PREMIUM
Rogers' Big Monday MASSACRE >> 75% in NCAAB Last 7 Days! 4-1 Sunday!
(NCAAB) Louisville vs. Virginia,
Point Spread: 5.00 | -102.00 Louisville (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 5.00 | -102.00 Louisville (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: There will be a new AP poll later on Monday afternoon but using the current rankings, No. 6 Louisville (19-4 / 7-3 ACC) will visit Charlottesville, Va. to take on No.9 Virginia (17-5 / 7-3 ACC). The Cardinals have beaten the Cavaliers just once in five meetings since joining the conference, as the two top-10 schools square off in this Big Monday matchup on ESPN.
Louisville: The schools opened conference play against each other back on Dec 28, with the Cavs winning 61-53 at Louisville, a game in which Virginia once led by as many as 15 points."You have to make shots against Virginia. They take away all of the sets that you run," Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said. "Virginia is one of the best defensive teams in the nation, but what makes them special is how they execute on offense." Louisville guards Mitchell (15.0 & 4.9) and Snider (12.1 & 4.0 APG) are the top-two scorers but Louisville has a solid frontcourt, as well. The 6-7 Adel (11.1 & 4.3) is the best scorer but Pitino's got some good size up front with the 6-9 Johnson (8.2 & 6.5) and the 6-10 Mathiang (7.1 & 6.2). However, Louisville is currently without PG Quentin Snider and his backup Tony Hicks (4.6 PPG). Pitino always preaches defense and this year's team allows a modest 62.3 PPG (12th) on 37.8% shooting (4th).
Virginia: However, when it comes to defense, Virginia allows the fewest points of any team in the nation, at 54.0 PPG. PG Perrantes (11.9-3.0-4.) is the team's only double digit scorer but nine players get 11-plus minutes per game, averaging between 3.5 and 9.8 PPG. Guard Shayok (9.8) is the best scorer of that group and the 6-7 Wilkins, the best rebounder at 7.5 per game (adds 5.9 PPG). The Cavs lost 66-62 to Syracuse on Saturday but note that the Virginia bench outscored the team's starters, as the reserves totaled 33 of the team's 62 points.
The pick: I realize that Louisville is just 1-4 against Virginia since joining the ACC and that the Cards have yet to break the 60-point mark in any game against the Cavaliers. However, while Virginia enters this game off a loss at the buzzer against Villanova and then blew a 12-point halftime lead in a four-point Saturday loss at Syracuse (sandwiched in between was a win over Va. Tech), Louisville has won its last three by margins of 55 (at Pittsburgh), 25 (vs. North Carolina State) and 23 (at Boston College), while averaging a whopping 93.7 PPG! Make Louisville an 8* play as the Cards 'stop the bleeding' with a win at UVA.
Louisville: The schools opened conference play against each other back on Dec 28, with the Cavs winning 61-53 at Louisville, a game in which Virginia once led by as many as 15 points."You have to make shots against Virginia. They take away all of the sets that you run," Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said. "Virginia is one of the best defensive teams in the nation, but what makes them special is how they execute on offense." Louisville guards Mitchell (15.0 & 4.9) and Snider (12.1 & 4.0 APG) are the top-two scorers but Louisville has a solid frontcourt, as well. The 6-7 Adel (11.1 & 4.3) is the best scorer but Pitino's got some good size up front with the 6-9 Johnson (8.2 & 6.5) and the 6-10 Mathiang (7.1 & 6.2). However, Louisville is currently without PG Quentin Snider and his backup Tony Hicks (4.6 PPG). Pitino always preaches defense and this year's team allows a modest 62.3 PPG (12th) on 37.8% shooting (4th).
Virginia: However, when it comes to defense, Virginia allows the fewest points of any team in the nation, at 54.0 PPG. PG Perrantes (11.9-3.0-4.) is the team's only double digit scorer but nine players get 11-plus minutes per game, averaging between 3.5 and 9.8 PPG. Guard Shayok (9.8) is the best scorer of that group and the 6-7 Wilkins, the best rebounder at 7.5 per game (adds 5.9 PPG). The Cavs lost 66-62 to Syracuse on Saturday but note that the Virginia bench outscored the team's starters, as the reserves totaled 33 of the team's 62 points.
The pick: I realize that Louisville is just 1-4 against Virginia since joining the ACC and that the Cards have yet to break the 60-point mark in any game against the Cavaliers. However, while Virginia enters this game off a loss at the buzzer against Villanova and then blew a 12-point halftime lead in a four-point Saturday loss at Syracuse (sandwiched in between was a win over Va. Tech), Louisville has won its last three by margins of 55 (at Pittsburgh), 25 (vs. North Carolina State) and 23 (at Boston College), while averaging a whopping 93.7 PPG! Make Louisville an 8* play as the Cards 'stop the bleeding' with a win at UVA.
