS-840.

PROJECTED STARTERS

VIRGINIA (28-1, 16-1 ACC)

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

G-London Perrantes 6-2 So. 2.4 6.3

G-Malcolm Brogdon 6-5 Jr. 3.9 13.6

F-Evan Nolte 6-8 Jr. 1.5 2.8

F-Anthony Gill 6-8 Jr. 6.8 11.7

F-Darion Atkins 6-8 Sr. 5.9 7.5

Key reserves - Mike Tobey, C, 7-0, Jr., 7.3 pts.; Marial Shayok, F, 6-5, Fr., 3.6; Isaiah Wilkins, F, 6-7, Fr., 1.7; Devon Hall, F, 6-5, Fr., 1.8.

LOUISVILLE (23-7, 11-6 ACC)

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

G-Quentin Snider 6-1 Fr. 1.4 2.9

G-Terry Rozier 6-1 So. 5.3 17.2

F-Wayne Blackshear 6-5 Sr. 4.5 10.7

F-Montrezl Harrell 6-8 Jr. 9.3 15.6

C-Chinanu Onuaku, 6-10 Fr. 5.0 3.4

Key reserves – Mangok Mathiang, C, 6-10, R-So., 2.6 pts.; Shaqquan Aaron, F, 6-7, Fr., 1.5; Anas Mahmoud, F, 7-0, Fr., 1.2; Anton Gill, G, 6-3, So., 2.7; Jaylen Johnson, F, 6-9, Fr., 1.2; David Levitch, G, 6-3, So., 1.5.

STORY LINES

Don't expect much of a difference in Virginia's efficiency on both ends of the floor despite the absence of Virginia's standout wing Justin Anderson. The 6-foot-6 junior will miss his eighth consecutive game. He left the last meeting between UVA and U of L with a broken finger, but he'll miss Saturday's game as he recovers from an appendectomy. Anderson is Virginia's second-leading scorer and its best shooter on the wing. but the Cavaliers have won seven in a row without Anderson, and held off Louisville a month ago.

Louisville outscored Virginia 34-28 in the second half of the first meeting between the teams, shooting 52 percent and scratching back into a game that had gotten out of hand in the first half. How out of hand? Louisville had 13 -- yes, 13 -- first-half points and made just 4 of 21 from the field. But U of L rallied thanks to an aggressive and decisive Chris Jones. To have the same success this time around, Louisville needs Quentin Snider, Terry Rozier and Wayne Blackshear to make sharp, quick decisions to either attack or shoot. Virginia's defense can be beaten, but it must be done with precision and confidence.

This is a monster game for Louisville in a lot of ways. The Cardinals want the double bye in next week's ACC tournament. They want a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament and some momentum heading into the postseason. A victory Saturday will achieve all three. There is some history that favors Louisville, though Saturday's game is a significant challenge. U of L is 24-1 under coach Rick Pitino in the home rematch against a team it played on the road earlier in the season. In fact, Louisville has won 21 consecutive return games and 12 of the last 13 senior-day games.

Saturday is "senior day" for Louisville. The Cardinals will honor graduating senior Wayne Blackshear and junior Montrezl Harrell, who is expected to leave school after the season and enter the NBA draft. U of L fans are encouraged to wear red to the game. The ceremony begins at 6:10 p.m.