TV info, story lines for U of L-Northern Iowa
U OF L VS. NORTHERN IOWA
Game time: 9:40 p.m. ET (or 30 minutes after the Iowa-Gonzaga game). Site: KeyArena, Seattle. Line: Northern Iowa by 2 1/2 points. Series: Louisville won the only meeting 51-46 on Nov. 22, 2012, in the Bahamas. Television: TBS (Spero Dedes and Mike Gminski). Radio: WHAS-840.
PROJECTED STARTERS
NORTHERN IOWA (31-3)
Pos.-Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.
G-Deon Mitchell 6-1 Sr. 2.0 7.5
G-Matt Bohannon* 6-4 Jr. 1.7 5.7
G-Jeremy Morgan 6-5 So. 3.1 5.8
F-Marvin Singleton 6-6 Sr. 4.9 4.9
F-Seth Tuttle 6-8 Sr. 6.9 15.3
Key reserves - Wes Washpun, G, 6-1, Jr., 7.8 pts.; Nate Buss, F, 6-9, Sr., 7.6; Paul Jesperson, G, 6-6, Jr., 5.7; Wyatt Lohaus, G, 6-2, Fr., 3.8. * - Bohannon (broken finger) will a game-time decision.
LOUISVILLE (25-8)
Pos.-Player Ht. Cl. Rb. Pts.
G-Quentin Snider 6-1 Fr. 1.4 3.6
G-Terry Rozier 6-1 So. 5.2 17.0
F-Wayne Blackshear 6-5 Sr. 4.4 11.2
F-Montrezl Harrell 6-8 Jr. 9.3 15.5
C-Mangok Mathiang 6-10 R-So. 4.6 2.5
Key reserves – Chinanu Onuaku, F, 6-10, Fr., 3.2 pts.; Shaqquan Aaron, F, 6-7, Fr., 1.5; Anas Mahmoud, F, 7-0, Fr., 1.2; Anton Gill, G, 6-3, So., 2.5; Jaylen Johnson, F, 6-9, Fr., 1.1; David Levitch, G, 6-3, So., 1.3.
STORY LINES
Quentin Snider showed up in a huge way in Friday's 57-55 win over UC-Irvine, and for Louisville to make a run in the NCAA tournament, that has to keep happening, though not necessarily to that level. Snider had 16 points, including the game-winning free throws, and looked comfortable and confident attacking the rim. Against a Northern Iowa team that is balanced and deep, especially at guard, Snider will have to do his part, and Terry Rozier will have to pitch in more scoring, too.
Louisville has quite a bit of history in the second round of the NCAA tournament. The Cardinals have reached the Sweet 16 21 times in their history, and would set a new program record if they reach a fourth consecutive Sweet 16 on Sunday. Under coach Rick Pitino, Louisville is 6-2 in the second round. The Cards are also 6-1 vs. No. 5 seeds in the NCAA tournament.
Northern Iowa hasn't gotten the attention it deserves this season. The Panthers entered the NCAA tournament with 30 wins and have one of the top power forwards in the country in Seth Tuttle (15.3 points, 6.9 rebounds). They play a very similar style of basketball as Virginia, which makes Sunday's game an intriguing matchup for Louisville. The Cards will feel confident in that type of setting after beating Virginia 59-57 in thrilling fashion earlier this month.