LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -Coach Rick Pitino expects that Louisville’s weaknesses will be put to the test against Miami of Ohio.
The RedHawks (3-2) play a slow, deliberate style that will force the No. 12 Cardinals (4-1) to get down to the basics when the teams meet Saturday.
“We’re not a fundamentally sound ballclub,” Pitino said.
Louisville favors a faster tempo, averaging 79 points per game, including 104 against Hartford in its first game of the season. In Miami’s seven games, including two exhibitions, neither team has scored more than 67 points.
After watching game film of the RedHawks, freshman guard Preston Knowles said he was impressed by their control.
“This team, they’ll wait till about 30, 32 seconds, take down the clock and then eventually, they’ll get their shot up,” he said.
Louisville’s young players have been making too many mistakes.
Junior forward Terrence Williams is one of the Cardinals’ best all-around players, and Pitino has said that he should fill up the stat sheet. Unfortunately for Louisville, one category that has been adding up for Williams is turnovers. He has 28, equal to his assists, leading the team in both categories.
Forward-center Derrick Caracter’s playing time has been limited because of foul trouble. The sophomore has been whistled for at least four fouls in all but one of Louisville’s games.
So the Cardinals have been stressing the basics in practice.
“That’s what we’ve been working on this week,” Pitino said. “Our guys are struggling with it because they’re young.”
And it doesn’t help that the Cardinals are without their most seasoned players. Senior front line players Juan Palacios and David Padgett are both out with knee injuries. It’s nonsense to even talk about Padgett’s return for at least another month and a half, Pitino said, but Palacios could begin doing individual workouts next week.
The Cardinals will likely start Williams, Caracter and three other sophomores against the RedHawks.
Miami is led by forwards Michael Bramos and Tim Pollitz, who average 24.2 and 17 points per game respectively. Both are 6-foot-5 but contribute in different ways.
In Miami’s most recent game, a 63-62 loss to Dayton, Bramos was 9-of-15 from 3-point range. Pollitz plays in the post but can score away from the basket, Pitino said.
“Now we’ve got our centers trying to get out there on him,” Pitino said. “It causes some matchup problems, for not only us, but I’m sure all the other opponents that have true centers.”
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