Hoops: L'ville

The Wildcats travel to L'ville tomorrow for an always nationally televised spirited affair. The Cards just lost to UMass by four two days ago, and will look to beating Kentucky to get their minds straight. Kentucky on the other hand is coming off full week's rest, a win over Indiana a week ago, and look to beat the Cards to keep their momentum and their ever so slowly-growing confidence trekking along.

L'ville hasn't really beaten anyone, but like Kentucky, they've lost close games they could have won or maybe should have won. In fact all three loses for the Cards come by 4, 7, and 4, but Kentucky probably is the first big game on their schedule this year. Louisville is led by mainly three guys who put points up for them: Terrence Williams, Edgar Sosa, and Juan Palacios. Palacios and Williams are the guys that give them the biggest boost so far on their schedule in grabbing the ball off the glass, and they also have four guys who have been willing to shoot the three ball more than 20 times, but only three who shoot it well: Edgar Sosa, Will Scott, and Jerry Smith. Brandon Jenkins is also shooting 44% on 8-18 three point buckets. Defensively, the Cards can put pressure on you from their three main point-getters, combined they have 30 steals and 76 assists, but they also have a tendency to turn the rock over as they combine for 58 turnovers. L'ville is shooting 45% as a team, 66% from the line, and a +3.5 rebound over their opponents.

In a rival game like this, which kinda includes a double rival in one if you include the coaching rivalry as well, you can put all the stats aside and just expect both teams to do whatever it takes to win the game. I expect this to be another buzzer-beater, and luck along with officiating is going to be a major factor in the outcome of this game.

· Game Notes, Kentucky | Louisville. Tomorrow, 1:30 est. (CBS).