U of L's turnover problem rears its ugly head

Rick Pitino stood at the podium in the KFC Yum! Center media room after Louisville's 74-65 loss to NC State on Saturday and repeated a concern of his that has lasted all season.

"Defense," Pitino said, "is not important to this team as it was to (previous Louisville teams)."

Over the past few seasons, Louisville's defense has helped to offset off-nights on offense, Pitino continued. That did not happen on Saturday, as ninth-ranked Louisville (20-5, 8-4 in the ACC) shot 32.8 percent from the field, and it has not happened on several other occasions this season.

"It's been going on for a while," he said. "I mean, two steals for us is ridiculous."

Related:NC State surprises sluggish Louisville

Louisville's inability to create turnovers has been a significant and perpetual problem this season. And that weakness, more than any other flaw that this U of L team has, has hampered Louisville from thriving because it is the fuel that makes Louisville's frenetic style of play work.

In four of its five losses this season, Louisville has only created turnovers on 18 percent or fewer of its opponents' possessions. In 12 ACC games, Louisville's defense has only posted a turnover rate above 20 percent twice.

In fact, Louisville's defense has the lowest turnover rate in conference play of any U of L squad since at least the 2001-02 season, which is as far back as Ken Pomeroy's basketball analytics site goes.

No other Louisville team over the past 14 seasons has forced turnovers on fewer than 20.4 percent of its opponents' possessions in league games. This season's group, in those 12 ACC games, only generates turnovers on 16.3 percent of opposing possessions.

"(Opponents) take a lot of time working on our press," U of L senior guard Chris Jones said. "We talk to players on other teams, and they practice for our press and how to beat our press. NC State did."

And when Louisville isn't creating turnovers, "we're not getting on the break," Jones continued.

Related:Sullivan | Cards short on defense, confidence

And if Louisville's not getting out in transition and scoring fast-break points off turnovers, its offense sputters -- especially this season.

Only one conference game so far this winter has come close to matching the up-tempo affairs that Louisville prefers to play: The Cards' 85-76 win at Wake Forest.

The other 11 have been among the slowest-paced games this season for Louisville. In other words, there are fewer possessions and fewer chances to score.

Earlier in the campaign, when the games slowed down, Louisville got to the foul line at a high rate and produced more ways to score points.

But, Louisville guard Terry Rozier said, "We're at our best when we're playing fast."

Louisville knew this would happen. The ACC isn't what it once was, a league known for fast-paced, up-and-down affairs full of big dunks, lots of fullcourt pressure and high point totals.

Teams like Virginia, Miami and Pittsburgh play among the slowest tempos in the nation, and Louisville has found itself bogged down in slugfests, similar to the ones the Cards experienced in the old Big East.

The difference this season is that Louisville isn't creating chaos with its halfcourt defense, either. The Cardinals have won in spite of the growing problem, but they've lost a few games because of it, too.

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