Louisville men’s basketball will face off against Pepperdine in a highly anticipated game at the KFC Yum! Center on Sunday. The Cardinals are looking to end their three-game losing streak after a disappointing loss to Arkansas State. Meanwhile, Pepperdine is coming off a win against UC San Diego in their last game on December 9. The Waves have struggled on the road this season, going 0-5 away from home.
This will only be the second meeting between these two teams, with Pepperdine coming out on top in their first encounter back in 1950. Both teams will be eager to secure a victory in this matchup.
Louisville’s defense has been a key focus for the team, as they aim to improve their 3-point defense. After allowing UMBC and Chattanooga to hit 45.5% of their 3-point attempts in the first two games, the Cardinals have tightened up, holding their last eight opponents to just 23.2% from beyond the arc. They currently rank 50th in the country in 3-point defense.
On the offensive end, Louisville has been successful in drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line. They rank 18th in the country in free-throw attempts per game and 13th in made free throws per game. Their ability to convert from the charity stripe has been crucial, with 194 made free throws in 10 games.
The Cardinals’ success this season has often been linked to their performance in two key areas: free-throw attempts and rebounding. They have a 4-3 record when they shoot more free throws than their opponent and a 4-2 record when they outrebound them. In their losses, they have struggled in these aspects of the game.
Sophomore guard Skyy Clark has been a standout player for Louisville in recent games. He has improved his scoring, averaging 18.6 points per game over the last seven games, compared to his 11 points per game in the first three games. Clark’s shooting percentage has also increased, particularly from beyond the arc, where he has shot 34.9% in the last seven games.
Freshman guard Ty-Laur Johnson has also made an impact for the Cardinals. He has shown his playmaking abilities with 29 assists in the last seven games, while committing just 13 turnovers. Johnson has already established himself as one of Louisville’s top freshmen in terms of assist numbers since 2010.
In this upcoming game against Pepperdine, Louisville will look to bounce back from their recent slump and secure a much-needed win. Meanwhile, Pepperdine will try to continue their winning momentum from their last game and improve their road record. It should be an exciting matchup between these two teams with something to prove.
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