Men's Basketball Concludes Regular Season Against Connecticut
March 07, 2014 | Men's Basketball
March 7, 2014
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Stephan Van Treese: Video
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville men's basketball team's contest against Connecticut on Saturday at 2 p.m. not only marks an end to the regular season, but also the final time seniors Tim Henderson, Luke Hancock, Russ Smith, and Stephan Van Treese will play in the KFC Yum! Center.
Fans are encouraged to `Wear Red for the Seniors' to honor the winningest class in school history and be in their seats by 1:40 p.m. for the Senior Day ceremony. Heading into the March 8 game, the group has helped compile a 115-30 record - or a 79.3 winning percentage - along with winning two BIG EAST Tournament Championships, reaching three-consecutive NCAA Tournaments, two NCAA Final Fours, and posting a school-record 35 wins en route to the 2013 NCAA Championship.
The March 8 game will air on CBS, Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst) calling the action. Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Doug Ormay (analyst) will announce the game on WKRD 790 AM. The contest also is available on SIRIUS channel 91 and XM channel 91.
On the verge of the 16th meeting in series history, the Cardinals own a 9-6 record against the Huskies after posting a 76-64 victory on Jan. 18 in Storrs, Conn. Smith had a team-high 23 points, and Montrezl Harrell totaled 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Cardinals totaled 40 points in the pain. Connecticut was led by 30 from Shabazz Napier.
Statistically, Louisville is ranked in the top-15 nationally in scoring margin (No. 1, +19.6), turnover margin (No. 1, +6.8), steals per game (No. 2, 9.9), total steals (No. 2, 297), scoring offense (No. 12, 81.8), and assist-turnover ratio (No. 13, 1.48). Conversely, Connecticut is in the top 15 in free-throw percentage (No. 7, 76.7), total blocks (No. 9, 184), blocked shots per game (No. 11, 6.1), and field-goal percentage defense (No. 11, 38.9).
Louisville, ranked 11th by the Associated Press and ninth in the USA Today Coaches Poll, recorded its 25th victory of the season following an impressive 84-71 victory at SMU. Prior to that game, the Mustangs were 15-0 at home this season.
Four Cardinals (25-5, 14-3 AAC) scored in double figures in the win. Smith, who battled sickness prior to and throughout the game, scored 22 of his 26 points in the second half and buried all six of his 3-pointers. Chris Jones also had an impressive performance, totaling season bests of 21 points and six steals. Collectively, Louisville shot better than 50 percent from 3 (13-of-23, 56.5 percent) and nailed 70.4 percent of its free throws (19-of-27). The team also had a season-high 17 steals.
Smith continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 18 points per game, while ranking first on the squad in 3-pointers made (61), free throws made (112), assists (135), and steals (59). Harrell is scoring 13.8 points per game and pulling down 8.2 rebounds per contest.
Connecticut, winners of its last three games, has logged a 24-6 overall record, with a 12-5 mark in conference play. The Huskies, ranked 19th in both major polls, are coming off a 69-63 win over Rutgers at home on Wednesday.
Napier guided the Huskies with 26 points behind seven 3-pointers, while Niels Giffey had 16 points. As a team, Connecticut connected on 12 3-pointers.
For the season, Napier leads the team in scoring with 18.1 points and also has team highs of 159 assists and 57 steals. He is shooting 42.5 percent from 3 and 88.4 percent from the charity stripe. Ryan Boatright and DeAndre Daniels are each averaging 12 points per game.
The Huskies are under the direction of second-year coach Kevin Ollie, who is 44-16 in his tenure. Connecticut was picked to finish second in the conference's preseason coaches' poll after going 20-10 last season. Napier was a preseason first team all-conference pick, while Boatright was named to the second team.
CARDINALS CLINCH AAC CHAMPIONSHIP BYE
Louisville clinched one of the six byes in the 2014 American Athletic Conference Championship to be played March 12-15 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. The Cardinals play their first game in the quarterfinals on Thursday, with the opponent and time to be determined. Should Louisville win Saturday, it would provide at least a share of the league's regular-season title.
GAME FACTS - Louisville vs. Connecticut
Date: Saturday, March 8
Time: 2:06 p.m. ET
Site: KFC Yum! Center/Crum Court, Louisville, Ky.
TV: CBS will broadcast the game, with Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) and Bill Raftery (analyst) calling the action.
Radio: WKRD 790 AM will broadcast the game, with Paul Rogers (play-by-play) and Doug Ormay (analyst) calling the action. The broadcast also is available on SIRIUS channel 91 and XM channel 91.
Series History: Louisville leads 9-6 (4-2 in Louisville, 3-1 in Storrs, 2-1 in Hartford, 0-2 neutral).
Next UofL Game: March 13, Quarterfinals of AAC Championship, opponent and time TBA, Memphis, Tenn.
