Cards Visit Michigan State in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Game Information
Site: Breslin Center (14,797), East Lansing, Mich.
Television: ESPN - Jason Benetti, play-by-play; Jay Bilas, analyst; Myron Medcalf, reporter
Radio: WHAS (840 AM) Paul Rogers, play-by-play; Bob Valvano, analyst (XM channel 381, SiriusXM App 971)
Series History: Louisville leads 6-5 (3-0 in Louisville, 0-3 in East Lansing, 3-2 neutral)
Last Meeting: UofL 82, Michigan State 78 (ot) (Nov. 27, 2008 at KFC Yum! Center) ACC/Big Ten Challenge
UofL National Ranking: unranked in USA Today & Associated Press polls
Next UofL Game: Dec. 4 at NC State, Raleigh, N.C., 2:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- After winning the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship last Saturday, Louisville remains on the road as the Cardinals face the Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in East Lansing, Mich. on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. ET.

In claiming its 31st regular season tournament championship, Louisville defeated Maryland 63-55 last Saturday as the Cardinals outrebounded the Terrapins by a decisive 51-25 margin, limited Maryland to 38.5 percent shooting from the field, and pulled away from a tie game with under five minutes to go.

Malik Williams was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2021 Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship, while forward Dre Davis was also selected to the five-man team. The duo were among the Cardinals' top defenders in Louisville's impressive defensive effort against Mississippi State and Maryland. Williiams produced his sixth career double-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and career-high four steals in the title game against Maryland, becoming the fifth different player in six games to lead the Cardinals in scoring.

Williams also totaled eight points and 10 rebounds against Mississippi State as Louisville limited the Bulldogs to 33.3 percent shooting from the field. He ranks second in the ACC in rebounding (9.8 rpg) and 13th in the nation in defensive rebounding (7.8 per game).

Davis' defense in the two games was an important factor in the championship. He produced 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the victory over Mississippi State, marking his second straight double-figure scoring effort. He added six points and four rebounds against Maryland.

Michigan State has fallen only to Top 10 teams Kansas and Baylor, the latter 75-58 in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship last Friday. Ranked No. 22 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Ferris Mowers polls, the Spartans are among the top 30 nationally in rebounding margin (20th in the NCAA, +8.3), defensive rebounds per game (26th, 30.0) and field goal percentage defense (30th, .376).

Louisville has a 6-5 series edge over Michigan State, with four of the matchups coming in NCAA Tournament play and three in regional finals. The teams have split two games played in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. In the last meeting three years ago, Louisville prevailed 82-78 in overtime in the KFC Yum! Center as Ryan McMahon scored a career-high 24 points off the bench (11-27-18). Current Cardinal Malik Williams totaled seven points, three rebounds and three steals in the win while current UofL graduate manager Christen Cunningham had 13 points and five assists.

Louisville has won four of its seven previous matchups in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and three of its last five in the event. In its first game back after an 18-day layoff due to COVID-19 issues, the Cardinals fell 85-48 at Wisconsin in last season's Challenge game (12-19-20) that saw UofL play without its scoring, rebounding and assist leader at the time, Carlik Jones.

Notes

Noah Locke scored his 1,000th career point against Maryland in his last game after scoring 933 points in three seasons at Florida and 78 in the Cardinals' first six games. He has scored in double figures in five of the first six games and leads UofL in scoring (13.0 ppg).
Louisville is No. 16 nationally in adjusted defense in KenPom analytics (second in the ACC behind No. 15 Duke; Michigan State is No. 2). The Cardinals rank 12th in the NCAA in defensive rebounding (31.0 rpg) and 26th in field goal percentage defense (.374) through Nov. 28.
Five different players have led the Cardinals in scoring in Louisville's six games.
Louisville has produced nine or more steals in four of its six games. The Cardinals are fourth in the ACC in steals (8.5 per game).
Louisville has held all six of its opponents under 43 percent from the field this season and four of the six under 40 percent. The Cardinals are third in the ACC and 26th nationally in field goal percentage defense (.374)
Noah Locke is fourth in the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.349) and fourth in three-pointers made per game (2.5). Locke has made at least three threes in four games.
Jarrod West is sixth in the ACC in assists-turnovers ratio (2.63) and 10th in assists (3.5). West needs five assists for 450 in his career (424 at Marshall, 21 at Louisville).
Located in East Lansing, Mich., 369 miles north of Louisville, Michigan State is No. 18 in the Sagarin Ratings and 26th in the KenPom analytics through games of Nov. 28 (Louisville is 39 in the Sagarin Ratings and 39 in KenPom).
Louisville has an all-time 23-4 record in games played on Dec. 1, winning its last seven games played on that date.

University of Louisville Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Dre Davis

Carlik Jones

Noah Locke

Jarrod West

Malik Williams

Related Videos