Louisville Basketball: 2018-19 keys for the Cardinals against NC State

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 23: Steven Enoch #23 of the Louisville Cardinals and Dwayne Sutton #24 react during the first half of the game against Marquette Golden Eagles at the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament at Barclays Center on November 23, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

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LOUISVILLE, KY – NOVEMBER 16: V.J. King #13 of the Louisville Cardinals defends against Stef Smith #0 of the Vermont Catamounts in the first half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on November 16, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 86-78. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Louisville must be better defending shooters

The first key for the Cardinals will be how well they can defend against the statistically good shooting Wolfpack. The Wolfpack are an elite shooting team, averaging over 86 points per game, while shooting over 49% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc, inside the arc they are even better, shooting at 55%. In league play, however, those numbers have dipped, the Wolfpack is shooting 41.8% from the field, 30.9% from deep, and 47.8% on their two-point shots.

Louisville isn’t a bad defensive team, surrendering just under 69 points per game, they allow opponents to shoot over 45% from the field and 33% from three-point land, but they will need to keep the Wolfpack on their downward trend when it comes to shooting the ball. Against ACC opponents, the Cardinals have been much overall, allowing 68 points per game and 64 in their wins, while allowing their five opponents to shoot 42.8% from the field, but teams are also making nearly 40% of their three-point attempts and 44% from inside the line. In order to win this one, Louisville must be better at defending the three-point shot and make sure the Wolfpack continue their struggles in league play.

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