Originally Posted by
TPowell
I will be backing UK at +5 for a max play. I've been meaning to post this but anyway.
1. Russ Smith is banged up with NUMEROUS small injuries and was mentally not himself last week. Listen to this video below. It is around 3 minutes and he talks about "going home to rest" the whole time with no excitement. Keep in mind this kid is practically ADHD.
2. UL's kryptonite is size and rebounding inside. UK is way too big inside for Louisville's guards to be able to finish at the basket and the bigs have ZERO post moves outside of Harrell who is only 6'8. On the other side, Louisville's 2 headed center includes a guy who can sort of rebound but is an awful shot blocker and a guy who is a good shot blocker but an AWFUL rebounder (rain thin 6'10 freshman).
If you don't believe me. RUSS SMITH himself said UK is a bad matchup for us after the earlier game.
http://kentuckysports.co/sweet-16-kentucky-wins/
Excerpt: “
They (UK) are just a tough team to play and a very bad matchup for us with their size“.
3. John Calipari has had Rick Pitino's number since he has been at UK. For whatever reason, Pitino is 1-5 against Calipari since he arrived in Lexington. This may seem like a small thing, but to myself and other UL fans, it is apparent that Louisville doesn't play with the "free spirit" that UK has in the past.
I agree with you 100%. I posted this in another thread yesterday.
Kentucky just played Florida(best team in the nation) within 1.Beat undefeated Wichita state and now catching +5 from Louisville is a gift.Cal has this team playing on another level now. In their ass all season trying to get them to play together.Now Tourney time...he's acting like their cheerleader. This is a mismatch in every position on the floor.(in Kentucky's favor) with two 7 footers in case one gets in foul trouble (Cauley Stein, Dakari Johnson). Tell me one match up (position wise) that favors Louisville? Kentucky has already beat them once this year while the Harrison twins were playing horrible. Cal has 5 wins over Patino since coming to Kentucky. Patino has 1 win against Cal (last year was his only win. He says himself he under-recruited last year). I live in Louisville and it is hilarious to hear these Louisville fans calling in on our sports radio show terrified. Radio host finally had to tell everyone to stop with all the negativity. All they keep saying is "wish we were facing Wichita state instead of Kentucky". Louisville fans that are calling in to our radio shows are completely baffled by this line. Louisville is nothing like last year. How can you pull the trigger on Louisville? Kentucky M/L is the play.
The simple fact that Cal owns slick Rick is one the main reasons I could not bet on Louisville.