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Texas Tech basketball: What Red Raider fans need to know about Louisville

By Matthew Conner

DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Head coach Chris Mack of the Louisville Cardinals looks on during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA - MARCH 21: Head coach Chris Mack of the Louisville Cardinals looks on during their game in the First Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Wells Fargo Arena on March 21, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Brandon Johns Jr #23 of the Michigan Wolverines  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Brandon Johns Jr #23 of the Michigan Wolverines  (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Louisville is an elite defensive team

Are you ready for another bare-knuckle brawl Red Raider fans?  On the heels of last week’s 65-60 overtime cage match against DePaul, we could be in for another slobber-knocker tonight because Louisville is a terrific defensive team.

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Currently ranked 3rd in the nation in the KenPom.com adjusted defensive efficiency ratings, the Cards are giving up just 85.5 points per 100 possessions.  Tech is also among the best defensive teams in the country by giving up 89.1 points per 100 possessions, 13th-best overall.

Louisville has held four of its nine opponents below 60 points and even held No. 4 Michigan to just 48.  That night, the Wolverines shot just 29.5% from the floor and 15.8% from three-point range.

Guarding the arc has been a strength for the Cards.  No. 22 in the nation against the 3, Louisville has allowed opponents to shoot just 27.3% from deep this year.   That’s not great news for a Tech team that has made just 18 of its last 72 shots (25%) from outside.

Therefore, it will be imperative that Tech does not settle for 3-pointers when the going gets tough as was the case against DePaul.  During this 3-game losing streak, Beard’s team is shooting 24 shots per game from deep.  That’s not a recipe for success, at least for this roster.

The only way to crack this tough defense will be to move the ball with precision and to have more movement than the Cardinals can contain.  When that happens, driving lanes will open and the Red Raiders must attack with the dribble.  Settling for outside jumpers is only going to play right into the Cardinals’ hands.

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That’s another way that this game sets up to be a litmus test for how well the Red Raiders are prepared to handle life in the Big 12.  Against this type of defense, Tech can’t finesse its way to a win.  This is a game that will only be won by rolling up the sleeves and doing things the old fashioned way, just as Beard prefers.

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