Louisville Basketball: Biggest keys to upsetting Virginia in ACC battle

By Brian Rauf | Feb 22, 2019

LOUISVILLE, KY - JANUARY 26: Jordan Nwora #33 of the Louisville Cardinals reacts after a dunk against the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half of the game at KFC YUM! Center on January 26, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville won 66-51. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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BLACKSBURG, VA – FEBRUARY 04: Kerry Blackshear Jr. #24 of the Virginia Tech Hokies shoots while being guarded by Malik Williams #5 of the Louisville Cardinals at Cassell Coliseum on February 04, 2019 in Blacksburg, Virginia. (Photo by Lauren Rakes/Getty Images) /

1) Press Virginia

No, not the Bob Huggins kind of Press Virginia, but Louisville would be smart to use a pressure defense on the Cavaliers.

Virginia struggled against the press last year (it played a big role in why they lost to UMBC) and it has been their Achilles heel again this season. They only beat VCU by eight, needed overtime to beat NC State by one, and lost game games to a Duke team who applies great on-ball pressure in the half court.

Normally an efficient team, UVA has a tendency to turn the ball over at a high rate whenever they face pressure, and it has plagued them especially of late. Starting with that win over the Wolfpack six games ago, they are averaging 12.5 turnovers per game – a big jump from the 9.4 they average on the season. They’ve also eclipsed that 12.5 mark in four of the past six games.

Louisville is not great at forcing turnovers or getting steals (in fact, they’re among the nation’s worst in steal percentage), yet just putting some pressure on Virginia has caused them to turn the ball over more than normal.

The Cardinals do have the personnel to be effective in this area. They have long, athletic wings who can get in passing lanes and have a number of smaller, quick guards who can get underneath and pressure Virginia’s backcourt of Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy.

It might be a bit out of character for Louisville, but doing this will throw Virginia out of rhythm offensively and could lead to some easy buckets for them on the other end.

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