U of L ready for stern Ohio State test

Montrezl Harrell and Chris Jones didn't exactly mince their words when asked about the University of Louisville basketball team's next game, Tuesday's 9:30 p.m. showdown with Ohio State at the KFC Yum! Center that's part of the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge on ESPN.

This matchup, they agreed, is the kind of game that catches a team's attention after five consecutive double-digit wins to open the season and four victories against teams ranked 99th or worse in Ken Pomeroy's efficiency ratings.

"We know Ohio State is on our level and they're going to come in here ready to play on this stage and upset us at home," the 6-foot-8 Harrell said after Louisville's 45-33 win over Cleveland State last week.

"We can't let that happen."

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Ohio State (5-0) is Louisville's first ranked opponent of the season and is one of two U of L nonconference opponents that reached the 2014 NCAA tournament.

The 16th-ranked Buckeyes have won so far this season with efficient offense and some of the top defensive play in the country, limiting opponents to 37-percent shooting from the field and forcing turnovers on 27.7 percent of their opponents' possessions.

But U of L coach Rick Pitino is most concerned about Ohio State's offense. The Buckeyes shoot 63.9 percent inside the 3-point arc, and they own a 41.8-percent shooting clip from 3-point range.

"If you're a great passing team, you're going to shoot a pretty good percentage," Pitino said, pointing to Ohio State's 19.4 assists per game.

"Generally, great shooters stem from great passers, and they're a great passing team. They're one of the better offensive basketball teams in the country."

That contrasts with Pitino's feelings about his own team's offense, which has labored through a few rough-and-tumble performances in the early going of this season.

Sixth-ranked Louisville (5-0) edged past Cleveland State 45-33 the night before Thanksgiving, making just 15 of its 47 shots. The Cardinals have more turnovers (64) than assists (59), and they've hit a meager 24 percent of their 3-point attempts.

Pitino faulted shot selection and ball movement for his team's offensive woes. The Cards, he said, tried 15 challenged shots against Cleveland State.

U of L's coaching staff aims for five or fewer contested shots per game.

"At the pro level, if you take a challenged shot, you're going to shoot 35 percent," he explained. "At the college level, you're going to shoot less than 22 percent."

Despite the undefeated start that includes a comfortable win against NCAA tournament hopeful Minnesota, Pitino said Monday that he doesn't have the same confidence in his current team that he had in his squads at this juncture over the past two seasons.

This team, he said, isn't quite grasping the importance of moving the ball to get open shots.

"I'm struggling gauging this team because, statistically, I don't like what I'm seeing," he said.

"But I don't worry because of their attitude. They play their asses off. These guys lace 'em up and they give you 100 percent every day."

Jones, Louisville's senior point guard, said the Cards' effort will have to tick up a few notches when Ohio State comes to town on Tuesday.

The Buckeyes aren't like anyone else they've played this year, he said.

"I'm not going to knock any other team we've played, but I think we'll be tuned into that game like we were tuned into Minnesota," Jones said. "These guys can beat us. They're ranked just like we're ranked, so we'll be more tuned into this game more than any other game so far this year."

Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).